Arts Theatre – Best seats and seating plan
Published on 27 February 2025
The Arts Theatre is the West End’s smallest commercial receiving house seating 353. Opening in 1927, initially as a members-only club, for the performance of experimental and controversial unlicensed plays which mean that it avoided any censorship that had been put in place by the Lord Chamberlain’s office. Ronnie Barker famously made his West End debut at the theatre in a production of Mourning Becomes Electra in 1955 as well as the theatre being the first to premiere Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot in the same year.
What are the best seats at the Arts Theatre?
Set over two levels, Stalls and Circle, the Arts Theatre has a capacity of 353 seats with comfortable seats and good overall sightlines of the stage. In the Stalls there are slight sight restrictions from the end of Row J which is affected by behind pillars and Rows M and N which are affected by the overhang of the Circle. On the whole though the stalls offers an intimate, close view of all the on stage action.
The Circle is spread over 6 rows and has 2 slip rows. Because of the size of the auditorium, no seat feels too far from the stage and the rows in this section fan out in a horseshoe shape overlooking the stalls. The Circle slips are benches rather than seats and can be less comfortable for longer shows, the view is also classed as restricted, but this is reflected in the price of the tickets for this area.
The Arts Theatre seating plan
How many seats are at the Arts Theatre?
There are 353 seats across the two floors of the Arts Theatre auditorium making it the smallest commercial receiving theatre in London. You could fit the Arts Theatre seating into the London Colosseum (the largest of London theatres) nearly seven times!
Are there accessible seats at the Arts Theatre?
There is step free access to the Arts Theatre from the entrance on Great Newport Street and the Box Office is on street level. There are 5 steps from the Box Office to the Circle, 18 steps from the Box Office to the stalls and 11 steps from the back row to the front row of the Circle. There are no steps in the stalls as such due to its sloped floor. Wheelchair and companion spaces are located in the Circle Row F.
What shows are on at the Arts Theatre?
From comedy to music, the Arts Theatre is surely the most intimate audience experience that you could experience in the West End. Currently home to the amazing The Choir Of Man – a night at your local like you have never had before where chart topping tunes are reinvented providing a heart-warming night out for all.
