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#1

Donmar - Day Seats?

I am horribly desperate to see Jacobi in Lear this winter. Can anyone verify the accuracy of the information below? Also, if anyone has tried it, can you provide any additional information (safe time of arrival, location, etc.).


Much obliged!


"When a production is SOLD OUT at the theatre box office, the Donmar Warehouse do hold 10 DAY SEATS for each performance, on sale daily from 10.30am, in person, from the Box Office (maximum 2 tickets per person) at £15 each. Once these are sold out, 20 STANDING PLACES in the rear circle are available at £7.50 each. Both standing and seats are normally only sold only to personal callers at the theatre box office, maximum two tickets per person. Occasionally if there is no demand, they may sell to telephone callers later in the day - but that is generally unlikely and visiting the theatre is far safer feels the monkey."

- http://www.theatremonkey.com/DONMARbooking.htm
#2

Donmar - Day Seats?

That is an accurate account. I believe the day seats are in the circle. One the sides and in row B. Good seats in my experience.

Depending on how hot the ticket the earlier you have to be there. I recall getting there super super early for The Blue Room back in the day. Othello was a bit insane too.

Whereas I quite easily got Prince of Homburg tickets by showing up at 10am.

The standing seats are along the back of the centre block of the circle and perfectly decent.
#3

Donmar - Day Seats?

Great! Thank you. Just so I'm clear, what constinutes as super early? Is 7 am a safe bet? Earlier?
#4

Donmar - Day Seats?

7am should see you pretty early in the queue for most things. I've dayseated at the Donmar many times, and I think my most surprising result was getting through the door of Othello after turning up shortly before 8.30am. Sure, I only got standing room, but considering what a hot ticket it was and how early I now start queueing, I'm absolutely flabbergasted I got in. XD

I think it's safe enough to say Lear will be a hot ticket, so I shall not be letting on what time I plan on arriving (let's just say it'll involve a night bus and leave it at that), but it'll be winter, so that should frighten off less hardy theatre-goers. 7am sounds pretty reasonable, especially if you're talking a midweek performance earlier in the run. You might not be first in the queue, but you should get a seat.

My top tip for dayseating is: decide what time you'd like to start queueing (let's go with 7am for example), then turn up ten minutes earlier. People tend to think in round numbers; mark my words, if you roll up at 6.50am, you'll have a good place in the queue, and you'll feel VERY smug when tons of people all roll up at the same time a mere ten minutes later. XD

If you don't mind standing up, the standing spaces are actually better than the seats. But there's nothing wrong with the seats, apart from being side-on; I've sat in B41 I don't even know how many times now and the only problems I've ever had have been actors standing right on the corner of the stage, and they hardly ever do that. :)

Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter
#5

Donmar - Day Seats?

I think I must have got my day seats for Othello late in the run as I got there around half six and got the second last one!

I'm so glad I can walk into Covent Garden from my house without having to rely on transport. Most surreal day seat experience was before I lived in London and got an overnight bus down and got a seat for Guys and Dolls just after it opened to very hot reviews. Rolled up to Piccadilly around 6 and already a big enough queue.
#6

Donmar - Day Seats?

THANK YOU BOTH!

Weez - I am taking your advice and shooting for 6:45! And as for the standing room advice, thanks again...but no thanks! I did that once for the Vortex and had a bad enough time with that relatively short production. I don't think I would make it standing through a three plus hour Lear!
#7

Donmar - Day Seats?

Good to know. Think I might be joining the queue for the Stephen Sondheim discussion event

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