A Christmas Carol sells steadily at the Old Vic, so you can usually pick a date and a seat without racing. Peak and off-peak prices are close, and preview performances are cheaper, from £19.50.

Over-60s can book seats priced £46.50 to £81.50 for £34.50 at off-peak matinees, and under-30s and students pay from £36.50.

The centre of the Dress Circle gives a magnificent overview, but the extreme sides are uncomfortable. The Stalls are the sweet spot for intimacy, though the rear rows are a gamble, with the overhang and pillars. The Lilian Baylis Circle is the budget level: high, steep and tight, with a rail and a touch of vertigo. Seats run from £17 to £192.