National Theatre (Dorfman)

Occupying the floor of the auditorium, the Pit houses the majority of the audience and features highly customizable seating mounted on automated elevators. This advanced technology allows the space to be reconfigured in under 30 minutes into a steep rake for optimal overhead sightlines, a shallow slope, or folded away entirely to create a flat floor. Sitting here offers an incredibly intimate and intense connection to the performers, though because the layout changes per production, the physical location of 'Row A' will vary depending on the play. Thanks to a major refurbishment, these seats are exceptionally comfortable and provide generous legroom, with step-free wheelchair spaces seamlessly integrated into the design.

For a hovering, bird's-eye perspective right over the stage action, the Circle wraps tightly around three sides of the rectangular room. Seats facing the stage head-on provide a perfect panoramic view, excellent for appreciating the full set layout and stage floor. The single row of seats running along the left and right side ledges places you incredibly close to the performance space, albeit at a side-on viewing angle. The entire level is fully accessible via the venue's passenger lift.

For budget-conscious bookings, the Gallery is your ideal option as the highest level of the auditorium, mirroring the horseshoe shape of the Circle below. While you are elevated quite high and looking down at a steep vertical angle, the compact scale of the room ensures you never feel genuinely detached from the actors. The National Theatre's redesign specifically angled the balcony railings backward, which dramatically improved sightlines—particularly for those sitting in the side slots. Like the other levels, the Gallery is easily reached via the venue's passenger elevator.