The Edinburgh Playhouse has a capacity of 3056 seats, including 1587 seats in the Stalls, 631 seats in the Circle and 838 seats in the Balcony. Use our interactive seating plan to view 120 seat reviews and 58 photos of views from seat.
Scotland’s Edinburgh Playhouse originally opened in 1929 as a cinema, operating successfully for forty years. Designed by John Fairweather, the venue is modelled on New York’s Roxy Theatre, after Fairweather was inspired by the building’s splendour. In 1973, Edinburgh Playhouse closed and was sold to a property developer. Threats of demolition saw the Playhouse Preservation Action Group campaign to keep it open. In 1980, the building relaunched as a theatre and has been owned by ATG since 2010.
Housing large touring musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Les Miserables, the venue seats an impressive 3,059 people and is the largest working theatre in the UK. It is built over three levels; the Stalls, Circle and Balcony. The Stalls is the largest section, with 1,500 seats that offer excellent views. The Circle seats 700 and offers more restricted views due to stairwells. The Balcony is particularly high and far away from the stage. The Edinburgh Playhouse is a large, grand theatre, close to several bars and restaurants in the city.
For those looking to purchase tickets on a budget, seats towards the middle of the rear left and right sections of the Stalls and Circle offer clear views, despite being angled towards the stage. Although the view may at times be restricted, these seats are close to the stage and facial expressions will be visible. Seats in the Balcony offer clear views of the stage for a discounted price.
Seats in the front-centre of the Stalls and the Circle offer unobstructed views of the stage for a premium price. For large-scale musical productions, it would be best to sit in the front of the Circle, which is close to the stage and allows you to take in the show as a whole.
Good view, provided the people in front don't lean forward too much. Bottom of the stage cut off but doesn't affect overall view as performers hardly ever that far downstage. Legroom the real issue. I'm 5'4 and JUST had enough room if I sat up straig... More
Saw Wicked Wicked on 30 May 2018
Comfortable seat with good legroom, but a very side on view and unable to see rear stage right (it's the far end seat and just outside the proscenium arch, and as this is a big stage many productions block off the sides, giving more obstruction). Gr... More
Saw Shrek The Musical Shrek The Musical on 30 December 2017
The seat was very comfy and great legroom. However, it was rear row in the circle, you kind of felt disconnect with the show due to great distance and there is the balcony overhung that slightly restrict the view. You can see the whole stage though, ... More
Visited 23 December 2016
