The Palace Theatre has a capacity of 1998 seats, including 838 seats in the Stalls, 649 seats in the Circle and 511 seats in the Grand Tier. Use our interactive seating plan to view 488 seat reviews and 372 photos of views from seat.
Originally opening in 1891, the Palace Theatre of Varieties had an immense capacity of 3,675. Hosting stars such as Harry Lauder, Lillie Langtry and Charlie Chaplin, it was one of the most prolific Music Hall venues. In 1913, the building was renovated under architect Bertie Crew and reopened after seven months with a performance from Harry Houdini. After renovations, the seating capacity was reduced to 2,600 and played host to revues, large-scale musicals and pantomimes. From the 1940’s onwards, the Palace Theatre saw radio stars, ballet, concerts and plays such as Hamlet grace the stage.
In the late 1970’s, the Palace Theatre underwent major refurbishment, which extended the stage and dressing rooms to accommodate companies such as the Covent Garden Opera and Kirov Ballet. The auditorium and Front of House were restored to their original Edwardian décor. In 1981, the theatre opened with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar and has since hosted touring productions such as Les Miserables, Beauty and the Beast and Victoria Wood.
Built across three tiers including the Stalls, Circle and Grand Tier, the venue now has a capacity of around 1,900 seats. The Stalls is the largest section, with approximately 750 seats offering great views of the stage. The Circle seats over 600 people, whilst the Grand Tier seats a more modest 510. In the heart of Manchester, the Palace Theatre is one of the city’s most prolific venues.
Good seats on a budget can be found towards the rear of each section, particularly in the Circle. The Grand Tier overhang slightly affects the view, but this is dependent on the production. Good value seats can also be found towards the ends of rows, where there may not necessarily be restrictions but the seat may be angled towards the stage.
Seats in the mid-front of each section, specifically in rows C-H, offer the best overall views in the theatre as they are usually devoid of restrictions. Sit in the Stalls to feel close to the stage or in the front few rows of the Circle for a large-scale musical.
This seat was so uncomfortable with such a lack of leg room that it was actually distracting me from the show. It's far back and the guy sitting in front of me meant I had to lean around him to be able to see the stage. I would not recommend sitting here.... More
Saw Curtains Curtains on 11 October 2019
This seat is central, with a nice distance from the stage, still able to see clear facial expressions. The rake allows you to see over people's heads in front of you. Legroom is good, the seats are quite close to each other. More
Saw Curtains Curtains on 08 October 2019
Good view. Nice to know there is nobody behind you. Be aware that there is a draft when the external doors are open but the temperature is ok when the show is actually on! Can sometimes be crew/ushers talking behind you, which can be annoying. Sold as... More
Saw 9 to 5 the Musical 9 to 5 the Musical on 17 September 2019
