Best seats at the 3Olympia Theatre: pit, Circle and Upper Circle

The Olympia is a Victorian music hall, opened in 1879 as Dan Lowrey's Star of Erin. That means three levels stacked close to the stage, columns, and a lot of stairs. It's intimate for a room that holds 1,621 with standing, or 1,289 all seated. It also means some seats look straight at a column. Here's how to pick.

The three levels

• Stalls: the ground floor. Seated for plays and panto. For gigs the seats come out and it becomes general admission standing, with a pit at the front.
• Circle: the middle tier, about 35 steps up to the back row.
• Upper Circle: the top tier, 90 to 100 steps to the back, plus the steps down to your row. Unreserved: first come, first served.

The boxes on the sides aren't on sale. They're kept for the artist's, promoter's and crew's guests.

Standing gigs: pit or not

The pit is limited and wristband-only. Wristbands go to Stalls standing ticket holders on a first-come, first-served basis, so get to Dame Street near doors (usually around 7pm) if you want one. Medium and large bags must go in the cloakroom (Stalls standing only, €2 an item). Standing is recommended for over-16s; for a younger fan at a big gig, the theatre itself suggests a seat in the Circle or Upper Circle.

Seated shows: where to sit

The front of the Circle is the pick for most people. You're close, centred, and above the heads in the Stalls. From up there you don't see much of the crowd, though, so a gig can feel a bit flat compared with standing.

The Upper Circle is fine if you're early. Because it's unreserved, the people who arrive at 7pm take the front rows. Turn up at 8.50pm for the headliner and you get what's left, which may include the side seats with a partial view.

Restricted view tickets are sold for every show. They sit behind a column or at the far side of the auditorium. They're often cheaper, and Ticketmaster makes you click to accept the restriction at checkout. Read the warning before you buy.

Access

Only the Stalls are step-free. Wheelchair positions are on that level, with accessible platforms at the back for standing shows. There's no lift to the upper tiers: the building is protected and a lift isn't allowed. The theatre also streams audio to your phone through an assistive listening app over its Wi-Fi.

Frequently asked questions

Are Upper Circle seats at the 3Olympia allocated?

No. Upper Circle seats are unreserved and first come, first served, so arrive early to get a good one.

How do I get into the pit at the 3Olympia Theatre?

Pit wristbands go to Stalls standing ticket holders on a first-come, first-served basis. Arriving near doors gives you the best chance, but there's no guarantee.

What does restricted view mean at the Olympia Theatre?

A column partly blocks your view, or your seat is at the far side of the auditorium. These tickets are flagged at checkout and often cost less.

What is the capacity of the 3Olympia Theatre?

About 1,621 with standing in the Stalls, or 1,289 when fully seated.