Best seats at the Gaiety Theatre, from Parterre to Upper Circle

The Gaiety opened in 1871, designed by C. J. Phipps and extended by Frank Matcham in 1883. It's a proper Victorian theatre: tiers stacked up the back wall, boxes at the sides, stone staircases, and no lift. It hosted Ireland's first Eurovision in 1971. Today it seats about 1,145, a lot fewer than the 2,000 it was first built for, so even the top isn't miles away. But the top is high, and the stairs are real.

The levels

The theatre's seating plan lists:

• Parterre: the ground floor, closest to the stage. Step-free through the ramped side door.
• Dress Circle: the middle level.
• Grand Circle and Upper Circle: grouped together on the plan. The Upper Circle is the top floor and the furthest from the stage.
• Boxes: on sale for most shows, in limited numbers per performance.

Where to sit

The Parterre if you want to be close, or if stairs are an issue. There's no lift, so this is the only level you can reach without climbing. For a play, mid-Parterre gets you faces and voices without craning up at the stage.

The Dress Circle for the full picture. It's the level to book for a musical or panto with big set pieces. It's also one of the two levels the theatre recommends if you get vertigo.

The Grand and Upper Circle for the budget, if you're fine with heights. The theatre itself warns that people with vertigo may prefer the Parterre or Dress Circle over these levels and the boxes.

Boxes feel like an occasion and suit a group. There are only a few per show, so book early, and they share the height warning above.

Not sure? The theatre has a virtual tour and floor plans on its website, so you can check the view before you pay.

Panto and children

The Gaiety panto has run every Christmas since 1873. Children's tickets cover ages 3 to 15, and under-16s need someone 16 or over with them. Under-3s get in free to children's shows like the panto, on a lap, one infant per family. Booster seats aren't allowed or provided, so for small children a seat in the Dress Circle, looking down over the heads, beats a seat behind an adult in the Parterre.

Access and hearing

The four wheelchair spaces are in the Parterre, each with a free carer seat. The audio induction loop works best on either side of the front Parterre, rows A to M, so set your hearing aid to "T" and book there.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Gaiety Theatre have a lift?

No. The Parterre is the only step-free level, reached by a ramped door beside the main entrance on South King Street.

What is the best level at the Gaiety Theatre for vertigo?

The theatre recommends the Parterre or the Dress Circle rather than the Grand Circle, Upper Circle or boxes.

How many seats does the Gaiety Theatre have?

About 1,145, according to Wikipedia.

Can I bring a booster seat to the Gaiety panto?

No. Booster seats, buggies and car seats aren't allowed in the auditorium, and the theatre doesn't provide booster seats.