Best Seats in Apollo Victoria Theatre

Introduction

The Apollo Victoria Theatre in Victoria has been home to Wicked—one of the West End's most successful musicals—since 2006. Originally built as a cinema in 1930, this Art Deco gem retains its distinctive underwater-themed interior, with shell motifs and wave-like decorations throughout. With 2,328 seats across two levels, understanding the best seats in the Apollo Victoria Theatre can make the difference between an adequate evening and a truly defying-gravity experience.

The theatre's unusual history as a cinema affects its layout. The Stalls are notably flat compared to purpose-built theatres, while the Circle is steeper than average. This creates specific challenges and opportunities for seat selection.

Quick Reference

Best overall: Circle rows A-E, centre

Best Stalls: Rows E-N, centre

Best budget: Circle rows F-M, centre

Avoid: Rear Stalls (rows V-Z), extreme Circle sides

The Stalls

The Stalls at the Apollo Victoria seat approximately 1,050 and extend quite far back. The flat rake (a legacy of its cinema origins) is both the best and worst feature of this level.

Front Stalls (Rows A-D)

The verdict: Thrilling proximity but potentially uncomfortable viewing.

Sitting in the first few rows puts you incredibly close to the performers. You'll see costumes in incredible detail, feel the vibrations of the bass notes, and catch every expression. However, Wicked's staging includes significant action at height—the famous flying sequences and second-floor set pieces—which requires craning your neck upward.

Best seats: Row D centre. Close enough to feel the energy, far enough to see the full stage.

Avoid: Rows A-B extreme sides. You'll miss half the stage and get a crick in your neck.

Mid Stalls (Rows E-N)

The verdict: The sweet spot for Stalls seating.

This section offers the ideal Stalls experience at the Apollo Victoria. You're close enough to feel the show's energy without straining to see raised staging. The sound mix is optimized for roughly row H-K, and these rows also offer the best view of Wicked's spectacular set design and lighting.

Best seats: Rows G-K, centre of the row. You'll see everything: the rising stage, the flying sequences, the dragon, all of it.

Value tip: If centre seats are unavailable, choose centre-left over centre-right. The musical director sits stage left, meaning key musical moments often orient that direction.

Rear Stalls (Rows O-Z)

The verdict: Problematic due to the flat rake. Avoid if possible.

This is where the Apollo Victoria's cinema heritage becomes an issue. The minimal rake means rows beyond O increasingly suffer from the heads in front of you blocking your view. By row V or beyond, you're essentially hoping for shorter audience members ahead.

Best seats if you must: Aisle seats, which give you at least one side without obstructions.

Avoid: Centre seats in rows T-Z. You'll spend the show bobbing side to side trying to see between heads.

The Circle Overhang

The Circle extends quite far forward over the rear Stalls. From approximately row R onwards, the overhang begins to cut off your view of the upper stage—problematic for Wicked specifically, given how much action occurs on the raised platforms and in the air.

The Circle

The Circle at the Apollo Victoria is where the theatre's cinema origins work in your favour. It's steeply raked, offering excellent sightlines down to the stage.

Front Circle (Rows A-E)

The verdict: Many consider these the best seats in the house.

The first few rows of the Circle offer a commanding view of the entire stage. You see the full set, all the flying sequences, and the elaborate lighting design as intended. The elevation means no heads in your way—just clear views.

Best seats: Rows B-D centre. Row A is at the balcony edge, which some find vertigo-inducing; rows B-D feel more secure while retaining perfect sightlines.

Mid Circle (Rows F-M)

The verdict: Excellent value with great views.

These rows offer almost the same view as front Circle but typically at lower prices. You're slightly further back, but the steep rake maintains clear sightlines. This is the section for budget-conscious theatregoers who still want a premium experience.

Best seats: Row F-H centre. Still firmly in "excellent view" territory.

Rear Circle (Rows N onwards)

The verdict: Perfectly acceptable but increasingly distant.

The back rows of the Circle are far from the stage—you'll notice performers' expressions less and rely more on the overall spectacle. However, unlike rear Stalls, you won't have heads blocking your view.

Acceptable for: Fans who've seen the show before and want to experience it again cheaply; those prioritizing being in the room over optimal views.

Circle Sides

The verdict: Approach with caution.

The extreme ends of each Circle row have partial views of the stage. You'll miss action happening on your side of the stage and watch at an angle for everything else. These seats are often marked as restricted view and priced accordingly.

Only worth it if: The discount is significant (50%+) and you've seen the show before.

Sound Quality

The Apollo Victoria has good acoustics for a theatre of its size, but location affects your audio experience:

Best sound: Mid Stalls (rows H-M centre) and front Circle (rows A-F centre). The mix is designed for these zones.

Good sound: Most of the theatre. The sound design is professional enough that you'll hear everything from most seats.

Challenging sound: Under the Circle overhang (rear Stalls) can feel somewhat muffled. Extreme Circle sides might miss some spatial effects.

Specifically for Wicked

Wicked's production makes specific demands that affect seat selection:

Flying Sequences

Elphaba's flights are designed to be seen from the Circle. From front Stalls, you'll look up at the most famous moments; from the Circle, you'll see them head-on.

The Dragon

The large animatronic dragon above the stage is spectacular—but you need height to appreciate it. Circle seats offer the best view of this set piece.

The Set Changes

Wicked's mechanical set changes are elaborate. Circle seats let you see these transitions more completely than Stalls.

Our recommendation for Wicked specifically: Circle rows B-F centre offer the most complete experience of this production.

Accessibility

The Apollo Victoria offers:

- Wheelchair spaces in the Stalls

- Transfer seating for those who can transfer from wheelchairs

- Hearing loop system

- Accessible toilets

Booking: Contact the access line directly for wheelchair and accessible seating. Standard booking often doesn't show all available accessible options.

Practical Tips

Best Entrance

The main entrance is on Wilton Road. Arrive with time to spare—security checks and crowds can cause delays, especially on weekends.

Interval Strategy

Bars are on both levels but get extremely busy. The upper Circle bar typically has shorter queues. Pre-ordering interval drinks saves significant time.

Programmes and Merchandise

The shop is in the main foyer. If you want merchandise, consider buying before the show to avoid interval queues, or immediately after as most people leave.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the restricted view Circle worth it?

It depends on the restriction. Slight restrictions on the extreme sides might be acceptable at a steep discount. Restrictions due to pillars or barriers are more problematic.

Are Stalls better than Circle?

For most shows, this is personal preference. For Wicked specifically, the Circle offers a superior view of the production's vertical staging. The best Stalls seats (rows E-N centre) are excellent, but the best Circle seats (rows A-E centre) are arguably better.

How far back is too far back?

In the Stalls, beyond row N starts becoming problematic due to the flat rake. In the Circle, there isn't really a "too far back"—just "quite far back." Row M of the Circle still offers a complete view; it just feels distant.

What about pillars?

The Apollo Victoria doesn't have significant pillar obstructions in the main seating areas. Restricted view seats are typically on the extreme sides due to angle rather than physical obstructions.

The Bottom Line

The best seats in the Apollo Victoria Theatre are in the Circle rows B-E centre. For Wicked especially, this elevation provides optimal views of the flying sequences, set changes, and overall spectacle.

In the Stalls, rows E-N centre offer the best experience—close enough for energy, far enough for complete views.

Avoid the rear Stalls (rows T-Z) where the flat rake creates sightline issues, and extreme Circle sides where angles become problematic.

The Apollo Victoria is a beautiful theatre with good sightlines from most seats. But for a production as visually spectacular as Wicked, investing in Circle front or mid-Stalls centre makes a genuine difference to your experience.