Reviews of Edinburgh Playhouse. (Other) in Edinburgh (East Lothian).
Edinburgh Playhouse
18-22 Greenside Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3AA, United Kingdom
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Information of Edinburgh Playhouse, Other in Edinburgh (East Lothian)
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Reviews of Edinburgh Playhouse
C. “. T.
Recently been to see The Lion King and had a thoroughly wonderful time! The performance itself was fantastic and the cast were all wonderful.
The theatre itself is traditional and relatively old. It really is beautiful when you take the time to look at all the features. The foyer looks absolutely fantastic and the staff are absolutely amazing. Such happy, pleasant people who are more than happy to help.
The chairs in the actual theatre are comfy enough but you can tell they’re old. Sitting for 3 hours solid is not so great, as well as there being barely any room for your legs, let alone personal belongings.
They also really need to enforce disallowing re-entry, at least until certain points, when people have left because I spent half my time getting up and sitting down because of children constantly ‘needing the toilet’. Nothing more annoying when you’ve paid a lot of money for tickets and the show being interrupted over 5 times in one act.
Other than that, it’s a wonderful experience no matter where you sit and I really do recommend going to see a performance here!
S. M.
We went to see the lion King 🦁 👑
Fantastic show! Lovely friendly helpful staff.
It was great being able to order from your seat and getting it delivered 👏
Toilet system worked great at the interval. Amazing night.
F. L.
Large theatre with great atmosphere. We were there to see Beauty and the Beast, final performance and it was unforgettable. The theatre had a great system to check for covid passes, tickets and bag search. We enjoyed our concessions too
P. A. D.
Very good performance 🎭 I saw there. The staff is very friendly and helpful to allocate you on your place. Between the spectacle you can get drinks or snacks.
I enjoyed so much.
Highly recommended.
#edinburghplayhouse #performance #playhouse #visitplayhouse #edinburghperformance #visitedinburgh #travelphotography
P. M.
Absolutely loved our visit to the playhouse to see the amazing Beauty and the beast show! Staff where super helpful and polite. Easy to find our seats after being directed to the correct area. Can't wait to return again
C. A.
Aside from enjoying the show (after a 2 1/2 year wait!) was really glad to see how well managed the venue was.
Being almost 8 months pregnant I was dreading the toilet queues and chaos that I’ve experienced elsewhere but it was so well run! Plenty of toilets, lots of staff directing the flow of people and the food & drink seemed to be well done too with the option of ordering to seat.
Would happily book this venue again if it wasn’t 200 miles away!
J. G.
Fantastic show, theatre gets very warm when it's a full house, seating a bit tight and gets a tad uncomfy after an hour.
K. L.
We booked the final night of the stage adaptation of Beauty and the Beast during the limited UK Disney tour, visiting from London. We were able to go directly inside on arrival, despite the vast queues—woohoo. All staff were friendly and one offered to take a photo for us at the end. The theatre is nice. The show was enjoyable for the nostalgia and our fandom of the original animated movie. Overall highlight was the Be Our Guest sequence, by far. The staff manager was helpful and handled a problematic couple seated next to us, who thankfully left. Despite the great stuff, there were a few let-downs. The packaged popcorn was completely stale and flavourless, so none of us ate it. The wine was sold out almost instantly after the venue opened, which seemed strange. There was barely any leg space between rows. Other than that, an enjoyable evening!
A. G.
The Lion King was amazing. The heat in the play house was unbelievable .Not very well organised for toilets ,alot of steps and seating very small .However the show was worth it .
G. J.
The show, Footloose was very enjoyable. The theatre seems odd in its layout. To get to the stalls you go down 2 levels. Inside the auditorium it feels like there is a mix of styles but fits together well. The biggest issue is the air conditioning or lack of. It was a warm night outside ,18 degrees or so, but the theatre was hot and sticky. Not the most pleasant of atmospheres for watching a show. A positive for tall people, you do have a little more leg room than many theatres.
S. L.
Booked the bistro and ambassador lounge experience and it was fantastic. The staff in the bistro and lounge were friendly and helpful. The food was tasty and there were no long waits. It made for a very relaxed experience. Plus the show ‘footloose’ was amazing. Thankyou.
M. H.
It is a great place to see a show and also it is great to have the ambassador launch for a drink 4b the show and during the break.
J. R.
Absolutely brilliant. Great seats and staff all very helpful too. One of the best shows I've ever been at, Saturday Night Fever
P. F.
Fantastic venue with lovely, friendly staff. Bar was quick and cheerful. Show, My Fair Lady was a delight for every attendee.
L.
The theatre is very good and I think they might have expanded ladies' toilet provision downstairs - they seem to be more loos than i remember. We were at My Fair Lady 7th jan which was excellent and we had great seats in the circle.
However, i do wish this theatre (and all theatres) would do more to clamp down on smartphone use during performances. We had a woman in front checking her emails literally every 2 mins and another bloke on the football!
If a visually stunning show like My Fair Lady doesnt grab their attention, i don't know what will.
If you are a person with smart phone addiction, please, please pop you phone on dark mode an book back row seats. It is the very least you can do. And get help!! We had a bloke at Perth Playhouse doing online gambling throughout the pantomime. It is a serious problem if you cannot switch off for 2 or 3 hours.
C. H.
Great to be back at this lovely old theatre and Joseph was fantastic! Only annoying thing was I had an opened bottle of water which I was asked to pour out before going in, but I could get it filled at the bar 🤔🙄....... what's that all about?!
R. C.
Had a fantastic time at Joseph. Such a n amazing atmosphere
L. S.
I was sat in the stalls at the end of row J I had a fantastic view of the production My Fair Lady. I definitely pick that row again
S. T.
Love the Playhouse, Been going to gigs, musicals and plays for around 45 years, fab atmosphere and staff are always great
E. W.
Brilliant production of My Fair Lady. Wonderful singing - a fabulous show. Definitely worth seeing!
A. K.
Visited here to watch Lion King. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The drinks were a bit steep however I was prepared with it being a theatre.
During the interval it was a bit chaotic trying to visit the toilet and there was a lot of congestion on the stairs.
B. E.
Ushers are a bit no nonsense! Toilets, gents at least, seemed clean enough. Seating a little cramped, difficult view of the stage if the person in front is an inch taller than you. Or moving about. It's an old building that could maybe do with a bit modernisation but appeared clean and well staffed. Bar prices are outrageous, go elsewhere for preshow drinks. As with the majority of these venues, photography isn't allowed... 🦇
L. N.
5 stars for Catherine at the Playhouse! Lovely, helpful and caring lady. We went to see a show tonight, it was ace but unfortunately the seating, which was described as “restricted leg room” should actually have read, no leg room at all for those 6ft and over and certainly not for big, strapping men. We thought we would need to leave which was rubbish cos the show was great! Catherine took us to a wee standing spot at the back where we could enjoy the rest of the show in comfort. Thanks Catherine! We had a great time and the folk you work with confirmed that you are, in fact, the best! It was the first time we have been out since the pandemic and we had a brilliant time, largely thanks to you. Of course the show was brilliant too! ☺️🤗🙏❤️
D. S.
Really lovely experience. We went to gobsee The Lion King the musical as a group of 3, the merchandise is right at the front and is very wide and easy to access. The bar is directly behind it and the stage was fantastic too. All seats including all 3 balconies were close enough to the stage where nobody struggled to see and the seats were comfortable.
The aisles were wide and the service from the staff was very professional.
Worthy of 5 stars and I look forward to returning in the future to see something new.
J. M.
Beauty and the beast 🥀 best show ever. The playhouse was clean and well organized getting everyone in. Seats leg room a little tight but once the show started hardly noticed !!! Also loved the little touches 🌹🌹
B. Z.
Went to Lion King on Wednesday, was amazing acting from all the actors! My group all really enjoyed it. Unfortunately seats were really small and close together, however staff and security were really friendly and was an amazing show!
V. B.
Had a great time at the Lion King yesterday. Staff were very friendly and good at directing you to where you needed to go. I was only 4 rows from the front so had a very good view. This was my second time seeing it but I could watch it over and over again.
J. M.
It almost been 3 years since the show was supposed to be on. We have all gone through the bad times but the show was good. The staff where friendly and pleasant. It was nice to enjoy a goog show with plenty of laughs and good company from fellow work colleagues
S. M.
Great theatre in Edinburgh, always bring good shows. Comfy seating and great views of the stage from all over the venue!
We seen Wannabe and it was such a good night. The staging was fab!
Would recommened anyone wanting to see a show in Edinburgh to look into here!
V. P.
Amazing place! Great view to the stage even from the far seats.
R. M.
Just seen Mrs Browns Boys D'live musical show and it was amazing.
Need to put our a BIG shout our the the playhouse staff, I took a bit of a turn just before the show started and staff managed to move me and my wife to other seats that suited the situation I found myself in. THANK YOU SO MUCH
F.
Busy, full house, masks are still essential, forgot how frustrating waiting at a bar can be, but everyone is starting to get out again, good fun, roundabout outside playhouse/Omni centre is chaos, leave and park in plenty of time if going
A. B.
My husband and I were at the Playhouse on Saturday the 16th of July to see Mrs Brown's Boys,my husband
who suffers from osteoarthritis knee suddenly gave way and he couldn't walk into the show the security guard(Gavin) was so helpful he helped us in and found us another seat and on leaving the show found us a wheelchair and got another security guard to push him out toget a taxi. Brilliant staff all round . Thanks so much Bill and Anne Burns
M. M.
Its a great venue in the city centre, just a short walk from Scott Monument. The seats are a little cramped. The venue itself is great, very spacious and lots of seats. The wait at the bar at the interval was long, but understandable. The toilets were a bit messy.
S. Z.
The show ( The lion king) was impressive, but the stage is not big enough, seats are so close to each other and don't have enough room, especially, you can not imagine how hot inside the playhouse!
C. A.
Very enjoyable show the cast were excellent. The Book of Mormons
K. W.
Great venue, fabulous night seeing Frankie Boyle. Travelled from Cambridge and the night was well worth it. Many bars available for drink plus waitress service to your seat so no need to fight your way through. Well organised, well known, top plac 😁
C. M.
Excellent! They did bar orders delivered to your seat and the kinterval.toilet queue was very well managed to keep things moving.
S.
The show was great but the theatre must invest in a new air-conditioning system. There was hundreds of people in a tightly confined space and the heat was incredible; a perfect vector for Covid.
I. C.
Watched the musical Footloose. The buiding is nice and it was a very good musical.
S. V.
Lovely theatre and very friendly staff never seen a bad show yet and the boards restaurant is lovely
M. C.
First time there for many years. Very enjoyable evening. Comfortable little bar and friendly and efficient staff.
N. B.
It was fine, no complaints, no particular plaudits; it was as expected. We didn't use the pre-order bar or the toilets, so can't comment. The main auditorium was clean,, well staffed and well patrolled. The entrance to the theatre was very much the same. We have been before and wouldn't hesitate to return for any performance.
D. B.
Was there for the WWRY musical and that was great. Its a big stage, compareable to london dominion theatre that makes you fell the whole stuff, so better than the smaller ones like sheffield. The seats are very small, for tall guys very hurting. But this must be a UK thing as I hsad this in other shows too. This is someting i do not know from other coutries outside the UK. Unfortunately getting drinks inside is quite hard. Before the show and in the break theres s long long queue, lucky if you get something to drink.
B.
Etickets proved a slight problem at the door as staff's readers could not read paper copies, however, sorted at box office. I must get better at using my phone I suppose. Otherwise excellent, as was the show. Bill Bailey was tremendous.
C. L.
Gorgeous old theatre, large capacity, lovely interior, seats close together and seats on the edges/ high up can have a poor view so be careful where you book but mostly wonderful. Some very good shows and a good variety, pricey bar.
S. J.
The Lion King @The Edinburgh Playhouse! What a fantastic show and a unique theatre to hold such a prestigious production. Located at the end of the main strip of Edinburgh centre, this theatre is easy to find and a great venue to hold world famous plays and shows. The main entrance hallway has plenty of space with clear and visible directions leading you through to the auditorium seating area. The drink and food prices are a little on the pricey side - £6 for a pint of Heinekken but all the staff are happy to help and welcoming on the doors. We sat on the front row of the upper tier and had a good view of the stage. The show was fantastic and the atmosphere was great! A classy venue for a WOW show! I highly recommend you to grab tickets if you can to watch The Lion King 🦁
C. Y.
Good show however we were sitting in rows HH of the stalls and there was way too much movement and noise from people constantly going in and out of the doors at the back. I know people can't be stopped from going to toilet but think the doors were noisy being opened all the time. Maybe people should have been asked to keep the noise down a bit more. Any shows I've been to before have not allowed people back to their seats until appropriate times in the show to lessen the disturbance of others watching. Otherwise a lovely theatre but the constant coming and going and noise level at times did spoil it a little
L. M.
Went to see wicked, and it was WICKED!!!!
when ordering drinks at interval they are located on the wall facing the front of the bar (makes sense when you see it) and they are left unattended! And open! I bit iffy in this day and age! And there aren't enough toilets, so you will be queuing! so be prepared ;-) but the show was great and staff are friendly enough....
G. D.
Fire exits could be open near main stage, rather than put an announcement to ask everyone to stay in seats till end of performance, not what you might call covid efficient, would've had 5 stars if not for that part
N. T.
So I'm used to HMT in Aberdeen, having seen the Playhouse the place is huge. Staff manage the queues well and are polite to the public.
Great venue and it's somewhere I wo happily visit again.
D. B.
Had a brilliant night watching Hairspray! Staff all seemed lovely and was a beautiful theatre inside. Only complaint from us is the seating, not much legroom and becomes extremely uncomfortable sitting later into the show but apart from that had a brilliant night!
C. F.
Lovely theatre. Appreciate that venues are just re-opening following the pandemic, but entry to the theatre not well handled. Times of doors opening changed constantly, queues of people left out in the rain for an hour. Venue stipulates no standing areas, seats only, yet everyone seated in the stalls for this performance stood up all the way through the concert. It wasn’t possible to see unless you joined them and that isn’t always possible for people with limited mobility. Even if you stand, you simply can’t see if you’re a small person with a 6ft 5in person in front. Fair enough if it’s made clear that people may stand if they wish, but not If a venue advertises seating areas only. It’s a shame because unless this trend is checked, many people will be put off live performances. No one wants to pay a lot for a performance, pay to travel and a hotel, only to find they may as well have watched a video at home.
K. J.
Went to see the Lion King. Production, absolutely amazing! However the theatre was over heated, (to the point of feeling faint), seats are so close in front of you it's really hard to see beyond the person in front of you, or even the person in front of them. Leg room is virtually non existent! So a hot, uncomfortable and frustrating experience in the theatre:(
L. H.
I had the most excellent afternoon with my grandson and great niece sister and daughter the show was the best I loved Sam Bailey ❤ and the rest of the cast was brilliant xx
G. D.
Went to see The Lion King at The Playhouse.
Great show even though I am not a musical theatre type person. I prefer prog rock or heavy metal. Would recommend this show to anyone.
S.
A brilliant and historic venue in Edinburgh.
B.
Great visit to the Edinburgh playhouse at the weekend to see Alan carr .
Bar staff could do with speeding up a bit . Otherwise. Love going here to see shows . Always a varied range for everyone to enjoy
P. N.
The venue is ok but the heat was herndous for that reason alone i wont be back
M. R.
Saw a great show (5 stars) at the Playhouse but the building and seating is definitely in need of an upgrade. Very uncomfortable to sit for over 2.5 hours. Some parts of the building in need of some TLC. Still a superb venue however.
C. M.
Helpful staff plenty of them but the only fault was when our tickets were printed off it said that the show stared at 2 and doors opened at 1pm only to find out show started at 1o'clock and everyone was going into the theater so tickets where at fault but we could have missed the show if we hadn't arrived early.
M. M.
Saw Saturday night fever , brilliant singing alone with most of the songs
K. C.
Fantastic night at the Russian State Ballet of Siberia (Swan Lake). Playhouse staff are very polite and friendly.
P. S.
Last Visited in early January 2019 to go see the Musical Kinky Boots. We booked seats Q50/51 in the upper circle. These are end of row seats with Very easy access, Plenty leg space and good uninterrupted view of stage. We also used the QT service for drinks... So No queuing at bar, just order and drinks are delivered to your seat.. Excellent!
M. S.
Fantastic venue excellent and lighting. Very impressive.
F. T.
The venue was far too hot! No air con. Otherwise we enjoyed the Lion king performance.
S. H.
Lovely venue with nice friendly staff. Great for shows, concerts. We were sat in the cheap seats on the balcony, not the best if heights aren't your thing.
M. C.
Went to see the book of Mormon which I have seen before, bar prices are OK however I found the sound pretty poor in the playhouse and struggled to hear parts of the show, next time I'll probably book Glasgow.
A. W.
Very nice theatre! Lion King was amazing! Hot tip: bringing your own drinks is not permitted.
A. E.
Seats are a bit cramped and the floor was sticky and dated. However even from the balcony the view was good with a lovely aesthetic.
B. L.
We went to Bat out of Hell last week at the Playhouse and the staff were great and the show was wonderful. I'm sorry to read about an issue that is in the press just now. The staff are following a protocol not of their own making. They conducted themselves professionally and politely as far as we we concerned.
B. B.
We came to the edinburgh playhouse 2 weeks back to watch "The Bodyguard" the show was amazing and the hospitality was great. We were able to order and pay on an app from our seats to which the waiters were able to bring it down to us.
The Edinburgh playhouse was a very big theatre and also was very spacious. Would reccomend it if you come to visit Scotland!
A. G.
Great venue plus fabulous entertainment from all the Ru Paul UK queens. It was a joy to attend.
H.
I am disabled, half way through the first half I was in a lot of pain with my leg, I had no choice but to get up and walk, I was allowed to move to unoccupied seats where I had more leg room, I would have had to leave otherwise as I couldn't have stood for the 2nd half, great, clean, well manned place.
B. F.
Great venue, staff very helpful, awesome Musical. Bat out of Hell
G. E.
Nice classic venue, lots of seats. Rows in stalls were quite narrow though.
Fantastic show and staff were helpful.
P. M.
Loved going to see Beauty and the Beast, what a great show. Acting and singing was amazing. Only thing letting it down was the Theatre it's self, were I was sitting I couldn't put anything on the floor as my boots was sticking to it.
They are needing to get the carpet's washed.
B. G.
I attended a lot of shows here always have a great night x
Z. C.
My whole family was absolutely stunned by performance The Lion King. Brilliant, magnificent, entertaining. Everything well prepared and organized. Worth every penny.
A. G.
Brilliant production of Pucchini's Madame Butterfly and then to finish off a tribute to Ukraine with flag & national anthem.
D. M.
It's a great place with a long history.
Seats a little hard but not terrible.
K. S.
My daughter and I were there to see Beauty and the Beast, the show was wonderful, cast amazing, costumes stunning, the lighting out of this world, music, fabulous and theatre staff were helpful and polite. We understood from the website no-one under six would be allowed in to see the show, not so we were stuck with a three year old who didn't shut up throughout the show, her parent or whomever was with her continued chatting with her throughout the whole performance. Why were your rules not adhered to? It is not exactly cheap to get to front stall seats, my daughter had been looking to returning to the theatre, this lack of sticking to your rules spoiled this for us and all those stuck listening to a child who did not understand what was going on and an adult without social etiquette or manners. Who was unable to communicate to a three year old how to behave in a theatre.
Y. N.
Went to see "Rock of Ages". Its hands down the funniest, most brilliant show I've ever seen. I could watch over and over again. The Playhouse was stunning too x
o. o.
Great plays and good drinks,
As fad as seats go you pretty much get what you pay for but there pretty close together.
S. F.
Beauty and the Beast, the show was Fantastic, the kids loved it, but, but we had tickets at the back of the hall, it was chilly. It does need money spent on the building, more ladies toilets a must. And the seats need to be looked at for the size of the audience, individually are a wee bit bigger bulk wise now.
P. M.
Lovely venue with original features. View from every seat is pretty awesome and they get regular top level acts and shows.
P. T.
Well organised show with a great atmosphere. Seats could have been a bit roomier but otherwise satisfactory.
L. E.
Booked very last minute at box office.had problems with my knee and seats were made available with easy access. Do not know the young lady's name who assisted us with booking, however she could not have done more. Thank you great venue, great show.
D. P.
Went to see the beauty and the beast last night - the show was great, well organized, both in and out. My only criticism is that the venue looks a bit tired - lots of stains on the carpets, chairs in poor condition etc. The place really needs some tlc work as it's probably one of the least maintained venues I have ever been to.
P. W.
Loved the lion king show but the seating wasn't very comfortable, after paying £99 per seat I think the playhouse possibly needs an upgrade xx
C. Y.
Fantastic venue, always enjoy a performance here
P. S. -. K. A.
Much construction works being done in this part of the city and road works also under construction as well, as building works to offices, plan ahead!! parking could be a massive problem within the city centre. The Council has a massive area in St Andrews Square why this is not used for parking! Very difficult due to so much road works and building contruction sites.
s. m.
Had a great experience seeing the lion king. It was amazing. The theatre is stunning and the staff were all lovely.
C. H.
The show was great (Kinky Boots), the theatre itself is beautiful, my only criticism is of The bar, the drinks were very overpriced (£6.90 for a 500ml bottle of Staropramen, typically around £5.50 for 568ml or an old fashioned pint in the rest of edinburgh), typical "captive audience" pricing, unsurprising the theatre was only half full, theatres need to move forward and get competitive if they want to succeed in a multimedia future.
c. m. b. d.
A fine venue... first act was Laurel & Hardy !!
Used to see amazing concerts back in the day, now its musicals etc
W. A.
Just out of the opening night of the Lion King
Amazing show…costumes incredible…musical score first class….cast and performances up with the very best. A brilliant night out
G. S.
Always love going to the playhouse. I sit downstairs because it is fairly steep sitting up high and for people with a fear of heights, it’s pretty scary. Had a couple of issues taking in drinks (coffee) me and 2 of my friends had to bin drinks we had just bought from the Italian restaurant on the corner 🤬 have been twice since and had no issues taking drinks in. Must have been an off night.... oh and the usual, drink (wine) is expensive and not the best 🤢
V. W.
Wow what a night definatly reccomend going to see a show in this fab place
K. W.
Went to see Sleeping Beauty with the Moscow City Ballet and the performance was wonderful. The seating was a little cramped and perhaps could do with a bit of a refurbishment, however it is a lively and charming venue
J. T.
Been to the shows here recently: Waitress, Derren Brown and Bill Bailey and the audio has always been bass heavy making speech hard to understand throughout the venue. Music is also often leveled to be louder than the performer as well.
D. M.
Show was absolutely amazing, only downside was it was so hot and stuffy I don't think they've ever heard of air conditioning!
R. A.
Viewed the lion king here it was incredible. Staff were curtious and helpful. Great show and performance
F. N. M. P.
My first visit to the playhouse I absolutely loved it. Only issue I had was not enough leg room.
C. A. L.
Had a fantastic night at the start of the David Blaine UK tour. Very helpful staff and a great venue. Though refreshments are expensive.
D. B.
Lovely old theatre footloose was fantastic really deserved a standing ovation at the end would recommend seeing it
L. H.
Show was brilliant, and just beautiful. Went to see Beauty and the Beast. But the vaccine passports weren't scanned or checked properly - I could have been showing them anyone's - and about 1 in 5 people wore a face mask throughout the performance.
P. B.
Went to see Re-scheduled Riverdance tour Wednesday evening, not only was it an excellent show, the smooth running of checking vaccine status, scanning tickets, checking bags was handled so efficiently at a difficult time, I was extremely impressed, and the whole experience was very enjoyable. We were a bit wary after such a long time away from busy venues, but need not have worried!
N. A.
Tonight was ACE! - A Stunning Show - with Greats and Shall be Great Stars of the Future - Even if set in Baltimore's 1962 - at least 13 years before I First heard Buddy Holly and The Crickets - Crocodile Rock.
Congrats to the Cast and Crew - Sound and Lighting was stunning too and the Dancers Sonic Youth of the C21 Twenties - Still Coming to terms with the Shows cross between Musical and Panto
N. J. Anderson
S. T. 4.
Daniel Sloss was amazing...venue good, firbeldy staff and didn't take long at all to get in through the doors and drinks served..
S. M.
Went to see Chicago the musical. Absolutely brilliant, the singing, dancing and comedy were first class. The whole cast were great. And the small orchestra was phenomenal. Highly recommend. 5 🌟.
A. G.
A fantastic theatre. Have seen many performances here. But bar prices a bit expensive. How can they justify £6.50 for a bottle of Magners?
J. M. D.
As always the playhouse was superb, very well organised and did not have to wait long to get in, our vac docs were checked and we were good to go.
We treated ourselves this time around and used the Ambassador lounge, well worth the extra.
The show 9 till 5 was more a female show than Male, how ever it was still enjoyable.
A. W.
I have edited this review i have just been at playhouse 15/7/22 to see mrs brown dlive show best seat in the house just amazing and fantastic well done mrs brown and family just awesome you were all amazing and superb my favourites mrs brown winnie mark and cathy well done xx
D. H.
Lovely theatre. Saw The Book of Mormon. Great show.
P. W.
Had a fantastic night we'll organise staff very friendly
S. D.
Show was fantastic but the venue although beautiful, desperately needs to update seats - extremely uncomfortable and not accommodating in the slightest, would put me off going back
A. L.
wife and I just had great night at theatre watching beauty and the beast. brilliant show in good surroundings. staff where really good in strange circumstances due to covid protocols. always enjoy shows at Edinburgh playhouse. lumiere and cast singing be our guest worth admission and more itself. absolutely outstanding
A. W.
We loved visiting Edinbrugh playhouse. Lion king . Fab seats in circle for £20.00 each . Absolute bargin . Great view no restrictions.
M. A.
As always.. brilliant! Matilda was absolutely amazing. However with a full house it was very hot. No need for a jumper. X
R. M. F.
Good acoustics. Comfortable seats with good enough views. You can order drinks in several bars inside, or even once you are seated.
M. V.
Attended Mrs browns show last night excellent venue ,show was amazing very well organised venue
c. m.
Commitments was fantastic show,a must see
A. D.
The seat are not very comfortable and I don't think people should be sitting so close because covid still very much a round
T. T.
Seen Matilda. A great show. Theatre was a bit too hot for me but plenty of leg room.
A. Y.
Beauty and the Beast was a truly enchanting, magical, enriching, entertaining and breathtaking performance.
Thank you, Edinburgh Playhouse, for having such a wonderful show and for ensuring that everyone was safe and sound. The process at the doors was very smooth and straightforward. Xx
C. R.
Had a fantastic night at White Christmas. Started at the Bistro,friendly and informative staff on the door and so very helpful in restaurant.Food was good too. Felt very safe as staff checked covid status etc without any hold ups or issues. Thank you all for a wonderful experience. Xxx
L.
Great venue. Been to a few shows here and view from my seat was great. Bus stop near by makes it easy to get to.
G. D.
Really enjoyed the show bit yhe Playhouse really need to update their seating. I'm over 6" with an arse the size of a baby elephant, I'm just getting the blood back to my legs this morning.
E. A.
Absolutely amazing at the edingburgh playhouse dream girls had a wonderful day .no train but didnt stop us both Denise an I from going awesome. Had lunch an superb theater performance of dreamgirls ever so memorable day out treasured for life making fantastic memories. we were like Thelma an Louise, thank you ever so much Denise fantastic xmas present your one in a million such a wonderful Lady. Elainexx
P. P.
Staff incredibly helpful when we approached them about help for someone with disability. The box office staff in particular were good and the ushers also deserve a mention. Congratulations to the staff member managing the disabled toilet queue for not taking any snash from the ignorant old woman claiming she was the only genuinely disabled person in the queue.
Only downside is the seats are tiny, so when you have an annoying family behind you they are hard to ignore. Who takes a 4 year old to a late show and then sits and glugs wine?
S. G.
My friend and I accompanied a lady in a wheelchair to see Beauty and the Beast. Firstly, a wonderful show......the staff are so helpful respectful and go out if their way to assist. A credit to the playhouse. Thank you.
S. H.
Seeing Matilda on Tuesday night was absolutely amazing and the people who works at the playhouse were friendly
A. C.
En route to the theatre I almost took the wrong turn but luckily it was in plain sight to see since it was illuminated and all with The Lion King. Construction makes it hard navigating in the area if you're unfamiliar with Edinburgh. The Playhouse is located conveniently by what appears to be a mall so it is a popular spot. The outside of the theatre looks amazing and quite small but wait until you get inside where the stage is. There are three levels of seating and from what I saw there looks to be really no bad seat in the house but I could be wrong. The Lion King was the first play I saw here. I was able to score a deal and sit in the third row from the front of the stage with the cost being less than £30. Definitely a steal of a deal if you're a student and going by yourself. The play itself was amazing with the characters being literally right next to you as they walk up into the stage. Supporting actors were even in the first and second balcony. It gets quite crowded outside of the theatre in the mezzanine areas as it is quite small for the number of customers wanting to get drinks, merchandise and go to the washroom. By the way you can eat and drink in the theatre which I thought was odd but it is accommodating for the viewers. Overall, you must go there either to see a play or just take a look at the architecture. Beautiful building and what a play!
D. F.
Saw Beauty and the Beast here and it was a amazing. Marking down the theatre though as they were forcing pre-school children to throw away squash that they had in reusable bottles into a large bowl. What a waste and what a poor message to send to such young children.
E. S. N.
Great theater! One of my best experiences in Edinburgh. Strongly recommend.
L. M.
Easy to find, great shows, not too big that you cant see the stage without screens. Drinks expensive, but standard for venues
K. M.
Went to see beauty and the beast.
The show itself was brilliant.
Theatre was very squished though not alot of space between you and the seat infront of you or the seat beside you. Nowhere to put drinks or snacks.
I do understand why they take away your juice at the front door incase there is alcohol inside it but you are then made to wait in a huge queue for a bottle of juice or water which is £2-£3 I don't agree with that.
The queues to get in the doors were confusing could of been signposted to know which queue you were standing in me and the people behind me had to jump in and out of queues because we weren't sure which one we were in.
L. G.
Went to see Beauty and thexBeast what an excellent production. Unfortunately ther were some patrons with very young children in front. They were unable to sit because of their age but playhouse staff were quick at telling the parents to switch off their phones which I wondered if was being used as a distraction for the children.. They also came back down and told the parents not to allow the children to run around. It was well handled and quickly which ensured the enjoyment of other patrons was not spoilt pre entry there was checking of each covid vaccination passport which made you feel somewhat safer. This meant longer queues for getting in but was worth the wait.
You can order products such as sweets etc on the app and they are brought to you before the show starts or during the interval which avoids you having to queue. In all a very good first theatre experience since theatres re opened
G. M.
Flew to Edinburgh to see Mark Knopfler, WOW, WOW, WOW! What a place to see such a talent. The venue is small, quaint and sooooooo Scottish! It was such a delight. The next day I was kicking myself for not requesting one of the TWO posters on the outside of the Playhouse (under glass) promoting the evening. I went to the Edinburgh Playhouse that morning and the young lady at the front ticket wicket first thought I was a bit of a kook, then she went above and beyond. I explained that I had travelled from Vancouver B.C. Canada to see Mark and this limited poster would be a piece that would stay with me forever. Well bless her heart, she shutdown the ticket wicket, excused herself and 10 minutes later showed up with one of the two posters. She pulled it out of the garbage! What can I say, this girl is a Saint! Edinburgh is awesome and to experience it with music makes it even more unreal! Thank you Edinburgh Playhouse and THANKS forever to that young lady in ticket booth!
C. P.
Very busy main door. Good security checks though. In helpful staff.
Had booked VIP experience with entrance to bar before show, asked a number of staff where this was, lots of pointing and direction giving but as visitors to the area this wasn't the most helpful.
Nice old theatre. Very very warm.
Again only one person helped us to find the bar in the interval. Girls in there were lovely but as we were last in I was sat next to the door which people kept going in and out of. Small tub of mixed nuts etc.
Asked for toilets, girl suggested bistro toilets which we had 'plenty of time for so not to worry', we didn't. Was not allowed back into main theatre as the show had already started, was allowed to watch on the TV in the bar, 10 minutes later we were finally allowed back in. A WHOLE row of people pretty much!
Lots of stairs.
Can't comment on other bars as we didn't access them.
Theatre and toilets were clean.
J. M. (.
Great place for a show, chose your seat wisely, a bit of a pain getting out once done very bottle necked at times.
S. M.
Amazing production yet again. The electronic sets and the sound. Only a couple of minor glitches noted, butthe show was tremendous. We will rock you certainly did.
M. C. (.
Had a wonderful night at the Playhouse when we went to see Dream Girls..as a treat we upgraded to Ammasador Suite..Ariianne?looked after us sooo welll .had a wee mixup with my nights...but she sorted it alll out for us..was soo friendly and helpful..thankyou again you made our night.. mand i wish you well with your Career..
C. S.
The lion king was absolutely fantastic and well presented i love to go back i will be back thank you for the show
D. C.
Had a fab time at Beauty and the Beast with my sis and niece! Brilliant production with amazing performances from cast, orchestra, special effects wizards... Loved it!
D. T.
Went to see Jane Mcdonald belive it or not fantastic..showgirl loved it ..
m.
Another good show 9 to 5...Just back open, after being shut because of Covid19 restrictions. So negative test needed or double jagged and masks on. 😷 would of been 5 star. But I always find seats not that comfy.
a. b.
Great to be back, staff superb and care taken over the new vax status / rules excellent.
S. A.
Great venue. Good show - Forth on the Fringe
G. M.
Visited the theatre to see the lion king. Production was first class. Seats were comfortable. We were in the circle and had a great view. Cushions are provided upon request if you have a small child to prop them up in their seat. Staff very helpfull. Can take in soft drinks and snacks without issue.
K. R.
Great venue and amazing performance of The Lion King. The only thing letting it down is the crush of people at interval who can't go a couple of hours without a drink. There's confusion as the bar, toilet and merchandise queues all merge into one. Not a pleasant experience, especially for kids. If you can avoid getting up from your seat at interval, I'd recommend it. Other than that, this venue is fantastic.
M. P.
My daughter and I saw the 4 o clock showing of Thriller live today. One word for it AMAZING!!!! the singers were so good and the dancing was absolutely spot on. Such a great show to see, would definitely recommend. The performers had the whole theatre up on their feet dancing - great atmosphere. I will definitely be going back to see this show. Five stars all the way 🌟😊
R. M.
Mrs Brown's Boys the musical was fantastic. A must see for one and all.
T. R.
We watched the lion King and it was fantastic, staff at the playhouse were very good helping you
r. m.
No social distancing. Person in front of me was so tall I had to crick my neck to see anything. Didn't like wearing my mask but heyho.
The actual White Christmas was good.
K. B.
Definitely take a punt on the cheaper seats, I was alone tonight, bought the lowest price ticket in the stalls as it was an aisle seat and not next to an occupied seat, view was great, worth every penny!
C. D.
We saw the Lion King, and it was amazing. The staff were friendly and helpful. Only slight drawback was that as an old theatre, the seats are a bit small with only a little leg room, not great if you are tall. We were seated in the balcony area, so perhaps other seating areas are different.
G. T.
It was my first visit to the Playhouse, the staff were extremely helpful showing us to our seats which gave us a great view of the stage. The toilets are on the upper and lower floors which even from the middle were fairly easy to get to. The bar areas appeared to be quite large and we'll stalked with drinks although pricey.
m. c.
We went to see the lion King which was exceptional, if it hadn't been we would have left! There was no leg room at all, I couldn't sit properly on my chair and we avoided booking the seats with restricted leg room! The seats around us all seemed to squeak whenever anyone moved and throughout the quieter parts of the performance was really distracting and not to mention frustrating. On the plus side they do let you take your own snacks and drinks in (as long as they are sealed)
L. S.
Super Busy Theatre for the Lion King Show. Theatre staff were helpful and assisted with getting you to the various facilities. However, the seating and gap between seats was uncomfortable and tight for space. Sorry to say in this day and age we expect a higher standard of comfort for what we are paying for tickets. The show was superb and thoroughly enjoyed by all of us.
J. O.
The Lion King - wow! We got excellent seats to watch the show and it really was an absolute joy.
The Playhouse has quite a vintage, old school feel to it however using a QR code (scanned into your phone) you could order food and drink direct to your seat!
It is quite a mix of traditional theatre and modern technology! The seats were comfortable and the show itself incredible. Highly recommend.
A. C.
Had an excellent time watching Dita. The only negative was the seats are a tad tight for a portly chap like myself, other than that the playhouse is a tremendous venue.
P. w.
Today I went to see Beauty and the beast musical the queue was massive and the leg room was a tight squeeze and the 1st half of the show was longer than expected and it was Life action one good acting
l. b.
Went to see Beauty and the Beast and it was an amazing show, well organised with staff checking your covid passports then sending you on to another member of staff who checked tickets and 1 for a bag check.
Recommend the show to anyone to go
C. w. l. “.
Went to a show recently and had lovely time. Staff were really friendly. Atmosphere was super. I'm lucky I'm small my seat was fine for me. But my partner is very tall and struggled in the seats for legroom. Great idea having the staff bring you drinks etc to your seat if you use the calling card I'd not seen that before.
S. C.
Massive ques to get in but we were very surprised at how well organised it was, took very little time to get in and seated staff were helpful and friendly -Seen Chicago atmosphere/cast was fantastic loved our night out hear. Would definitely go again
G. C.
Great theatre, watched a Great Iconic show. A bit out dated with tiny old chairs and just enough room for legs never mind your coat or drink etc. Hard to join in with show without invading other peoples space. Not the most comfortable but fortunately a Great Show like The Rocky Horror Show, lots of audience participation and I almost forgot about feeling cramped and struggling to move.
C. K.
Very good theatre, good toilet facilities and easy access. Recommended for all those who like a good performance experience.
C. L.
Been many times and can't fault it. Fantastic venue for events. Staff were thorough with covid checks and a well organised team got the crowd in safely.
P. C.
Great venue but bar prices are exorbitant
C. A. T.
It's a lovely theatre but the ticket prices were a bit steap if you wanted a good seat I went with my family to see the lion King our tickets were £55 each three adults and two children. It was a lovely show worth going to see. You can get tickets for £20but that's away up on the top circle. Lots of different prices for different shows.
A. C.
Recently went to see Motown the Musical. Firstly the show was excellent. That was the positive. Downside of the night was;
A) the size of the seats and leg room. We were packed in with no way to move our legs during the show.
B) the bar and waiting room before the show is no way big enough for the amount of people there.
C) the audience. We were surrounded by people who not just a bit merry, but almost paralytic. People were up and down throughout the entire show for toilet breaks. One couple were so drunk near us that the lady nearly fell over the balcony. People were shouting out to the cast and a fight broke out in the ground floor, causing chaos and shouting.
Because of all of the above, I'm not sure that I would return to the Playhouse again unfortunately.
M. G.
Fantastic show, absolutely can't find any fault with the performance. Would though gave enjoyed a bit more if I hadn't had to lean to try and see past the person in front. Seat in the stalls, 8 rows from front, but difficult to see stage. Theatre needs to address seating by raising pitch of the seats/rows. At least the staff did stop people using mobiles during performance, very distracting and inconsiderate.
G. B.
We when and seen some guys have all the luck rod Stewart show very nice venue only 10 minutes from Waverley train station
t. e.
Great performance of the lion king! I'm not particularly overweight or any members of my party but found the seating very snug and think people that maybe do carry a little extra would have found it restricting. At the interim break the rush to use facilities was a bit overwhelming and think they should look into these issues at the next refurbishment
I. T.
The production of The Lion King was beyond perfect. The set, costumes and music were superb. However, the stalls do not have enough of an incline to make viewing easy. The seats also have insufficient leg room. It's a beautiful old theatre and is very traditional. Don't expect to be comfortable though!
T. 1.
Even when the actors screw up they still find a way to make it entertaining. Such a Nostalgia rush thinking back to this place.
j. m. d.
Great place where to watch great musical productions.
The terrace chairs are very old style with very little space for long legs.
Staff very efficient and welcoming.
W. M.
Go here fairly often as I love musical theatre.i usually buy mu tickets early to secure a good seat ,but as Annie was a very popular show the best tickets I could get were in row T. What a waste of money.I was unable to see most of the performance due to a rather large person sitting in front of me (they can't do anything about theit size.) However I was able to hear it. Sounded good. This theatre needs a revamp.
L. F.
Fairly roomy leg space and decent bars but very busy. Splash out for VIP tickets (about £8 each) which includes a free drink. It's a beautiful but small room with a hostess and you can pre-order drinks which will be brought to your seats during the intermission avoiding long queues at the bar.
C. S.
The show was fantastic don't think audience could understand the use of face coverings as those of us who wore a mask were in the minority felt very unsafe
R. L.
Just been to see the Lion King. Great show.
It's a while since I've been at the Playhouse , but it's still a good place to go.
Staff excellent decor still good. Seats still not so comfortable hence 4 stars.
L. M.
The lion king was wonderful. However the playhouse was extremely uncomfortable. The seats are far too close together with very little legroom. The ladies toilets are inadequate - with insufficient cubicles for the numbers using them. We had to wait about 20m in a queue.
M. S.
The play was amazing! However it was super crowded (not the best thing in COVID times) and people were mostly not wearing masks... They do check at the entrance the COVID vaccination certificate.
S. R.
saw the lion King here... lovely venue, we ate at the bistro restaurant which was nice and staff friendly. issue with cheese on a burger we ordered without was fixed with no fuss and they knocked off some of the bill for the inconvenience which was a really unexpected touch as we weren't too bothered about it! would really recommend the venue as a whole
D. T.
Watched The Lion King an amazing experience. The seating is a little cramped being an older theatre. If you are a taller person opt to get a set towards the front of the upper levels, a bit more expensive but you will feel the benefit.
Just a great night out and worth experiencing.
d. o. b.
seats a little small but otherwise all very good
s.
We just had a lovely family evening here, last minute booking! We are so pleased we made the trip from Glasgow . . . .what a great show ( Lion King) but wanted to mention how Ace all the staff were, from the front door to the snack sales staff and last but not least our Usher who very kindly gave my kids complimentary binoculars. Thank you!
S. F.
Went to see the Lion King, excellent show. The Playhouse is well organised and offers some great services including ordering to your seat. Toilets were clean but queues are crazy during the interval
M. R.
A bit tired and small seats for todays size audience, but can't deny the atmosphere and history makes it a unique experience. The Lion King lighting and props were amazing. Staff are always helpful.
S. S.
went to see Wicked it was a really nice theatre. Seats are comfortable a plenty of space for your legs. It's not too big so even near the back you can see everything. Toilets are clean and nice.
J. V. (.
The theater is pretty good, seating is very confortable with enough room for legs. Getting to your seat is easy and fast and the show starts on time.
We went to see Wicked and we had an amazing time the cast, the costumes the decor are breathtaking. If you can afford it go.
S. M.
Bill Bailey was amazing. Staff were friendly and helpful but first row of balcony has no legroom and not much view of the stage unless you lean forward. Carpets were really sticky too. Good visit on the whole, though.
S. S.
Nice venue. Traditional theatre layout inside. App wouldn't work for preordering drinks and treats etc (not that it mattered much). Bars and toilets on all 3 floors. I would've gave 5 stars but I found the seats uncomfortable.
H. O.
Great venue. Welcoming and helpful staff. Loved it.
H. T. L.
Although the shows are great and the building itself looks stunning...the seat needs to be replaced as it's super uncomfortable. I mean I am not too tall but my knees already touch the seat in front so I have to sit squint. Parking is also hard unless you pay a premium at the nearby car park
N. S.
Visited the playhouse to see the national tour of Wicked. The venue is a long established theatre with a range of seats available from stall, to dress circle to balcony. On this occasion I sat in the balcony. The balcony seats are quite tight and it was very warm in the theatre. The heat was not helped by it being a particularly warm day and the theatre being sold out. However, overall the venue is well managed and the staff are extremely helpful.
H. T.
Lovely theatre, helpful staff & great show... Lion King, excellent.
C. B. (. N.
Excellent for comedy at least as that's what I went to see. The theatre is very large and the stalls had very good views. Sound was good and the staff and design deals with the number of people as well as any building of this age. Drinks prices are standard for any venue, would recommend pre ordering at the bar for the interval to avoid the usual scrum. If you're driving the omni centre Q Park next door is ideally placed. Plenty of staff to get everyone in and out and served in reasonable time. I would happily returned to the Playhouse for any future performances
D. P.
The most beautiful theatre i have ever seen...it is jaunty, spacy and very stylish. The only disadvantage was That seat were very close enough. There was no space between the seats... It was amazing though. You could hire binoculars as well!!! I We saw lion King musical There.
P. R.
I've been to a lot of musicals here but this one The Lion King has to be seen to be to believed. it was brilliant both visually and musically. The playhouse was full and included all age groups. I would if I were you go and see this spectacular show. The playhouse is a particular venue that my family and friends frequent.
C. M.
Been here a few times to see different things from shows to concerts. Great wee place. Though for a tall person seats are quite cramped and felt like a bit of a sardine in a tin and it can get quite warm with everyone crammed in. Seeing Gary Barlow was amazing here has to have been my favourite and of course will be back if another favourite artist performs here.
J. C.
Lovely venue, but long queues to get in and also at the bars ( mezanine was closed on our visit). Totally missed getting a drink before performance and waited in queue for whole 20 minute interval. I would recommend getting there well before performance time and pre order your interval drinks :-)
S. F.
This is a typical theater and the space is what you would expect. The bar (witch is open to ticket holders two hours before the show) is nice and comfortable. We were running a little late so decided to eat in the bar. The food was just OK it was s bit dry and some of the flavours were a bit short of the mark, in particular the Brie and mango parcel. But it filled a hole and domed up the wine. We would have given five if the food had been a little better.
D. W.
Saw the Lion King! Absolutely amazing!!! The only problem was not allowed to take a picture at the end ( which I did anyway)
m.
Fabulous show The Lion King...however, I was very disappointed that there was only 1 disabled toilet. I spent the entire interval queuing and almost missed the start of the second half. No time to even get any refreshments. Surely the size of the building could provide more than one toilet. I was supporting an Adult autistic gentleman. The seating was also very cramped.
D. R.
Really great help with disabled patrons. The staff really went out their way to accommodate my blind friend. First time using the Ambassador Lounge and the two gents running the place were super attentive and friendly. Thoroughly enjoyable evening.
A. F.
Excellent show very energetic cast, but when there is a technical problem and the curtain has to come down please tell the audience in this day and age it is important to allay people's fears. My daughter found out it was a stage prop problem with the gate but it did take 15 mins to fix and we now know this was an on going problem. We had to get a specific train so could have been a major problem time wise. Theatre experience is brilliant but don't overprice it . I got 3 bottles of water a fruit shoot and a gin and tonic 17.65. You can bring in unopened bottles of water or drinks cans only you know that when you are at the theatre !!!
A. K.
Very nice theatre. Most seats seem to have a good view of the stage, lovely staff and great to be able to order snacks or drinks at your seat. Now if only you could stay in your seat to pee. :-)
S. y. B.
We were there to watch "We will Rock you". It was my first musical ever and I was fascinated! The show was amazing and the venue super nice.
Also their twitter account messaged me back 5 minutes after I sent them a question.
Supercool and totally worth the money.
Y. C.
It was an amazing show, The Bodyguard, the props, the performance, everything. I would so go again. It's also great when I usually get front row seats. So I felt the heat from the flames, the mist from the stage and the confetti.
o. c.
The place is great. The shows are fantastic. Could be a little cheaper but overall a great night out.
R. S.
Lion King was amazing theatre was good everything we could have asked for
S. M. (.
It's true that it's Scotland's Broadway. Great venue and atmosphere; always great customer services. I wish there were more space when seated as you feel very cramped in and you end up with aches and pains but that's the only drawback from having an older style theatre.
S. P.
Nice venue, easy to navigate and with good seating placement. Couple of small issues; If you're a taller individual like myself then you may want to opt for an Isle seat as the rows are very close together. Second the drinks are both expensive and didn't get charged to my card till over a month later so beware.
T. H.
The Playhouse is an excellent venue - first time visiting this location - very pleasant staff prices are ok what you would expect in this type of establishment. However it could be better if the seats were a little higher than the ones in front. It doesn't help when you have some lady with a big head in front of you that keeps moving from side to side as if her head was to heavy for her shoulders.
H. C.
We attended a comedy performance and found it to be a lovely venue with good amenities, though rather cramped seating in the stalls for anyone large or tall. Husband's knees touched the seat in front of him and my other seat neighbor was seriously overflowing into my space.
A. F.
Seats are way too small for length and bum sizes for modern day people. My partner is over 6ft and he was uncomfortable the whole time. Show was excellent but venue seriously affected our experience.
T. H.
Saw lion king, Incredible.
Not a lot of leg room for tall people but what else is new!
M. W.
Went to see The Lion King show and it was very good. It is a bit of a squeeze when trying to enter / exit before and after the show. During the interval there's also a mad rush to get to the toilet / bar downstairs, which was a bit unorganized. So they could definitely put things in place to make it less chaotic.
B. H.
So beautiful. On the balcony this time. Seats are not very comfortable for bigger people or taller people and there are not a lot of toilets anywhere. We booked drinks at the start so that at the break they are ready for us and this was a great option!
L. G.
We visited and saw Rocky Horror and what a phenomenal shot and performance.
I only downgrade the starrating due to the amount of staff behind the bars, and the fact if you're late you're not allowed back into the show for 10 minutes.
I fully appreciate why this would be, but it in a way made us feel anxious about missing the show over something that's not our fault. However, a truly beautiful theatre, felt like it had a tonne of history. Like I mentioned, maybe more barstaff for bigger shows.
S. H.
Pretty cramped seating if you have long legs but a nice looking theatre. Seem to be well organised. Security guards checking for folk bringing their own bottled water
D. H.
The venue is nice on the eye. A very classical feel to it. The downside is for a average person the chairs are so uncomfortable and for a nearly 3 hour show this made it a-lot harder to enjoy. Me knees where in the back of the chair in front of me. Very expensive as well for food and drink.
E. K.
Dream Girls. An amazing show full of talented dancers and singers. One of the best show's I've seen.
N. M.
Absolutely stunning inside! Tickets were reasonable prices. Drinks and food slightly on the expensive side however it’s what you would expect. Only criticism is that the seats in the balcony were so uncomfortable and you had to sit at the very edge to see the stage fully! But, over all I enjoyed it.
C. B.
Love Edinburgh the city is just stunning ....The Playhouse is beautiful easy to find and in the heart of the city so plenty of eateries and bars in close proximity. The seating layout is good our view not obstructed... leg room standard. Accessibility is questionable, you arrive at street level however have to be able to traverse the stairs as there is no lift,the accessible toilets are on the top floor. This is unfortunate however I understand it is an old building so difficult for amendments to be made. Staff are amazing, friendly and helpful.....word of advice take your own sealed unopened water bottles as had to buy drinks and what would have cost no more than £5 outside cost £17:80 from the theatre shop!!! One small bottle of pop is £3:20 each🤦
R. L.
Our park and ride experience was brilliant. Would define do that again.
R. G.
We use this venue very often to go and see shows, and last night did not disappoint! We were in the stalls row B so really near the front, only complaint was we were a bit squashed, my son in law is well over 6ft tall and has shoulders to match so he was rather like a sardine in a tin!! We never had a drink at the interval as the queues were huge ( you can pre book drinks, but they're made up and put on a shelf in the bar area with a number, but in these days drinks left unattended is not really a very good idea!)This theatre is always packed so the atmosphere is always great, more so when it's a lively show, which I'm pleased to say was the case last night! Brilliant songs and dancing, really encouraged the audience to join in, which ofcourse we did!!
b. t. k.
Best place to see musicals in Edinburgh. It hosts all the great musicals from Westend. No need to go to London 😊😊
M. J.
Went to see quite few shows now in Playhouse. Excellent venue and good location surounded by local pubs and restaurants.
I. B.
Nice friendly staff, great venue, proud to have it in our city, more bands should make use of it
R. R.
Lovely theatre. Very helpful staff, went to see a production of Wicked. Only downside was the pricing at the bar and the slightly cramped cheaper seats - bit difficult to find knee room if you're over five foot six
T. A.
Just like so many theatres in Scotland hold the right show and the atmosphere is amazing
L. S.
I had a fun time at the Playhouse, sounds + lighting were on point. Pleasantly surprised that I had enough legroom but I did pick the front row of the circle just in case.
Two stars removed for the bar being understaffed with slow service. Also I ordered the variety pack, a sign at the first kiosk said to get them there, after queuing for 10 minutes, I was told I had to pick it up at the bar, another 10 minute wait.
O. S.
This experience was the best yet the in house binoculars for balcony viewers were excellent for seeing our show the height of the balcony was high and the steps were steep with sore hips from walking all day is a nuisance but on the whole the staff and experience was wonderful I would recommend and return to this establishment
d. k.
It's a rather quaint little theatre.
Staff are very organised and extremely helpful.
Toilet queues and ending exits are a nightmare - if you can go to the loilet during the performance and if you can, leave your seat and wait at the back of the theatre as it's ending so as you can view as it ends before others pack up. You won't regret it as it's scarily claustrophobic.
Everything else about the playhouse is magical and the building is astoundingly beautiful.
D. W.
It is more the show than the venue. However the venue had a great atmosphere, and has a sense of bygone style and occasion. Along with that though, being six feet tall and broad, still find the seating and leg room cramped.
D. S.
Good night with the only exception being the bar shut during the intermission and as always the leg room doesn't make the 6'3" of me feel welcome. Lion king was a spectacle and would recommend taking the time to see it.
D. M.
Saturday the 1st of February was my 5th visit to the Playhouse Edinburgh, to be honest I won't be rushing back, I can't remember it being so hectic. I felt claustrophobic throughout.
The seat was far too hard, leg room was a joke, being over 6 foot doesn't help, my backside ached through most of the show, I was glad when the interval arrived only to wait an eternity at the gents. After this a refreshment was in order, if only, a queue that appeared static, im sure it wasn't but by this time I had given up.
My only regret was staying for the second part having to suffer the same seat with my cheeks aching and conscious my knees were hard against the seat in front.
The show however was well produced, excellent costumes, funny in bits, decent songs, just not my favourite show.
D. W.
Went to see Beauty and the Beast and the staff were brilliant in maintaining Vivid procedures with efficiency and patience. Don't let COVID put you off, Edinburgh Playhouse has it covered!!!
R. S.
Needs more toilets. Could do with staff to guide you to your seats. The bell is a nice idea to state how long until the show starts, but it's not clear how long you have after the bell. But I thoroughly enjoy the theatre every time
M. W.
Visited to see Matilda and the place was full. Not enough toilets to accommodate that volume of people pre and post show. Seats are really uncomfortable to sit in for an extended period of time. Show stopped twice in first half due to technical errors, not sure if the venue is to blame. Staff very pleasant and despite the size of the crowd we still got food etc delivered to the seat promptly during the interval.
h. s.
Play was great but hard to see even from less than half way from the stage
F. B.
Balcony not ideal for someone with a fear of heights. Not much room to move in front of the seats if you're standing to let someone passed. Beautiful building and good for an intimate venue as good views of the stage. Acoustics are good. Mr Barlow was fantastic.
D. L.
Great show as always. Staff are extreamly
And make you feel as if your the most important person there. The playhouse is defo one of the places to see a good show my only fault is the amount of leg room in the stall.
f. o.
I went to see Jack septiceye yesterday and it was amazing. Really sweet venue, set out well.
I was in row F and could practically see up jacks nose so I recommend trying to get near the front.
Staff are lovely. Drinks and snacks are mega expensive but they don't stop you bringing some of your own sweeties.
All in all this place gets 5 star from me and my sister.
J. Y.
The Lion King was one of the best performances I've ever witnessed. Absolutely stunning production of a timeless tale of a young lion cub having to seek solitude after his father's death. Simply brilliant
c. g.
Saw the Lion King. Friendly staff. Quick service at the bar and easy to find facilities. Although if strobe lights are a problem for you I'd recommend you ask specifically if they're used in the performances before you book.
G. M.
Stunning venue and amazing performance
G. D.
The show was Motown the musical.
It was a great performance by all the cast.
Downside was the attitude of the theatre staff who did not allow the audience to dance during the show despite many people wanting to get up and dance to the music. The cast wanted audience participation but this was not allowed until the very end.
If this show had been staged in Glasgow the audience would have been dancing from the first song. Black mark to Edinburgh.
S. E.
The show we went to see was very good and to a high standard. My rating would be higher but unfortunately the theatre also attracted a whole host of disrespectful audience members, who ruined the entire experience. People late to their seat, moving their heads constantly so that it was difficult to see the performers, slamming doors, swearing and worst of all... talking and singing over the performers at times that really were not appropriate! Incredibly rude to the cast and the rest of the audience.
I came to see Alexandra Burke in the Bodyguard, not Joyce from down the road (!) Burke was a superstar and professional from start to end.
S. C.
The playhouse gets the biggest shows in town, especially the musicals although the Kings, Lyceum, Festival and Traverse also have lots to offer so check them all out. I remember coming through to see shows here and it was a real 'treat' and it still has some of that atmosphere - although also some of the downsides than come with a older building. Some of the seats are an extremely tight squeeze for an average sized person so if you're a bit taller/wider there are some seats to avoid. The back room of the stalls, and any seats in the balcony which say 'restricted legroom' - they most definetely are. So for a show you really want to enjoy, spring for better seats in the stalls and circle. The views from the front of the balcony are still pretty good though!
C. C.
Front row balcony seats very cramped and if sitting back in seat I was totally unable to see the stage ... Had to sit three hours leaning completely forward... Show was excellent, and they do have variety of upcoming different ones. Cost of soft drinks extortionate... One small bottle of pepsi and one kiddy's fruit shoot £5 !! A bit much !!!!
T. M.
Love the Playhouse. If I could afford it I would be here weekly to see a show. My last show was Summer Holiday and it was sad to see that the show was pretty empty. I would consider selling the empty seats for a fiver on the day to fill the place. Its a better atmosphere if the place is busy.
D. M.
Playhouse itself is iconic. Good venue, attentuve and polite staff. Legroom is always a wee bit contentious but many great shows on here so if you like gigs or theatre, you wont be disappointed.
A. G.
Been here multiple times now and it's a lovely venue. They could do with sorting out the toilet situation for women as my wife and child had to give up on the queue during the interval. There are cushions available for small children who may struggle to see past adults, we didn't discover this till the show was over at our last visit however.
J. R.
Was great day commitments were amazing
G. M.
It will rock you. The best show in the best theatre.
A. P.
Great place to see shows, friendly staff and great prices
Relaxed performance is great for people with additional needs
C. S.
A lovely theatre in a great location close to the centre of Edinburgh. The actual theatre is big inside, the seats and leg room were fine for me although if you have long legs you might feel a bit cramped. The sound quality inside the theatre is really good and the views from the balcony and the circle are great, I haven't been in the stalls so can't comment on the view but as they are the most expensive I imaging they would be good too. There is a bar and snacks available before the show and at intermission although as with all theatres it is a bit pricey. All the shows I have seen here have been superb, Wicked brought an amazing production that was West End standard. I would absolutely recommend seeing a production here.
G. E.
It's the biggest theatre of this type in Britain that is used for Musical Theatre. It is huge and has a great range of shows throughout the year. I have seen an eclectic mix from Iggy Pop to Cats over the years. It is always worth a visit, you can't beat a night at the theatre.
D. T.
Dave Gorman was hilarious. It was a great night. Expensive drinks but it's to be expected I suppose. The venue is beautiful was in the circle it was a fantastic view and felt very much part of the show, especially during Dave's giraffe joke my goodness that was something else!
M. P.
Nice place. One of very few that still stages operas or ballets. Unfortunately not all people, who attend such events know how to behave and the snacks or drinks there are rather pricey. On the other hand nobody will probably be going there every week, so occasional treat is fine. The staff is friendly and professional. You can still hire binoculars to watch the close-up of the stage, but for the £1 extra pound I don't think you really get good value for your money.
C. F.
Always a fantastic experience at the Playhouse!!
S. “. S.
Went to see wicked. Great show. They need a better way of serving drinks during the interval. It was like a rugby match. Surely with modern technology people could order drinks in advance and then there would be a better way of serving them. We we're also in amongst a coach party who had clearly had been drinking heavily on the way. It nearly kicked off half way through the second half as they started to fight amongst themselves!! Not sure how they were allowed in.
m. s.
An interesting venue, which is much bigger inside than the outside. We came here to see the Lion King. It was easy to get a programme and drinks.
I felt the seats that we were in were quite cramped, and it was very warm, but you'd expect that with such a popular show!
C. F.
The venue is grand and impressive but the seat sizes are ridiculous. They are too small for an average person, I'm tall and being cramped in for hours ruins an otherwise good night. The drink prices are also expensive too, £8.50 for a cider and a water.
J. H.
Stunning place with good facilities. It was uncomfortably hot, my daughter was bright red. They turned the heating off and it cooled down after the interval. At one busy time on the stage, where there where lots of voices on stage the audio was not clear, but apart from that it was good.
R. M.
Great performance by all in Bat Out of Hell
L. A.
Matilda was amazing and the seats we had were great. Prices are heart-stopping though. Won't be buying drinks, sweets or ice cream there again. Actually bankrupt after paying the ticket prices too!
A. M.
Really enjoyed Footloose. Loved the film.
A. B.
Been to the playhouse lots of times. Always have good night here. Theatre's very clean and staff very friendly. Could do with more staff in bar when there's a show on as the cues are a nightmare. Apart from that had great times.
G. P.
A fantastic theatre with friendly professional staff who genuinely look pleased to be a part of the whole experience. Bar prices are pretty steep but you can expect that, highly recommend looking into the ATG card if you are looking for a group booking or visiting with any regularity. It quickly pays for itself.
E.
The theatre is beautiful, the performances are wonderful, but the leg room is terrible if you're tall & disabled access seems to be some what of an issue. I saw multiple disabled people struggling with the stairs.
S. B.
Watched 'The bodyguard' performance was awesome great evening. .staff ( James ) who took our booking extremely helpful 'even though wife kept on changing the seating..we had a giggle.
Many thanks Edinburgh Playhouse.
M. M.
Great to have theatres open again. Bat Out Of Hell amazing performance. Definitely recommend.
M. S.
Lovely theatre but suffers the same problems as many with not enough facilities. Bottleneck when trying to leave. The staff were universally lovely and helpful. Decor fantastic. Sound was decent.
R. C.
Beautiful building with a wide variety of plays, stand-ups and other shows which frequently rotate. Get some incredible stuff like Lion King and Matilda.
Located right next to the Omni it's in an ideal position too!
Always a pleasure going here and seeing what's on.
Y. Y.
The leg space is ridiculously tight. I'm 5'11 and I couldn't sit properly. I would have second thoughts of seeing another show at this theatre. Kings theatre in Glasgow is better.
C. L.
Saw The Lion King last night. Fantastic. Only 3 stars because of lack of toilets. By the time you went down all the stairs and had to queue for ladies, you missed a bit of the show.
J. Y.
Visited the playhouse to see the Rat Pack and had a great time. The singers were excellent and good value for money. There was no heating so had to keep our coats on but really enjoyed the show.
B. C.
The venue is beautiful, however the pay as you view binoculars are located on the back of every 2nd seat at knee height which restricts the amount of leg room you have and leaves a horribly large bruise when you bang into it. These should be removed to improve the amount of already restricted leg room available.
b. p.
Great place to see a band or a play or a musical
K. B.
Wonderful, needs some air conditioning
l. g.
i can not stress enough how greatful i am for the staff my friend (who has autism) and i poorly planned our seats(100% my fault ) and the staff there was so accomadating,kind and most of all understanding i wish i could give this place a higher review and once again thank all the staff who helpped make my friends and my night magical 10/10
E. H.
The show amazing, the staff amazing, but for the love of God give folk some leg room!!!
T. S.
Reluctant four - the venue itself, staging, view, seating and acoustics are superb. We saw the magnificent PJ Harvey. However it gets a four as only one bar was open with two staff so the queue was snaking round the theatre - had to enjoy the concert thirsty!
R. C.
Seats are good and lined up nicely that you dont have people blocking your view. They offer booster seats for children. Only down side is queues during the break, place can be difficult to move around when busy.
A. B.
Very friendly staff,juice vastly overpriced but to be expected at these venues,otherwise great
A. R.
Lovely visit to see Wicked, the cast were great and the music lovely but it was spoiled by a very obese gentleman spilling in to my seat. Also trying to pass people in the seating was obstructed by a very large lady that i struggled to get past. I am not skinny myself but i think due to Health and Safety this should be looked at when people are entering the building due to the proximity of the stalls and stairs. If there was a fire then it would be hard to get out quickly. Large people should take more responsibility and realise the seats may not be adequate for them and ask which area would be best with a bit more room.The staff are excellent and keep an eye on the queues in the toilets. The bar staff are very pleasant.
G. S.
This is a good theatre just don't sit in the front row of the circle. The good side is a fantastic view bu the downside is there is absolutely no leg room. Seen more room on that well known budget airline......
J. B.
Always busy with tight security but staff get you through quickly. It's a beautiful theatre with a couple of bars which are pricey. It's clean & tidy and the staff members are cheerful and very helpful.
J. L.
Great venue, fantastic atmospheres but it's shame about the dodgy loos. There's 4 or 5 out of commission every time I go. Still, I love the range of shows on offer and staff are always really helpful.
A. W.
The Edinburgh Playhouse brings back some very happy memories, I have seen top bands such as The Smiths and The Cure here. The last time I was at a concert here I missed the last train home and me and my girlfriend climbed part way up the Scott Monument ( not to be tried at home ). The venue itself is excellent for watching concerts with its bowl like style and excellent acoustics.
M. B.
I love the atmosphere in the Playhouse, it's always excellent. The quality of shows is, also, excellent.
The problems for me, though, are twofold- access & movement around inside are awful- allowing people into the foyer before the house is open is a mistake, it makes for an appalling, uncomfortable wait. So wait outside until people have actually started to be seated. There are not enough toilets either, long queues are inevitable.
My main concern is legroom throughout, but especially in the stalls, as for anyone 5' 10" or over I'd say it's tight. And for me at 6' 3", it's terrible. OK if you're paying £15, but when seats for some shows are £70 or more, it's just not good enough.
S. A.
Always enjoy the shows... bar staff are quick and all staff friwndly
L. P.
Fantastic show!!!! We will rock you !! 🎸🎶🎵🎤
F. R.
The show was excellent, but we were sitting in front of some of the noisiest, most self-important and inconsiderate cretins I've ever come across, and there wasn't a member of staff in sight. At the interval, my wife had had enough of the kicking and loud conversation so complained to a member of staff who said he'd speak to them. He didn't. The man beside us complained as well but the member of staff disappeared and wasn't seen again. In other theatres there is always a staff presence and complaints are dealt with. Very disappointing.
C.
Considering it is the biggest theatre in the UK it is so easy to go in, get to seats, get drinks, go to toilets etc. Love this place! Tickets are so much cheaper than elsewhere in the country! It means I do have to pay for trains and hotel but it's Edinburgh!!! Worth spending the extra!
L. R.
We watched Shrek the Musical here and thoroughly enjoyed the show. The theatre itself is typical of its type/age. We sat right in the front row and had a good view of the stage. There were the usual queues for the toilets at the interval. There are never enough ladies loos! The situation was made worse by the 'helpful' attendant who after we had been queuing for some time with 2 small children downstairs, told us there was no queue at the toilets upstairs. We and quite a few behind us dutifully traipsed upstairs to find an even longer queue there! Deciding to return to the original queue, which others did too, we joined it further back than we had left it!! There were quite a few rather annoyed theatre goers, especially when we were again advised to go upstairs. Needless to say no one did. The show itself was terrific and all the lead characters were superb. Laura Main as Princess Fiona being particularly good.
M. G.
Had a great afternoon at shen yin. Wonderful show , but made even better by the staff at the playhouse. My mother received tickets for her Christmas but has mobility problems. Tickets were for the stalls, which involved going down two levels. Staff member Annie was very helpful and organised seats which were accessible without stairs. Five out of five for customer service.
M. G.
Lovely theatre, can attend a piano bar for pre theatre drinks. Sat in the directors box. Good view and an attendant on hand to bring any drinks you would like during the show, great experience!
N. S.
Myself and my family love going to the Playhouse they put on a super selection of concerts and shows. It's easy to get to, central Edinburgh,5 mins from train station,and staff are very nice and friendly. Prices are very reasonable for what they put on as well.
A. M.
We were at the ASN friendly showing of the Lion King today and a HUGE well done to the all the staff and performers. You obviously put alot of thought into how to make it accessible. Big thanks also to the usher who loaned us some ear defenders without us even asking for them, made a huge difference and we will be investing in a pair for our next trip to theatre! Would have been 5 stars except for the toilet situation at interval, was quite stressful trying to get through. But well done to everyone who realised that the hand dryers were not a good idea for most! Looking forward to our next trip xx
G. S.
Fantastic theatre. Quite a small stage, but they really make the most of it.
P. G.
Had a chill lunch here , few pints and the new Christmas veggie burger which was very banging .
Fast service , covid rules followed.A good start to my city break.
Z. K.
A beautiful space! Saw the Nederland Dance Theatre here (also recommend). The mezzanine seats are steep, so you can see, but cramped and at such an angle it is almost vertigo-inducing. Like you're going to fall down onto the stage.
Beautiful huge building though.
P. C.
Went here to watch Forth on the Fringe show. I was really excited but had to leave early. I understand its an old building so the design is old so unfortunately I now know what it feels like to be a sardine in a can. We were in the upper balcony so seating was an issue, the seats are small and if you want to go to the toilet etc not at the interval then you have to ask people to stand and move out your way as you cannot walk past. To be honest, if there was a fire or an emergency I really wouldn't want to be in there!! If you suffer claustrophobia or anxiety then I wouldn't recommend going. It could also do with a ventilation upgrade as it was hot and stuffy so it made it even more uncomfortable. Apart from the above it was a good show and we did have a good view from where we were seated. If they changed the internal layout to make it more spacious then this would be a cracking venue as the acoustics are amazing!!
N. S.
Lovely space but space very limited in bars, corridors stairs and most irritatingly toilets where women can expect to wait 10 minutes plus.
Drinks and food orders from your seat in the auditorium is good though.
A. N.
A phenomenal place to see a performance, we were in the circle and had. A great view.
The performance of the Rocky Horror Picture a show was exceptional, well worth a visit.
J.
Edinburgh Playhouse is a lovely theatre, currently showing the Lion King (January 2020). The staff are very nice and helpful, and the shows are fantastic. There is a bar for grabbing a drink before the show. They have good customer service too. Can be quite busy at showtimes.
P. S.
Lovely old theatre with all the expected flourishes of red velvet and cramped seating. The staff are friendly and the variety of events is astounding but be prepared to pay for refreshments. £2.50 for a bottle of water and £6 for a pint. Yikes.
J. B.
Book of Mormon was fantastic. X
C. L.
Seats were amazing, loads of room and the staff were really helpful and friendly
J. G.
Loved it. Went to see the lion king and the venue and show was amazing. Everything was very organised. I would say however, that during the show the whole theatre got almost unbearably warm.
D.
This is a great place to visit. Keep an eye on the we site for upcoming shows. Its walkable from all major transportation hubs in Edinburgh so easy to get to. Lots of placed around offer pre and post theatre deals so make a day of it and enjoy some dinner and a glass of wine and catch the bus or train
P. Y.
Just been to see The Grit Orchestra performing Martyn Bennett's Bothy Culture conducted by the wonderful Greg Lawson. Part of the Edinburgh International Festival. Very nice staff. Leg room in the Playhouse not always the best even for me who's only 5'4" but on the occasion - great seat in the front stalls. Fantastic concert
J. C.
The show was great, but as you go in they make you pour your water into a tub and say you can get water at the bar. As you leave someone vigorously shakes a charity bucket. Sorry my change went on replacing my water .
M. N.
Where the most famous comedians do their stand ups at the fringe. Seems like a decent venue for classical music or opera also. They where very strict with not letting you in with bottles of water or other drinks.
L. H.
We visit quite a few times each year and NEVER been disappointed. Any and every seat has a good view. Well set out! Just go early if you want a drink from the bar as it gets very busy.
S. M.
A beautiful, traditional theatre, but needing upgrading with more leg room/ comfort and many more toilet facilities. Still thoroughly enjoyed the Lion King show and would return. 🦁🐯🐅🐆