Various possibilities and styles of seats are shown. Salle Pleyel, the Guthrie (by Jean Nouvel), the Théâtre National in Brussels and the Salle Maria Casarès in Montreuil, Paris show contemporary examples. There is an interesting bench for standup in the Odéon, Paris. In the Déjazet, the red velvet upholdstered wall visually extends the seat in height. The Bouffes du Nord offers a combination between bench and original iron seat. The Châtelet offers a contrast between different seat models, from sumptuous to bare contemporary. The Skandia Theatre (actually a cinema), designed by Gunnar Asplund in 1923, features an original double seat in a cosy niche.
In general, seats in upper balconies have a straight back as people lean forward to see the stage. They are also less expensive because of often poor visibility. Examples are shown in the Stockholm Opera House, the Madeleine Theatre in Paris and the Carré in Amsterdam.
Photos taken by Paul Laurendeau (except Guthrie) between 2006 and 2010.
