When booking a ticket to one of our performances, you will have a range of options to choose from for your price, seat reserve and section. But what does this mean? We’ve compiled the guide below to assist you in your purchasing journey. We also welcome any general ticketing questions at subscribe@rnzb.org.nz or on 04 831 1056.
The RNZB is contractually obligated to sell individual tickets to our performances via the ticketing agency of each venue’s choosing. Head to our What’s On page to see dates and navigate to the appropriate booking site for your performance and city.
Most theatres are made up of two or three levels/floors and generally include the Stalls (the ground floor of a theatre, on the same level as the stage), the Dress Circle (the second floor of a theatre) and the Gallery/Grand Circle (the uppermost/third floor of a theatre; not all theatres will include this level). Please note that in many instances, the upper levels of a theatre may only be accessible via stairs, and it’s advisable to consider any mobility concerns when choosing your seats.
The above may not apply to some of our smaller venues, such as for Tutus on Tour.
Tickets to our performances are available across a range of seating “reserves”. A “reserve” refers to the location and corresponding price of a specific seat; we offer a range of seating options to suit every preference and budget.
Inner Circle seats are some of the best and most popular in the theatre, and specifically include the centre-front row of the Dress Circle. Inner Circle seating is offered only at the St James Theatre (Wellington), the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre at the Aotea Centre (Auckland) and the Isaac Theatre Royal (Christchurch). These seats offer an excellent view, however may not be your preferred seat if you would rather sit closer to the stage.
Premium seats are considered the best in the theatre; these are the most centred in the auditorium, are available in all sections, and offer the best view from which to experience the performance. Premium seating is generally available across all venues.
A Reserve seats are a good balance between view and affordability. Located just behind and to the sides of our Premium seating, and also available in all sections, these seats offer generally good sightlines although action on the extreme sides of the stage may occasionally be obscured. A Reserve seats may also include the front row of the stalls in some venues, if this proximity is considered to have an impact on the viewing experience, where these seats might otherwise be classified as Premium.
B Reserve seats may have partial sightline obstructions due to their location towards the sides and/or rear of a theatre, but are still considered to have a good view of the performance. As with A Reserve, these seats may have an obscured view of the extreme left or right of the stage. They are generally closer to the front, more centred, or otherwise considered to be in a better location than C Reserve seating.
Please note: In theatres where there is no reserve lower than B Reserve, the C Reserve definition (below) may apply.
C Reserve seats are the most affordable option for our performances, and availability is usually limited. These seats are not the best in the venue, and are often on the outermost edges of the theatre. It is expected they will have some restricted sightlines.
Restricted View seats are usually only available when a performance is selling out/has very low availability. These seats are sold at C Reserve pricing, and will have sightlines restricted by their position, or due to poles or structural elements of the venue.
If you have a specific seating request in mind, you can either use the seat selection option available via the relevant ticketing agency when booking online, or book via phone to discuss your options. Wheelchair or accessible seating requests must be made via the ticketing agency; please see our Venue Access Guide for more information.
When booking a subscription ticket package via the RNZB, please enter any seating requests in the order notes when booking online, or phone to book, and our team will do their best to accommodate your request.
Ticketmaster can be contacted on 0800 111 999. Ticketmaster are the official ticketing agency for:
– The St James Theatre, Wellington
– The Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre (Aotea Centre), Auckland
– The Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland
– The Sir Howard Morrison Centre, Rotorua
Ticketek can be contacted on 0800 TICKETEK (0800 842 538). Ticketek are the official ticketing agency for:
– The Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch
– The Municipal Theatre, Napier
– The Civic Theatre, Invercargill
– The Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North
The Regent Theatre box office in Dunedin can be contacted on 03 477 8597 or at https://www.regenttheatre.co.nz/contact-us/.
If you’re still unsure, or you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our ticketing team on 0800 4 DANCE (32623) or at subscribe@rnzb.org.nz.