Event Furniture Layout Guide: Theatre, Cabaret, Banquet and More

The layout you choose for an event affects how many people fit in the space and how they interact. Theatre, cabaret, banquet, rounds, and standing all produce different results in the same room.

Theatre Layout

Theatre layout means rows of chairs facing a stage or presentation area, with no tables. It is the most space-efficient format for audiences and presentations.

The space requirement per person for theatre layout is 0.5 to 0.6 square metres. A 100 square metre room holds 160 to 200 people in theatre format. The trade-off is that guests have nowhere to put notes, drinks, or materials, and the format does not suit events where people need to work or eat.

Cabaret Layout

Cabaret uses round tables with chairs set only on three sides — the side facing the stage is left empty. This gives guests both a table and a clear sightline to the front of the room.

The space requirement per person for cabaret is 1.0 to 1.2 square metres, roughly double the theatre format. Cabaret works well for award nights, training events, and corporate dinners where a presentation is part of the programme. The standard cabaret setup uses 5ft round tables seating 5 to 6 per table.

Banquet Layout

Banquet layout uses long trestle tables in parallel rows. Guests sit on both sides and sometimes at the ends. The space requirement per person is 0.8 to 1.0 square metres.

Banquet is efficient and creates a communal dining feel. It is common at school events, charity dinners, and traditional banquet halls. Long runs of trestle or banquet tables are available from Expo Hire in 6ft and 8ft formats.

Rounds Layout

Rounds layout means round tables with full seating on all sides. This is the most social format for sit-down dining. The space requirement per person is 1.2 to 1.5 square metres.

For a 200 square metre room with full seating on rounds, you can seat 130 to 160 guests. Rounds layout is the standard choice for weddings, award dinners, and formal celebrations. Expo Hire's range of chairs for hire covers chiavari chairs, padded banquet chairs, and folding chairs, all suitable for rounds layout.

Standing Reception

A standing reception with poseur tables is the most flexible format. No chairs are needed, poseur tables provide surfaces for drinks, and guests circulate freely.

The space requirement per person for a standing reception is 0.3 to 0.5 square metres, making it the most capacity-efficient layout. A 100 square metre room holds 200 to 300 people standing. The practical limit is comfort and the number of poseur tables available.

When to Choose Each Format

Theatre works for conferences, AGMs, presentations, and ceremonies where guests watch rather than participate. Use it when capacity is the priority and no dining is involved.

Cabaret works for events that combine a presentation with dinner, or where guests need to take notes. Use it when sightlines to the front matter but guests also need a surface.

Banquet works for large dinners with a community feel, charity fundraisers, and traditional dining events. It seats more people per square metre than rounds.

Rounds work when conversation and the dining experience are the focus. It is harder to present to the whole room in rounds layout, but the social atmosphere is better. Standing receptions work for pre-dinner drinks, networking events, and gallery or exhibition formats where circulation is part of the design.

Space Per Person: Quick Reference

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• Theatre: 0.5 to 0.6 m² per person
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• Cabaret: 1.0 to 1.2 m² per person
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• Banquet: 0.8 to 1.0 m² per person
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• Rounds: 1.2 to 1.5 m² per person
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• Standing: 0.3 to 0.5 m² per person
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These figures include table and circulation space but not a stage, dance floor, or bar area. Subtract those from the total floor area before applying the per-person calculation.

See also: event quantities guide and conference and seminar hire guide.