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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2016 15:00:23 GMT
Alas, that's literally everything I heard - a vague whisper, some disquiet, and a rumour by no way substantiated by anything more solid than this whisper that he might not see his term through. If anyone's got any better rumours, or fancies getting into a whole unsubstantiated debate anyway, please do contribute! I can't say too much but I've heard the replacement has great cheekbones, loves a tap routine and is planning to ensure that Tom Bateman is featured in every other production. Shirtless. He's never run a theatre before but has run for the bus once. Oh. And his name is Ryan but I can't say more than that. My lips are sealed. Don't ask me to reveal more.
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Post by theatremiss on Feb 3, 2016 15:19:12 GMT
I have over £50 in credit notes with the NT so clearly that will be swallowed up
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Post by Jan on Feb 3, 2016 15:23:28 GMT
Some of the stuff they're announcing is for 2017 and 2018 even (Antony and Cleopatra) - tempting fate.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2016 15:33:11 GMT
I'm probably in the minority here, but I'm a little bit gutted not to see Disney's Pinocchio on at Christmas! I'm guessing the workshop Baz Bamigboye predicted didn't go too well, (which I suppose is all for the best as it gives it more chances to work on it - or to abandon if it really doesn't work!) Perhaps it was due for the Olivier stage, but the NT bought in Peter Pan as a last minute replacement...?
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NT 2016
Feb 3, 2016 15:37:02 GMT
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Post by Snciole on Feb 3, 2016 15:37:02 GMT
I am not surprised there have been whispers, it is clear from that Sunday closure announcement that takings are down and it is because of Rufus' quite poor production choices. He could not have another 2-3 years in the same vein as it has been so far.
On paper it looks great, looking forward to Amadeus (it would be very easy to cast a Paul Schofield type in that role but this is far more interesting choice of actor), Angels in America and the new Hare amongst others. I think the NT will have more energy and will be full. Directors like Icke and Van Hove are very exciting and attracting interesting directors seems to be Rufus' strength.
It might actually get some transfers out into the West End to make up for the War Horse loss.
I still think the Temporary Theatre programme is a bit meh but I need to see it a fringe space and not compare it to the main spaces.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2016 15:39:37 GMT
Well, I don't think there's anything one needs to do about the Temporary Theatre programme, tbh, it sounds like they've finally run the course and it'll be gone by the second half of the year. Not bad considering it was only ever meant to be a year-long experiment, I just hope they find a way to keep some of the more successful sorts of shows they've had there coming.
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Post by Marwood on Feb 3, 2016 15:44:10 GMT
I think the Temporary Theatre is/has been working better as a place for spoken word/stand-up comedy rather than theatrical works. Maybe it could be kept for Platforms and stand-up in the future, there's not much else on the South Bank if you want to see stand-up, with the Queen Elizabeth Hall closed for the foreseeable future, you're pretty much left with Udderbelly and the odd work in progress at Waterloo East.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2016 15:54:49 GMT
Clearly I haven't read it properly so my opinion is worthless, but today's announcements sound like a concerted effort to get bums on seats. Will be interesting to see the annual report for RN's first year - I think the latest one only covered Hytner's last year. The level of papering and empty seats has been pretty high, which must surely be reflected in the accounts, but I'd also be curious to see whether donation levels have changed perceptibly.
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Post by n1david on Feb 3, 2016 16:01:41 GMT
I think the Temporary Theatre is/has been working better as a place for spoken word/stand-up comedy rather than theatrical works. Maybe it could be kept for Platforms and stand-up in the future, there's not much else on the South Bank if you want to see stand-up, with the Queen Elizabeth Hall closed for the foreseeable future, you're pretty much left with Udderbelly and the odd work in progress at Waterloo East. Doesn't look like that's going to happen. In the (positively glowing) Guardian report of today's announcement, Emily McLaughlin of the NT's New Work department talks about "Another World" and says "It just demanded to be produced, it couldn't wait, so we're doing it as a final extra piece in the Temporary space before it comes down"... so looks like it is not long for this world. www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/feb/03/national-theatre-rufus-norris-second-season-experiment-new-generation
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NT 2016
Feb 3, 2016 16:05:17 GMT
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Post by Snciole on Feb 3, 2016 16:05:17 GMT
Clearly I haven't read it properly so my opinion is worthless, but today's announcements sound like a concerted effort to get bums on seats. Will be interesting to see the annual report for RN's first year - I think the latest one only covered Hytner's last year. The level of papering and empty seats has been pretty high, which must surely be reflected in the accounts, but I'd also be curious to see whether donation levels have changed perceptibly. Absolutely! It feels like a band or singer touring again and promising to do mostly the greatest hits with the odd new song. Norris is not only reviving old NT classics like Amadeus and Angels in America but looking to theatres like Almeida, Old Vic and Young Vic that took risks with directors like Robert Icke, Yael Farber and Ivo Van Hove knowing their reputations will bring the bottoms, hopefully rich ones that drink at the bar and eat the restaurants. My only moan now I have calmed down is still the lack of phenomenal casting. The big names (maybe with the exception of Andrew Garfield and we could end up in a Kit Harrington argument about his status) are doing theatre quite regularly. NT used to be so good, especially compared to commercial theatre, at getting really man on the street friendly casting.
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Post by Phantom of London on Feb 3, 2016 16:17:34 GMT
As mentioned the Temporary Theatre, I always felt that productions in there always had a wooden feel!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2016 16:31:14 GMT
*tumbleweed*
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Feb 3, 2016 18:20:03 GMT
I'm sure I read ages ago they were considering stopping Sunday matinees due to the reduced ACE grant so this isn't particularly related to Norris' first season being a bit of a flop.
According to the BBC news story on this they will still be opening the building on Sundays during the summer.
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Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Feb 3, 2016 18:33:54 GMT
Great set of announcements, building on some excellent productions in the last year (People Places and Things, Red Lion, Husbands & Sons, Pomona, etc. etc.). As The Guardian mentioned one of the most interesting developments is the replacement of the literary division with one that embraces performance that doesn't start with a scriptwriter. Bryony Kimmings too, I wasn't expecting that at this stage! The Olivier was the achilles heel last year but Longhurst and Godwin are likely to be very solid with productions for it. Ivo van Hove!! He keeps doing playwrights I don't like (Ibsen, Bergman (well, filmmaker)) but manages to make them come alive so bring on the Ibsen! Angels in America remains one of my favourite NT productions (Daniel Craig et al) and Elliott is well up to the challenge. The best American play of the last fifty years, I'd suggest.
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Post by alnoor on Feb 3, 2016 18:51:34 GMT
Wow. I want to see Hedda. I want to see Angels I want to see Amadeus I want to see Deep Blue I want to see lots of shows at the NT
Just practising my conversation with my bank manager
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NT 2016
Feb 3, 2016 19:08:12 GMT
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Post by Snciole on Feb 3, 2016 19:08:12 GMT
I'm sure I read ages ago they were considering stopping Sunday matinees due to the reduced ACE grant so this isn't particularly related to Norris' first season being a bit of a flop. According to the BBC news story on this they will still be opening the building on Sundays during the summer. Good news about the summers. What about the restaurants in the NT? Will they be closed on Sundays too? I know Green Room (which I am meh about but that's another thread) and the pub are open but that seems an unnecessary loss of revenue.
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Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
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Post by Xanderl on Feb 3, 2016 19:11:40 GMT
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Post by demelza on Feb 3, 2016 19:38:30 GMT
Angels in America returning is the best news I've heard all week! It is a shame that it's not happening until next year, but at least it is happening. I wonder who'll be cast alongside Garfield?
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Post by bordeaux on Feb 3, 2016 19:57:33 GMT
Some good things here, a great improvement, as others have said, on this year. The Peter Pan is wonderful, incidentally - though Sally Cookson's 101 Dalmatians is even better. Good to hear young writers being pushed. Excited about Ivo van Hove and Antony and Cleopatra with Ralph - and I wonder who as Cleopatra - and the Chekhovs. Yes Angels in America is great. The only oddity in my view is Amadeus which is relatively undemanding fare...he said, trying to stir up some controversy.
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Post by n1david on Feb 3, 2016 20:03:49 GMT
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NT 2016
Feb 3, 2016 20:51:54 GMT
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Post by Snciole on Feb 3, 2016 20:51:54 GMT
Thanks, Xander! Had no idea they were doing that badly but I suspect the issues were transport based rather than output. I only live in Streatham and avoid doing "far away" things on a Sunday just because the trains will be awful.
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Post by peggs on Feb 3, 2016 21:19:05 GMT
Thanks, Xander! Had no idea they were doing that badly but I suspect the issues were transport based rather than output. I only live in Streatham and avoid doing "far away" things on a Sunday just because the trains will be awful. True, sunday trains do tend to be poor, was always something of a gamble when booking, pity though.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2016 0:03:04 GMT
I seem to remember the Angels in America excerpt as having been spectacularly yawnsome in the NT celebration show. Also, doesn't it go on for HOURS? But hey, at least you know you've got one less keen bean competing for a ticket, all those who are hot under the collar about this one!
Anthony and Cleopatra is a must, but it's a way off, isn't it? Hedda Gabler will depend on casting for me - enjoyed Sheridan Smith's take at the Old Vic not that long ago, so in no mad rush to see it again. The Chekhovs are tempting and Twelfth Night is a definite for me - I love Tamsin Greig.
Similarly tempted by the cast in Sunset...but will wait to see the layout of the Dorfman before making my mind up about that. (Unless you're paying top dollar, seats there are only worth buying if they perform in the round, it seems to me.)
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Post by stefy69 on Feb 4, 2016 7:20:11 GMT
Wow how expensive is this going to be !!!
Apologies if I've missed it do we know when the various type of membership booking periods open ? ( thanks in advance )
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2016 9:09:06 GMT
Wow how expensive is this going to be !!!
Apologies if I've missed it do we know when the various type of membership booking periods open ? ( thanks in advance ) I haven't had any email from the NT, which is unusual as they usually push it through straight after the announcement; I noticed that booking for the Temp Theatre Islamic State thing opens today/tomorrow though.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2016 9:19:34 GMT
"The Feb - Sep 2016 season includes: The Threepenny Opera, Young Chekov, The Deep Blue Sea, The Plough and the Stars, Sunset at the Villa Thalia. Booking opens for members from 22 Feb and for the public on 4 March. NT Members are able to book ahead of the general public. Find out more about membership." So I'd guess (hope) we've got maybe a few months yet before the *really* exciting stuff goes on sale. Start saving your pennies!
Angels In America is a two-part play, each part capable of coming in at over 3 hours if it really wants to, but although the time doesn't quite *fly* by, it's not a difficult watch at all.
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Post by peggs on Feb 4, 2016 12:12:00 GMT
Yeah apart from the already on sale stuff performance dates aren't out yet are they? Feel I'm going to have to sit down with the diary and plan (which all goes to pot when you get into booking frenzy and start wildly trying to fling seats at basket in panic as everything goes).
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Post by Jasmine on Feb 4, 2016 12:25:11 GMT
There so much I want to see! I'm already assuming that I won't get to see everything I'd like to (budget. travel. sigh.), so I hope there are NT Lives aplenty. I will endeavour to snaffle some tickets in the scrum for Angels In America though - that's a priority.
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Post by vickster51 on Feb 4, 2016 12:42:54 GMT
Well that's certainly an improvement on recent seasons, with so much I want to see. I didn't see Angels In America the first time around, but thought the excerpt at the NT 50 was superb (although that was fuelled by Andrew Scott's performance). Good to see the NT giving an exciting season. I've been less than inspired recently.
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Post by peggs on Feb 4, 2016 13:44:22 GMT
Re NTlive have people found the prices for this going up recently? At my nearest cinema that shows them it is now more expensive to see it there than if I managed to get a low price ticket at the theatre, I wasn't sure if this was just my cinema putting prices up or a general rise? NTlive reduce travel costs for me but is rather grim paying more for a cinema experience rather than if you were in the theatre.
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