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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 7, 2017 18:49:32 GMT
I'm all for a Sunday performance. A nice Sunday dinner followed by an afternoon matinee - nowt better! Or maybe an early evening at around 6pm giving you time for a few drinkies and a proper chat about the show after, and still in bed a reasonable hour for work in the morning. Marvellous! I think they should make it law and close the theatres on Mondays.
What's that you say? Actors want sundays off too? Families? RELIGION? Nawwwww they LIKE being on stage! Any opportunity to show off etc. Anyway churches are open Mondays aren't they?
Shall we start a petition? Keep Sundays Special - See A Show!
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Post by infofreako on Mar 7, 2017 18:55:58 GMT
Its a resounding yay from me. I would go to much more theatre if Sunday performances were more common.
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Post by Michael on Mar 7, 2017 19:21:08 GMT
Most shows on Broadway do one show on Sunday, some even two. To compensate this, most of their theatres are dark on Monday. Personally, I'd be happy to have the same in London to make the most of my theatre trips.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2017 19:22:30 GMT
From a purely selfish point of view when planning weekends away a nice Sunday Matinee before heading home is a handy thing!
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Post by Steffi on Mar 7, 2017 19:27:11 GMT
Personally I like Sunday performances since I have to travel to see shows in London. I can do a Saturday and Sunday in London without having to take time off work (flying home early on Monday and starting work at midday). So for me Sunday performances mean I can see 3 shows without using a single day of my holiday allowance.
On the other hand I have friends in shows that do Sunday performances and it really does affect their family life. If your partner is in a Monday to Friday 9 to 5 job and you are working Saturday and Sunday you hardly ever see each other.
But then that's a problem not only performers face but which applies to every profession with potential weekend hours.
Here in Germany a Saturday and Sunday double show is pretty much the norm in all big (Stage Entertainment) musicals. Typical Sunday show times over here are 2pm and 6:30pm/7pm.
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Post by 49thand8th on Mar 7, 2017 19:37:33 GMT
I've never understood the lack of Sunday shows on the West End. (I also wish things were a little more spread out here, as well.)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2017 19:46:17 GMT
It used to be to do with now outdated/altered liscencing laws on Sunday trading/entertainment etc but while shops and pubs have quickly moved to use that now available space theatre remained where it was for the most part.
Even London trips aside, a Sunday matinee at home would also perhaps intice me to some shows- particualry in busy periods where a rare evening at home becomes more appealing!
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Post by CG on the loose on Mar 7, 2017 20:00:50 GMT
I'm fairly neutral on the matter of Sunday performances of regular shows - as London is a fair distance and I'm down there for work during the week, I try and avoid returning at the weekend for things I can see at other times. Also recognise TM's arguments re the impact on performers' family life.
I am however a fan of the one-off Sunday events that happen purely because the cream of the West End are not otherwise engaged that night... I've seen some cracking concerts over the years, often for charity, with some amazing line-ups (lines-up?!) I wouldn't like to see these disappear through lack of available, quality talent!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2017 20:43:11 GMT
What else are you going to do on a rainy Sunday?
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Post by Dawnstar on Mar 7, 2017 21:16:22 GMT
I ideally prefer to go to 2 shows on a Saturday then have the Sunday to catch up on sleep. However since I discovered Mischief Theatre, & they decided to go for 2 show Sunday schedules for all their West End shows, that hasn't exactly worked out!
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Post by poster J on Mar 7, 2017 21:18:51 GMT
I would much prefer Sunday shows as getting out of work in time to see a midweek show (or even sometimes a Friday show!) is often very difficult for me. I've lost count of the number of shows I've failed to see and wasted tickets for because I couldn't get away from my desk in time to get to the theatre. In my line of work it's almost impossible to predict when I'll be quiet enough to get away for a 7.30pm show, so when I do book a midweek performance it's a case of hoping and praying I have a quiet day!
I'd manage to see a lot more theatre if Sunday performances were more common.
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Post by Stasia on Mar 7, 2017 21:22:54 GMT
In Moscow most of the theatres go dark on Nonday and musicals have double show days in Saturdays and Sundays: AS THIS IS WHEN PEOPLE CAN COME. It is much easier for people to do Sundays instead weekdays, so I was fairly surprised to find out London theatres have such a "strange" schedule. And the shops! Sometimes living in a less "civilised" country helps!
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Post by Mark on Mar 7, 2017 21:47:15 GMT
Not a fan of Sunday shows really. I do love the variety of matinee days though and wish more shows did a Tuesday (and its a shame none are currently doing Fridays)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2017 22:20:10 GMT
I like having the option of Sunday performances but I don't mind it not being the norm. It's useful for sneaking extra shows into my week, but I do appreciate being able to stay at home and do laundry.
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Post by viserys on Mar 8, 2017 6:31:48 GMT
I'm with Steffi on this. These days I usually travel from Thursday to Sunday and see four shows (1x Thur, 1x Fri, 2x Sat) before going home on Sunday morning. So I miss two full days of work. If I could cut the Thur and see another show on Sun instead and go home on Mon morning, I'd only miss one and a half day at work. I once managed to catch a 2pm matinee at the National Theatre on Sunday, then scoot to Heathrow and catch the evening flight home which was quite cool. Over here I love the Sunday for seeing a show. Saturday is for me the day when I do chores, clean the place, etc., then Sunday is my leisure day.
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Post by showgirl on Mar 8, 2017 8:26:06 GMT
I still like Sunday performances in principle and, when I worked shifts with no pattern, I often went to things on both days at the weekend. However, now I "work" on fixed days, including Monday, and given that our train company has got SO much worse, meaning the line is often either closed or has slow and lengthy diversions in place, I've more or less given up. People may recall that the NT offered Sunday performances for some time but also ceased to do so relatively recently. I tended not to visit mainstream theatres on Sundays anyway but an early film, followed by a matinee somewhere like the Union (or Landor when they were still there, and Park and Southwark Playhouse when they still did them) was ideal. Also, those venues tended not to have Monday shows, so cast, etc, still had a two-day break. My Sunday system also allowed a slightly earlier night than on the previous day, as I couldn't cope with two late ones in a row.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2017 8:50:34 GMT
I find it a bit odd that the RSC doesn't do Sunday matinees since so many people must go there for a weekend. I'd love to fit in a play on Sun before getting the train back. But that's supposing the trains would cooperate - they seem to go out of their way to not be convenient for RSC starting times.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2017 9:05:10 GMT
I find it a bit odd that the RSC doesn't do Sunday matinees since so many people must go there for a weekend. I'd love to fit in a play on Sun before getting the train back. But that's supposing the trains would cooperate - they seem to go out of their way to not be convenient for RSC starting times. We need a whole other thread for uncooperative theatre related trains!!
But for me, I usually take Friday off do Friday eve and double show Saturday, I could sometimes save myself a holiday day and do Sunday matinee instead and get the same 'value'
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Post by Mr Snow on Mar 8, 2017 9:06:11 GMT
Love the idea but like the OP I find Sunday Audiences a bit like weekend drivers. Neither seem to remember what they are going out for!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2017 9:19:59 GMT
I love a Sunday show, always support it! I wish there were more thst did it tho, it would be great to do a two show day more often. I do think it would make sense if the family shows especially did Sundays, which granted, a few do.
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Post by Latecomer on Mar 8, 2017 9:21:38 GMT
Harry Potter on a Sunday was bliss....nice early shows and all done and dusted by 9pm.....brilliant!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 8, 2017 9:40:03 GMT
Has any production ever done a... I'm almost scared to say it... three performance day?
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Post by daniel on Mar 8, 2017 9:48:35 GMT
Has any production ever done a... I'm almost scared to say it... three performance day? Joseph does 2pm, 5pm & 8pm on Saturdays!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2017 9:50:22 GMT
Panto definitely does, and I'm sure children's theatre does reasonably regularly (the touring Babe The Sheep-Pig has at least one three show day at my local). You need shows that are either short or lucrative to get away with a three-show day, either to fit them in or to justify wearing the cast out. (Also if you get trilogies like the Henrys or the Jameses or the Chekhovs then you get a three-show day but that obviously doesn't necessarily count 'cos it's technically three different plays.)
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Post by lynette on Mar 8, 2017 11:50:39 GMT
There was a lack of 'atmosphere ' at the Sunday NT performances. I don't know why because the South Bank is 'on' every day isn't it? But perhaps Sunday is a family/tea/garden kinda day.
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Post by viserys on Mar 8, 2017 11:53:41 GMT
I once managed to catch a 2pm matinee at the National Theatre on Sunday People may recall that the NT offered Sunday performances for some time but also ceased to do so relatively recently They did, and dropped them due to cost and also that they were the slowest selling performances, apparently. That's something which many West End theatres find. Mischief shows do two Sunday performances, but discount 100 matinee seats heavily in advance, and run offers on the evening shows. "Lion King" prices Sunday with Friday, rather than "peak Saturday" and does better with extra midweek matinees quite often. Interesting that "Aladdin" didn't go the Sunday route, given Disney's experience. I wonder if Sunday is a "changeover" day for London, with folk booted out of their hotels by noon and making for home, rather than hanging around for a matinee? Interesting. I read somewhere a few years ago that museums in big cities have come under fire for their traditional being closed on Mondays as city trips seem to have shifted from Wed/Thur - Sun to Friday - Mon/Tue and people are annoyed to find a museum they wanted to see closed. But it's a good argument. If you have to go back to your hotel after the matinee to pick up your luggage, then make the treck home by car / train / plane, you won't be home until late in the evening, which is too late for many who have to be in work again on Monday. London theatre seems to rely more on proper tourists staying for a few days than on day-trippers, which are a big part of the German audience. And if it's deeply ingrained that theatres don't do Sunday shows, people perhaps haven't really twigged that things have been changing and just assume there are no shows. If Germany ever changes its outdated medieval laws on Sunday shopping, I think it would take me a long while to adjust to the fact that I can get my groceries on a Sunday. I'm still baffled when a foreigner casually mentions on a Sunday "I'm gonna pop out for some shopping, see ya"
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Post by showgirl on Mar 8, 2017 12:07:18 GMT
I do recall the NT saying that Sunday performances sold slowest; I could never risk booking them as for a Travelex seat, that would have been before rail engineering work was announced. Plus NT matinees are always so awkwardly early that it's often impossible to see a film first, and I can't justify the time & money spent travelling just for one thing. But pub theatres do noticeably well on Sundays & some have 2 shows.
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Post by Michael on Mar 8, 2017 12:28:42 GMT
I'm guessing the German railway network is quicker and more reliable at weekends... That's a good one We do have a saying over here: German railway has only four enemies: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
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Post by viserys on Mar 8, 2017 12:36:20 GMT
Figuring out how to quote multiple bits is doing my head in, so I'm being lazy and do it this way:
German railway network being quick and reliable? Don't make me laugh. I avoid German trains whenever I can. But Germany is a car-obsessed nation anyway. The cliche Sunday excursion here has always been Mom and Dad packing the kids into the car trundle off to some more or less interesting place nearby for a few hours.
I wouldn't mind seeing single holidays like Good Friday or Christmas Day being proper holidays with everything closed.
But everything being closed on Sundays is a huge annoyance. I work from Monday to Friday, so can only do quick grocery grabs during these days. If I have something planned for Saturday that prevents me from a bigger shop, I'm already flailing about. I'm not talking about clothes and such, though it's also a problem. My hometown Cologne is full of weekend tourists, including foreigners, who I'm sure would love to pop into shops here and there and thus boost the economy. And since everything is closed, local people don't even bother to go into the inner city, so it feels oddly deserted and boring.
A few years ago, a small town in the nearby Eifel decided to transform its "inner city" into one big outlet center to stop the city from bleeding dry and attract daytrippers. But they didn't get permission to open on Sundays. So what's the point in trying to be a commercial tourist attraction if you can't use the day when most people COULD come? Meanwhile, the outlet center across the Dutch border in Roermond is bursting with Germans every Sunday, as does the local supermarket across the Belgian border from Aachen.
I guess, my point is - not everything needs to be open on Sundays, but there shouldn't be a law that simply prohibits Sunday opening all around. If you want the tourist trade (like the place in the Eifel) let them open on Sundays. In a big city like Cologne I'm sure you find enough young people to staff the big shops in the central shopping streets to enable Sunday shopping. And beyond that - why not let the local grocery stores and newsagents decide for themselves if they want to be open on Sundays to serve the neighbourhood?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2017 12:38:40 GMT
I made an ill-timed trip to Munich last year, arriving on a Sunday and the following day was a public holiday too! we still managed tourist-y things, BUT my companion has severe allergies and relies on being able to shop in supermarkets and cook food when travelling, so this became an issue with only a tiny health food shop in the station able to offer us groceries for 48 hours!
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