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Post by Honoured Guest on Jun 15, 2017 12:31:56 GMT
NT scheduling!!
A week of previews before the press night on 13 November. Then just three performances in November and three more in December.
The actual run of the play starts in January.
Is this a new NT programming policy to allow them to cancel failing shows? They seem to have given themselves six weeks to programme an alternative show from January if the previews and press night are a disaster in early November.
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Post by jadnoop on Jun 15, 2017 12:48:03 GMT
Maybe it's a reflection on the critical mauling that Obsession at the Barbican got? I heard an interview with van Hove where he mentioned his creation process as being fairly organic with the actors & set designers on board, so perhaps this is a built in period for alterations(?) Although I suppose, in terms of the critics it doesn't make much sense to allow for alterations after press night.
Having said that though, for Obsession the critics didn't seem to have much impact on the commercial success; it was pretty much solidly booked up (and when I went there were a few people who stood and clapped despite the fact that most of comments I heard as people left the theatre were negative).
I'm conflicted about Network. I would love the opportunity to see Bryan Cranston on stage, but I love the film and am not clear if there's much to be gained from seeing it on stage. Given the actor/director/film combo tickets for this will presumably fly(?)
How is the NT Advanced Members scheme for bigger shows? I considered getting that for Mosquitoes, and IIRC that was more-or-less sold out before public booking even opened. Are you pretty much guaranteed a ticket if you go for the Advanced Members approach, or does that end up as a quick ticket rush like public booking?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2017 13:25:11 GMT
I think the new NT season looks really interesting; however I was also very enthusiastic about Salome and Common, so managing my expectations...
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Post by n1david on Jun 15, 2017 13:26:23 GMT
Agreed bizarre scheduling. Also odd that there are onstage seats for this, which I've never seen at the Littleton. They're being sold by ballot in the autumn. All very odd.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2017 13:58:00 GMT
Lots of seasoned commercial producers attached to this one...
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Post by jadnoop on Jun 15, 2017 14:19:04 GMT
Looking at the overall schedule, it looks like it could be due to them intercutting between Network and Pinnochio at the Lyttelton during December. There are a couple of weeks between Jane Eyre ending and Network starting when the Lyttelton has no performances, which presumably is for Network rehearsals. After the Network press night, there are two weeks again with no Lyttelton performances, presumably for Pinocchio rehearsals before it starts and runs for most of December into early January. Lyttelton then switches back to the remainder of Network's run on a single day. See page 19 here: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/sites/default/files/nt-rep-brochure-june2017-jan2018.pdf |
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Post by theatremadness on Jun 15, 2017 15:12:02 GMT
Is the film any good? I notice the NT are even doing a screening of it early November!
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Post by addictedtotheatre on Jun 15, 2017 15:21:29 GMT
Maybe it's a reflection on the critical mauling that Obsession at the Barbican got? I heard an interview with van Hove where he mentioned his creation process as being fairly organic with the actors & set designers on board, so perhaps this is a built in period for alterations(?) Although I suppose, in terms of the critics it doesn't make much sense to allow for alterations after press night. Having said that though, for Obsession the critics didn't seem to have much impact on the commercial success; it was pretty much solidly booked up (and when I went there were a few people who stood and clapped despite the fact that most of comments I heard as people left the theatre were negative). I'm conflicted about Network. I would love the opportunity to see Bryan Cranston on stage, but I love the film and am not clear if there's much to be gained from seeing it on stage. Given the actor/director/film combo tickets for this will presumably fly(?) How is the NT Advanced Members scheme for bigger shows? I considered getting that for Mosquitoes, and IIRC that was more-or-less sold out before public booking even opened. Are you pretty much guaranteed a ticket if you go for the Advanced Members approach, or does that end up as a quick ticket rush like public booking? The tickets for this will go very fast. It is worth becoming a Priority Member if you go the NT a lot, but you will still need to be organised and be ready to start booking at 8:30am on 29th June. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2017 15:32:02 GMT
Is the film any good? I notice the NT are even doing a screening of it early November! I think it's safe to say that it's deemed a bit of a classic. There are a few too many long, preachy speeches for my liking but a lot of it still scarily resonates today. Nominated for lots of Oscars and it has some great performances. Famous for Peter Finch being the first person to posthumously win an Oscar (Best Actor) and for Beatrice Straight winning with the shortest performance to win an Oscar (Best Supporting Actress). Faye Dunaway also won Best Actress while her cheekbones were also nominated for Best Supporting Actress. |
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Post by bordeaux on Jun 15, 2017 17:25:37 GMT
Maybe it's a reflection on the critical mauling that Obsession at the Barbican got? I heard an interview with van Hove where he mentioned his creation process as being fairly organic with the actors & set designers on board, so perhaps this is a built in period for alterations(?) Although I suppose, in terms of the critics it doesn't make much sense to allow for alterations after press night. Having said that though, for Obsession the critics didn't seem to have much impact on the commercial success; it was pretty much solidly booked up (and when I went there were a few people who stood and clapped despite the fact that most of comments I heard as people left the theatre were negative). I'm conflicted about Network. I would love the opportunity to see Bryan Cranston on stage, but I love the film and am not clear if there's much to be gained from seeing it on stage. Given the actor/director/film combo tickets for this will presumably fly(?) How is the NT Advanced Members scheme for bigger shows? I considered getting that for Mosquitoes, and IIRC that was more-or-less sold out before public booking even opened. Are you pretty much guaranteed a ticket if you go for the Advanced Members approach, or does that end up as a quick ticket rush like public booking? I have Priority membership - one tier above Advanced Membership - presumably because I wanted to be sure of getting cheapies at the front and I can usually only go on Saturday as I live outside London these days. But you should always be able to get something with Advanced if you're flexible. |
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Post by fossil on Jun 15, 2017 19:25:41 GMT
I am not sure if I want to watch some of the audience eating and drinking for three hours.... www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/network-on-stage-seating"A very limited number of tickets will be available for this unique, immersive experience, which will include a three-course meal and drinks on stage as Network unfolds. These special tickets will be available through a ballot in September, priced at £75 and £95 (£35 Entry Pass for under-25 year olds). More details to be announced – sign-up below and be amongst the first to hear about the ballot (please note that this sign-up form does not enter you into the ballot):" |
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Post by jadnoop on Jun 15, 2017 21:03:12 GMT
The tickets for this will go very fast. It is worth becoming a Priority Member if you go the NT a lot, but you will still need to be organised and be ready to start booking at 8:30am on 29th June. I have Priority membership - one tier above Advanced Membership - presumably because I wanted to be sure of getting cheapies at the front and I can usually only go on Saturday as I live outside London these days. But you should always be able to get something with Advanced if you're flexible. Thanks for the info  I would definitely like to go for one of the bigger memberships -both for the benefits but also to support the NT- but I'm not sure I can really justify it at this stage. I'm currently a member at NFT, Barbican and Royal Court, so I think spending £80+ for advanced NT membership as well is probably more than I can afford. As you say though, Bordeaux, I'm able to be pretty flexible in terms of time so hoping that I should still be able to get decent tickets at a reasonable price. I am not sure if I want to watch some of the audience eating and drinking for three hours.... www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/network-on-stage-seating"A very limited number of tickets will be available for this unique, immersive experience, which will include a three-course meal and drinks on stage as Network unfolds. These special tickets will be available through a ballot in September, priced at £75 and £95 (£35 Entry Pass for under-25 year olds). More details to be announced – sign-up below and be amongst the first to hear about the ballot (please note that this sign-up form does not enter you into the ballot):" That sounds like a pretty terrible idea. Plus my luck with audience members eating is that the ones eating around me are always the ones who chew with their mouths open.  I wonder how this is going to work in the context of the play. The film is all about the news, so how people eating a three-course meal fits with this I'm not sure. Thematically it might make sense to have people eating microwave tv dinners while sat on old sofas 'watching' the play unfolding on tv, but I doubt anyone would pay £75+ for that experience. |
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I would definitely like to go for one of the bigger memberships -both for the benefits but also to support the NT- but I'm not sure I can really justify it at this stage. I'm currently a member at NFT, Barbican and Royal Court, so I think spending £80+ for advanced NT membership as well is probably more than I can afford. As you say though, Bordeaux, I'm able to be pretty flexible in terms of time so hoping that I should still be able to get decent tickets at a reasonable price.