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Post by lynette on Nov 19, 2016 23:30:50 GMT
Report as promised: I liked this Tempest very much. The much trailed technology is used intelligently. The idea is that Ariel is creating and controlling the effects of himself appearing. Well, hard to explain but it isn't just flashy. Ariel very well acted with beautiful movement (Mark Quartley) a nice partnership with SRB. SRB- what can one say? It is as if the part was written for him with our Will sitting in the back of the stalls saying, 'S'ok, Simon can do that...'
Happy to add more if people want but gotta catch up with Strictly now.
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Post by zahidf on Nov 20, 2016 1:25:43 GMT
Anyone know barbican prices?
are rhe front row 10 pounds like they are for the current rsc season?
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Post by moelhywel on Nov 22, 2016 23:49:46 GMT
Saw this tonight and really enjoyed it. SRB excellent as Prospero and his last speech to the audience very moving. I thought both Joe Dixon and Mark Quartley as Caliban and Ariel were also excellent. The technology and lighting effects work really well with the basic set of the inside of a ship.If you can't get to Stratford to see it go to the Barbican when it's on there.
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Post by peggs on Nov 23, 2016 14:35:42 GMT
sorry it's probably else where but my internet is down so have v limited access, is the barbican booking yet for this? any info on seat prices. Wondering if could go there or realistically go for cinema one as more affordable if less atmospheric
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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 Nov 23, 2016 14:47:32 GMT
RSC top level members booking is open - Barbican members booking is tomorrow (for member plus) and Friday for normal members. Public booking Monday I think. Ticket prices are £10 to £75 ("limited number of premium £75 seats") but I've not found a seating plan yet. Any RSC members able to see one?
Past experience is that for initial booking the auditorium will be split down the middle, and RSC sells one half, Barbican the other.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Nov 23, 2016 14:51:31 GMT
Yes, 10am on Monday for public booking.
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393 posts
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Post by altamont on Nov 23, 2016 15:18:38 GMT
The £10 RSC tickets are in row C - rows A and B not on sale this morning - and in general the tickets they are selling are to the right (facing the stage)
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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 Nov 23, 2016 15:25:43 GMT
Thanks! There was a mention of day seats so possibly that's the front two rows
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Nov 23, 2016 17:54:39 GMT
Thanks
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Post by fossil on Nov 25, 2016 17:03:38 GMT
No trouble booking a £10 row C seat during members booking yesterday and currently still quite a few of these left. Anyone wanting to book a midweek matinee 20% over 60s discount be aware that the discount is not available on the RSC web site for the Thursday matinees but is available for the one Tuesday matinee on the 15th August and for all Monday and Tuesday evening performances. I queried this with the RSC box office as it contradicts what it says on the Barbican web site but was told "Unfortunately we do not offer an Over 60’s discount on a Thursday Matinee at the Barbican Theatre in London." I am not bothered about this with my £10 ticket but it seems a bit mean of the RSC penalising pensioners who may buy a £57.50 ticket. Especially when they do not post information of their differing Stratford/London discounting policies anywhere - a fact I have pointed out to them.
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Post by grit on Nov 26, 2016 19:07:48 GMT
Took four 16/17-year olds to see The Tempest at the RSC yesterday. Much discussion followed, including sharp observations (one at college studying theatre). For those interested in teen views, here are 4 teen critics...
1: Wanted the stripped-back and bare versions of the play in the style at the Globe (pre-Rice) with 'actors in the raw' without props, so they were going to be difficult to please ... Teen critic complained about the opening scene with the actors not moving while the ship sloshes about ... they wanted the physicality of the actors bashing themselves about the stage and hanging onto ropes, as one would presumably do in a real Tudor storm; they thought the beginning showed the actors over-relying on the cinematic experience, or acting so as not to be in conflict with it. I think they ended the evening quietly impressed and won over by the beautiful brightness of colour and the imaginative use of image, but after they'd begun by whining 'This is not cinema, I want theatre' then it was hard to come back from that.
2. 'Stunning' Hugely impressed by the riot of colour and image; they enjoyed Ariel's turn as a hologram but complained about image twitching - we couldn't decide whether these were momentary glitches or a deliberate fractioning of movement to echo a style of electrical interference, Ariel being a spirit of the air, an'all (the latter interpretation is fine by me).
3. Enjoyed the costuming generally; very appreciative of the bones of the ship and how adaptable that was as a set; thought the Caliban costume was 'great' and loved the attention to detail on Caliban's fingers and fish fins; also loved how the characters on the island seemed to get muddy feet as they went though the play, as if showing they really were on an island; loved how the play had a bit of everything - opera, slapstick, anguished screaming and frivolity.
4. Found a lot to think about in the relationship of Prospero and Ariel, as in Prospero seemed to love Ariel more than he loved being a wizard conjuring spells with a stick (and who wouldn't want that?); commented how Russell Beale's performance brings out the menacing side of Prospero - they've previously seen Roger Allam in the role and they noted how very different were the interpretations. In the Allam version Prospero came over as resigned but bearing grudges, impetuous and given to rash judgement; with Russell Beale, Prospero comes across as much more considered: no-one wanted to get on the wrong side of him because he'd be vengeful and dangerous. As Prospero screams in Ariel's face, we all felt here was someone with such internal rage and sorrow, he'd be capable of anything.
Personally, I loved the presentation of this play. I thought the combination of sound and light and image was a knockout wonder, and I loved how it brought back the Masque to a proper status, and seems to mark a moment when we can have a new way to explore imaginative theatrescapes. I'd love to see it again in the cinema run, to compare how it works on a screen. Simon Russell Beale is wonderful, and I didn't feel the acting was at all compromised or weakened by the image show. So, from me, a lovely, lovely show. Moving, and visually WOW.
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Post by martin1965 on Nov 26, 2016 19:58:08 GMT
Took four 16/17-year olds to see The Tempest at the RSC yesterday. Much discussion followed, including sharp observations (one at college studying theatre). For those interested in teen views, here are 4 teen critics... 1: Wanted the stripped-back and bare versions of the play in the style at the Globe (pre-Rice) with 'actors in the raw' without props, so they were going to be difficult to please ... Teen critic complained about the opening scene with the actors not moving while the ship sloshes about ... they wanted the physicality of the actors bashing themselves about the stage and hanging onto ropes, as one would presumably do in a real Tudor storm; they thought the beginning showed the actors over-relying on the cinematic experience, or acting so as not to be in conflict with it. I think they ended the evening quietly impressed and won over by the beautiful brightness of colour and the imaginative use of image, but after they'd begun by whining 'This is not cinema, I want theatre' then it was hard to come back from that. 2. 'Stunning' Hugely impressed by the riot of colour and image; they enjoyed Ariel's turn as a hologram but complained about image twitching - we couldn't decide whether these were momentary glitches or a deliberate fractioning of movement to echo a style of electrical interference, Ariel being a spirit of the air, an'all (the latter interpretation is fine by me). 3. Enjoyed the costuming generally; very appreciative of the bones of the ship and how adaptable that was as a set; thought the Caliban costume was 'great' and loved the attention to detail on Caliban's fingers and fish fins; also loved how the characters on the island seemed to get muddy feet as they went though the play, as if showing they really were on an island; loved how the play had a bit of everything - opera, slapstick, anguished screaming and frivolity. 4. Found a lot to think about in the relationship of Prospero and Ariel, as in Prospero seemed to love Ariel more than he loved being a wizard conjuring spells with a stick (and who wouldn't want that?); commented how Russell Beale's performance brings out the menacing side of Prospero - they've previously seen Roger Allam in the role and they noted how very different were the interpretations. In the Allam version Prospero came over as resigned but bearing grudges, impetuous and given to rash judgement; with Russell Beale, Prospero comes across as much more considered: no-one wanted to get on the wrong side of him because he'd be vengeful and dangerous. As Prospero screams in Ariel's face, we all felt here was someone with such internal rage and sorrow, he'd be capable of anything. Personally, I loved the presentation of this play. I thought the combination of sound and light and image was a knockout wonder, and I loved how it brought back the Masque to a proper status, and seems to mark a moment when we can have a new way to explore imaginative theatrescapes. I'd love to see it again in the cinema run, to compare how it works on a screen. Simon Russell Beale is wonderful, and I didn't feel the acting was at all compromised or weakened by the image show. So, from me, a lovely, lovely show. Moving, and visually WOW. Excellent! The new generation of theatregoers and liking Shakey too😀
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2016 14:37:36 GMT
I went last night and enjoyed it. Didn't LOVE it, but I enjoyed it a lot more than some other recent Shakespeares I've seen. I really liked Ariel and SRB, especially SRB's last speech, as others have said. I also really liked Miranda and the bloke she fell in love with. I think the special effects for the backdrops, skies, water, northern lights and so on were beautiful, and the floor was especially beautiful. I liked how it looked like a sandy beach with ridges and rivulets of water, and then later it lit up from underneath like lava. The ship set was gorgeous too. I wasn't fussed about Ariel's projections though, as I found it distracting and not really necessary - Ariel was magical enough as he was. I really didn't like Caliban as he just reminded me of that awful Peter Kay monster in Doctor Who, and overall I found the plot really quite confusing. I was never really sure who was who's brother and who had betrayed who.
Oh, and did anyone else think that the curly haired one in the blue jacket looked like a young Colin Baker?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2016 11:00:41 GMT
Plenty of £10 seats left for the Barbican but all central and I'm an aisle seat girl. Barbican and RSC are all showing £10 as central. Anyone with RSC membership know if the aisle ones were on sale earlier in the booking period?
If so, I'll cut my losses and plump for a £45 dress circle. But it runs in my mind they stagger ticket release at the Barbican sometimes, so I may hang on and see if the aisle seats turn up next month or something...
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Post by Polly1 on Nov 28, 2016 11:18:08 GMT
Have bought a couple of sets of nice central £10 seats as Xmas gifts - and one for me of course
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4,567 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Nov 28, 2016 12:00:51 GMT
I'm very happy with the booking process - 4, 10 squid stalls tickets
I wonder how tomorrows, NT's Amex booking goes for 12 th night
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717 posts
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Post by Latecomer on Nov 28, 2016 12:06:38 GMT
Have bought a couple of sets of nice central £10 seats as Xmas gifts - and one for me of course Me too! ☺
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2,389 posts
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Post by peggs on Nov 28, 2016 12:57:51 GMT
The amount of Christmas presents I have bought myself is frankly getting out of control but how can you resist a central £10 seat?
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5,571 posts
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Post by lynette on Nov 28, 2016 14:50:46 GMT
Plenty of £10 seats left for the Barbican but all central and I'm an aisle seat girl. Barbican and RSC are all showing £10 as central. Anyone with RSC membership know if the aisle ones were on sale earlier in the booking period? If so, I'll cut my losses and plump for a £45 dress circle. But it runs in my mind they stagger ticket release at the Barbican sometimes, so I may hang on and see if the aisle seats turn up next month or something... I would just say Jean that the Barbican seating is very wide and an aisle seat is really on the side. Also the special effects are best seen from centre.
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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 Nov 28, 2016 15:01:33 GMT
Can't remember if the aisle seats were on sale last week - in some cases they keep them back until the staging is finalised so they know whether to sell them as restricted view or not.
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Post by Honoured Guest on Nov 28, 2016 15:17:04 GMT
The aisle is full of noises.
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587 posts
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Post by Polly1 on Nov 28, 2016 16:08:11 GMT
The aisle is full of noises. Oh, very good, HG jeanhunt, I agree with Lynette, aisle seats are not great at the Barbican. A while ago there were still some central £10-ers for 2nd Aug when Im going with some friends - come and join us!
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2,339 posts
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Post by zahidf on Nov 28, 2016 17:19:02 GMT
I got some £10.00 stall seats for this. remarkably simple!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2016 20:19:39 GMT
The aisle is full of noises. Oh, very good, HG jeanhunt, I agree with Lynette, aisle seats are not great at the Barbican. A while ago there were still some central £10-ers for 2nd Aug when Im going with some friends - come and join us! Aw, that's kind Polly1 but alas, I suffer with panic attacks that are triggered when I'm hemmed in by people, so sitting further in than one seat off the aisle is impossible for me. I wondered if they might do the aisle ones as day seats or something, which would be annoying. Ah well - might just make do with the cinema viewing instead and save some cash!
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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 Nov 28, 2016 20:27:19 GMT
The Barbican box office are pretty helpful so you could try giving them a call to ask?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2016 20:57:15 GMT
The Barbican box office are pretty helpful so you could try giving them a call to ask? Could do. I usually just try to book online, because whenever I speak to a human about it they generally think I'm completely mental. Which possibly I am ;-) By the way, did anyone manage to outfox the RSI-inducing 'generate a date' system on the Barbican website? I was looking desperately for a 'view dates as calendar' setting but couldn't see one, so I ended up just having to view a date, then click out of it, then click that darn 'see more dates' button every flippin' time I needed to view a day beyond about 7 July. Compared to that, come back new NT site, all is forgiven!! The RSC site wasn't much better - 'hey, why don't you scroll through our exceptionally long list of Stratford AND London dates, which for some reason we've chosen to mash up into a tiny scrolling window at the top of a huge web page... You don't want to do that? OK, set preferences at the top for matinees and London dates only. The system will only remember the setting for one clickthrough, but never mind eh?'
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Post by danielwhit on Dec 20, 2016 17:14:18 GMT
Went this afternoon - surprised myself at how much I enjoyed it. I always find the plot for this surprisingly complicated to get the intricacies, however beyond that the production values were superb.
Projections worked well for me, you could tell they've put a lot of effort into the concepts. The backdrop and floor had some lovely effects on them too.
I enjoyed all performances, agree with the 'young Colin Baker' point, and thought Mark Quartley's Ariel was the standout - projection effects or no projection effects.
I may well revisit in the cinema, as my front row seat probably wasn't the best to fully appreciate the scale of things at times.
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Post by Baemax on Dec 20, 2016 17:25:50 GMT
The Tempest has a plot?
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520 posts
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Post by danielwhit on Dec 21, 2016 10:14:37 GMT
The Tempest has a plot? Well, give or take..
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Post by crabtree on Dec 23, 2016 1:35:26 GMT
Absolutely loved The tempest tonight - gorgeously lit, but the famed motion capture characters added nothing and were clumsy next to the real actors. Totally unnecessary but the floor lighting exquisite. Nothing however matched the final two minutes of Prospero, stood in a cold circle of light, having dismissed a confused Ariel, and turning to the audience for that great last speech. No frills, no gimmick, just great acting and Shakespeare and theatre. So moving, especially just having watched Ariel almost making a sudden plea not to be released. Cut the gimmicky, clumsy motion capture and the bad animation, and there's a very special show there. The practical and old, old trick of disappearing food from the banquet got morer response than the awkward motion capture.
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