4,799 posts
|
Post by The Matthew on Nov 8, 2019 5:47:20 GMT
Please let's not try to out-insult each other.
|
|
|
Post by londonpostie on Nov 8, 2019 7:42:04 GMT
My guess is that the header tank had a slow leak, and nobody realised. A bit of plasterboard saturated and gave way. Horrible, but one of those random things that do happen. That's been my thought; not indicative of the state of West End theaters or of climate change but a normal tank leak. There was talk of a flooded floor earlier.
Thinking back to the incident we had in the mansion flat, we did wonder if it was coincidence the collapse happened in a room that didn't originally have a fireplace, but where central heating had been installed at some point - fairly sudden changes in temperature, albeit taking a decade or two.
|
|
2,706 posts
|
Post by Cardinal Pirelli on Nov 8, 2019 10:18:09 GMT
....aaaand you were doing so well until you went off on ‘Guardian buzzwords’. (It’s always sunny in Philadelphia, by the way) Outside the context of a comedy that revels in taboo subjects and such, the phrase really isn’t funny. Context is king (as some loser once nearly said). Anyway, no soup for you.... So you googled it and realised your error? I guess you sort of owned up. And you were doing so well but it was apparent your whining about the "far right" (Guardian buzzword) made it painfully obvious you had no idea... Well, you must have missed my reference to another sitcom (superior, in my opinion), I quite like darker American sitcoms, so...... Anyone think that 'far right' is a 'buzzword', for The Guardian or, well, anywhere? "alt right" is a buzzword, I suppose, but "far right" has been a descriptor for decades.
|
|
18,858 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 8, 2019 10:50:21 GMT
Ok I think we’ve done that to death now.
Let’s move on please.
|
|
18,858 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 8, 2019 10:53:56 GMT
I must say when I saw Wendell Pierce giving an impromptu speech outside the theatre I could picture the producers with knuckles in their mouths wondering if he was going to drop them in it liability-wise.
|
|
4,631 posts
|
Post by Phantom of London on Nov 8, 2019 11:08:48 GMT
My guess is that the header tank had a slow leak, and nobody realised. A bit of plasterboard saturated and gave way. Horrible, but one of those random things that do happen. That's been my thought; not indicative of the state of West End theaters or of climate change but a normal tank leak. There was talk of a flooded floor earlier.
Thinking back to the incident we had in the mansion flat, we did wonder if it was coincidence the collapse happened in a room that didn't originally have a fireplace, but where central heating had been installed at some point - fairly sudden changes in temperature, albeit taking a decade or two.
Given that a similar incident happened, you would have thought the in-house maintenance team would have picked this up, in their corrective maintenance programme. They also charge an hefty restoration fee, to assist with the up keep.
|
|
209 posts
|
Post by Flim Flam on Nov 8, 2019 11:20:33 GMT
Bit scary isn't it, and nobody wants to be worrying about their safety whilst watching a show. I have to keep saying to myself things like this don't happen all the time. Because I get very anxious going to shows esp after the Apollo one. I do however remember going to see Rocky Horror at the Playhouse and I was in the top tier I assume upper circle. During Time Warp everyone stood up and did the Time Warp. It felt like the level moved. I felt the same during Rocky Horror at the Playhouse. I was up in the top tier too and remember looking around thinking that maybe it wasn't such a good idea for a full house of people to be jumping up and down in such an old building! Didn't feel any actual movement though. But definitely gave me pause for thought!
|
|
6,347 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Jon on Nov 8, 2019 19:35:51 GMT
|
|
3,093 posts
|
Post by Rory on Nov 8, 2019 21:38:31 GMT
That's good news. They wouldn't be re-opening if they didn't think it safe to do so.
It would have been an awful shame if this brilliant production had been pulled.
|
|
6,347 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Jon on Nov 8, 2019 22:24:02 GMT
That's good news. They wouldn't be re-opening if they didn't think it safe to do so. It would have been an awful shame if this brilliant production had been pulled. I didn't think it would be like the Apollo incident which was a lot worse but I wasn't expecting them to be open by Monday.
|
|
225 posts
|
Post by ukpuppetboy on Nov 8, 2019 23:07:20 GMT
The issue at the Apollo was structural, severe, and required the input of a range of professions to redesign, construct and certify the improvements safe before the venue could reopen for the public (and many more months for the work to be completed). In the case of the Piccadilly if, as appears the cause was local and the damage cosmetic then there isn’t really any reason to remain closed. They could conceivably have the damage completely fixed in this instance before the theatre opens on Monday. It really is unfortunate that the two events should be compared in the same sentence really; though obviously understandable.
|
|
Xanderl
Member
Not always very high value in terms of ticket yield or donations
|
Post by Xanderl on Nov 9, 2019 9:58:32 GMT
|
|
5,596 posts
|
Post by lynette on Nov 9, 2019 14:29:03 GMT
Structural or cosmetic. Ahem, the ceiling fell down in both theatres, people were taken to hospital. I can’t see myself asking if it was structural or cosmetic as I am taken off in the ambulance. The theatre owners need to get their acts together and employ a few engineers, surveyors, builders and plasterers.
|
|
6,347 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Jon on Nov 9, 2019 14:46:06 GMT
Structural or cosmetic. Ahem, the ceiling fell down in both theatres, people were taken to hospital. I can’t see myself asking if it was structural or cosmetic as I am taken off in the ambulance. The theatre owners need to get their acts together and employ a few engineers, surveyors, builders and plasterers. As easy as it is point fingers at ATG, I would point out that they’ve been renovating and refurbishing their theatres especially the Piccadilly.
|
|
1,909 posts
|
Post by sf on Nov 9, 2019 14:50:22 GMT
Structural or cosmetic. Ahem, the ceiling fell down in both theatres, people were taken to hospital. I can’t see myself asking if it was structural or cosmetic as I am taken off in the ambulance. The theatre owners need to get their acts together and employ a few engineers, surveyors, builders and plasterers.
And frankly, since we've been seeing above-inflation rises in the price of tickets for at least the last two decades - sharply above the rate of inflation over the past few years - in many cases with a "restoration fee" imposed on top, there's no excuse for the theatre owners not to keep the buildings adequately maintained.
|
|
|
Post by craig on Nov 9, 2019 18:50:53 GMT
Structural or cosmetic. Ahem, the ceiling fell down in both theatres, people were taken to hospital. I can’t see myself asking if it was structural or cosmetic as I am taken off in the ambulance. The theatre owners need to get their acts together and employ a few engineers, surveyors, builders and plasterers.
And frankly, since we've been seeing above-inflation rises in the price of tickets for at least the last two decades - sharply above the rate of inflation over the past few years - in many cases with a "restoration fee" imposed on top, there's no excuse for the theatre owners not to keep the buildings adequately maintained.
Couldn't agree more. West end theatre ticket pricing has changed immeasurably in a very short space of time. Whilst accidents happen, there is no excuse for poor maintenance and the big theatre owners are going to have to seriously up their game. A third incident must be prevented or I think people will majorly lose confidence in putting their safety in the hands of the companies that own these beautiful buildings.
|
|
18,858 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 9, 2019 19:41:05 GMT
ATG statement
|
|
3,093 posts
|
Post by Rory on Nov 9, 2019 19:42:26 GMT
Yes I agree. I think a third incident would be a real disaster for the West End so the pressure is really on the owners now.
|
|
18,858 posts
|
Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 9, 2019 19:43:05 GMT
|
|
6,347 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Jon on Nov 9, 2019 23:19:31 GMT
Yes I agree. I think a third incident would be a real disaster for the West End so the pressure is really on the owners now. Two incidents in six years isn’t going to kill the West End. More people per year are injured or killed by public transport and people still use it.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2019 0:05:35 GMT
Very Few West End Theatres ever seem to have been closed for lengthy restoration work. I'll factor in a lot are listed buildings but in Birmingham both the Alex and the Hippodrome have undergone refits and they date from late 19th Century.
|
|
6,347 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Jon on Nov 10, 2019 0:11:52 GMT
Very Few West End Theatres ever seem to have been closed for lengthy restoration work. I'll factor in a lot are listed buildings but in Birmingham both the Alex and the Hippodrome have undergone refits and they date from late 19th Century. It’s really costly as we’ve seen with the Victoria Palace, Drury Lane and also the Prince of Wales to have the theatre closed for more than a year. Unless you’re Andrew or Cameron then you can only do it in stages or between shows.
|
|
|
Post by intoanewlife on Nov 10, 2019 0:24:27 GMT
I saw cordoned off areas and yellow signs the last 2 times I have been there for Lehman and Curious Incident. Obviously they have just let these things slide for far too long. It's no wonder something eventually gave way so to speak. Not very comforting I must say.
|
|
3,478 posts
|
Post by showgirl on Nov 10, 2019 4:57:18 GMT
An annual safety check may well be the legal requirement but if this theatre last had this done in February, that's 9 months ago and anyway, if people had indeed reported an issue (dripping from the ceiling?) recently, that should have been investigated, not least due to the potential consequences. And maybe this did happen. Also, however, legal requirements may only be the minimum advisable and surely it depends on the circumstances? As the Police often point out in bad weather, just because the speed limit might be a certain figure, it doesn't mean you should drive at that speed if the conditions suggest proceeding more cautiously.
|
|
3,093 posts
|
Post by Rory on Nov 10, 2019 7:27:40 GMT
Yes I agree. I think a third incident would be a real disaster for the West End so the pressure is really on the owners now. Two incidents in six years isn’t going to kill the West End. More people per year are injured or killed by public transport and people still use it. Let's face it, in PR terms, a third incident would really not be good for the West End. Let's hope it never happens.
|
|
4,587 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Mark on Nov 10, 2019 8:32:12 GMT
The Shaftesbury seems to still be having major works done even with the start of &Juliet. Lots of areas "boxed off" and it's a bit of a maze in there.
|
|
|
Post by craig on Nov 11, 2019 16:23:44 GMT
Yes I agree. I think a third incident would be a real disaster for the West End so the pressure is really on the owners now. Two incidents in six years isn’t going to kill the West End. More people per year are injured or killed by public transport and people still use it. I’m not saying a third incident would kill the west end, but it certainly will knock confidence. Public transport is a necessity. Visiting the theatre is a treat.
|
|
6,347 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Jon on Nov 11, 2019 16:52:07 GMT
Off hand, the incidents I recall in the past few years were the current one, the Apollo, something breaking off the proscenium at the Harold Pinter and some roof falling off at the Haymarket. IIRC, there was a leak at the Lyttelton as well. Basically, Apollo apart, as this thread proves - people forget and move on, which is good. Stuff happens, and it is partly our media age that keeps it alive. The Queens/Sondheim had a small fire in the boiler room only four year ago and nobody batted an eyelid.
|
|
6,347 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Jon on Nov 11, 2019 17:08:32 GMT
Oddly, while ATG has mentioned that the Grand Circle will be closed while the repairs are taking place, the Young Vic are still selling tickets for it.
|
|
3,927 posts
|
Post by Dawnstar on Nov 11, 2019 22:07:25 GMT
Do you hear the people singe? An extremely appropriate remark for a monkey to make about a French show!
|
|