376 posts
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Post by sherriebythesea on Apr 25, 2017 0:53:32 GMT
I have never been to this theatre before (and I did do a forum search). I just started to pick my tickets and I'm really confused on the pictures they have of some of the seats. Stalls L29 is £55 but the seat right next to it, L28, is £16 and says restricted view. But it looks like the same "representative view" picture is used by both.
So I guess my question would be if any of the £16 tickets are good buys? I don't mind leaning my head a bit if in an aisle and I'm short so legroom shouldn't be an issue. I looked at seat plan and theatremonkey and couldn't find RSC listed (not surprising as not in London).
I'd like to get tickets to Julius Caesar and A&C but £100 and lodging for the night is really stretching it for me.
Thank you
Sherrie
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453 posts
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Post by mistressjojo on Apr 25, 2017 3:30:32 GMT
The £16 restricted view seats are next to or directly behind large supporting pillars.
In L28 you will miss some of the stage , but it's a thrust stage so they will move around a bit. So unless someone stands in exactly that spot for the whole play, you should manage to see most of it okay.
I'd take these central restricted view seats over those at the beginning and end of the back rows, as the circle over hangs these quite a bit.
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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 Apr 25, 2017 5:49:45 GMT
The RSC is generally overpriced I'm afraid!
There is a 10% off offer if you book both plays at the same time - you'll need to phone the box office to get this. Appreciate you're in the US so this isn't necessarily easy. Also, depending how flexible you are on dates, tickets are generally cheaper at the RSC during the week than on Saturdays. They also dynamically price - I was going to suggest looking at band C seats in the back row but I see those are £50 at weekends!
Also, having seen both these productions, neither is particularly good! Personally I would suggest skipping them, although Stratford upon Avon is worth a visit.
Also bear in mind the RSC does occasionally do very cheap offers for slow-selling plays and in fact has a £10 offer for all seats for some performances of Antony and Cleopatra (code 16715) - only till end of May so probably doesn't help you, but you could hang on and see if they discount during your visit. Follow them on facebook or twitter to see these offers.
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376 posts
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Post by sherriebythesea on Apr 25, 2017 14:57:10 GMT
Also, having seen both these productions, neither is particularly good! Personally I would suggest skipping them, although Stratford upon Avon is worth a visit. That is disappointing to hear. It seems such a shame to go to Stratford upon Avon and not see RSC. I could do an alternate plan, take early train, sightsee during morning and go to matinee of Julius Caesar. That would leave me time to have nice dinner in SuA and take late train back to London. I think I like that plan even better than trying to do both plays in one day. It's not as if I'm not giving the Bard his due on my visit to UK. Tickets for Hamlet at Harold Pinter and The Tempest at Barbican 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 Apr 25, 2017 15:13:34 GMT
Yes, that would work - the centre of Stratford is fairly small so you could get round the main sights (Shakespeare houses + the church) before and after the matinee. Probably wouldn't have time to do Anne Hathaway's cottage which is a bit out of the centre.
Another option would be to look at what's on in The Swan (the smaller of the two theatres) while you're over. That can be cheaper for reasonable seats (in particular, back row of the circle is £16 for non-restricted seats, and standing positions in the upper circle are £10)
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36 posts
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Post by greenice on Apr 25, 2017 15:44:57 GMT
I've always bought the cheapest tickets they do, the rv ones are fine as are the those up in the circles. In my experience the rv means you might have to move your head either side of a thin pillar to follow the action. The advantage of the cheap seats is that if the production's a bit of a dud you can leave at the interval with not much lost.
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376 posts
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Post by sherriebythesea on Apr 25, 2017 16:23:39 GMT
I've always bought the cheapest tickets they do, the rv ones are fine as are the those up in the circles. In my experience the rv means you might have to move your head either side of a thin pillar to follow the action. The advantage of the cheap seats is that if the production's a bit of a dud you can leave at the interval with not much lost. That is exactly what I'm planning on doing at the Globe. I'm not thrilled with what I have heard about the productions that are on while I'll be there so I figured I'd get cheap seats and if I don't like the production I can always people-watch or leave. |
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5,582 posts
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Post by lynette on Apr 25, 2017 17:42:45 GMT
Disagree xanderl, Ant and Cleo is worth seeing imo. Seeing JC this coming weekend so will let you know. The seating in the main house is not all that user friendly. Sometimes the best seats i.e. most expensive don't give you the best experience. I would always sit on the side towards the middle but actually on the side towards the stage can be ok. Sometimes the main character faces the back of the stage to deliver or to receive important lines. Sometimes they place people on the entrances at the corners and they stand there blocking the view! ( more often in the Swan I think ) The galleries would give you a good experience as long as you can see and hear ok. And have strong knees. So a few rows back in the side would be my choice if the price allows.
I wouldn't go for The Hypocrite in the Swan unless you really love silly and confusing farce. Go to the church where Willy is buried, always interesting. And it makes a nice walk along the river. You can walk to Ann Hathaway's cottage easily across a field and back of housing.
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5,582 posts
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Post by lynette on Apr 25, 2017 17:44:48 GMT
Are youth hostel the thing these days? There is one in Stratford I seem to recall and cheapish b/bs and no doubt by now airbnb all over the place.
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170 posts
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Post by moelhywel on Apr 25, 2017 18:51:52 GMT
There's a very nice YHA at Stratford (I haven't used it as I live near enough to be able to travel there easily but it looks good on the website) but be aware it's about two miles from the town so might be a problem to get back to after an evening performance.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2017 19:38:45 GMT
The youth hostel is 3 miles out of town. It's an easy route and it's extremely safe to walk, but the streetlights do switch themselves off at midnight in the off-season, so bear that in mind if you're ever there in winter, having a post-show drink, and liable to run your phone battery down, it is DARK out there with no streetlights. They've also refurbed the youth hostel fairly recently so it's easily one of the nicest I've ever stayed in.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2017 15:54:28 GMT
Just looking at trains for you and suggestions for your visit. On Saturdays First train London Marylebone 7am to get to Stratford 9.09 am - no direct trains so one change at Leamington Spa for connecting train. Cost £29.50 assuming you travel on Saturday. Check again as timetables change end of May www.chilternrailways.co.uk Different fares& times for weekdays Walk from station to RST approx 15/20 mins. Matinee 1.15pm. Have seen Julius and think good production; not seen A&C yet. To visit Birthplace is £15.75 (booked online) includes New Place & Hall's Croft. You can visit Birthplace 1st as 10 mins from station Shakespeare.org.uk You could do all 3 as Birthplace opens 9am Food; lots of cafes & coffee shops, if weather good can get sandwiches and eat by the river. Last train from Stratford is 8.42pm into London 10.41 pm (Saturday) Happy to help if you want more info. |
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