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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 12, 2024 21:58:14 GMT
There were tix available for the Dorian whatsername play and I would have liked to see it. But clicking on every date and performance the tix were too expensive. So I didn’t book. Sitting behind a screen which was a cheaper option isn’t my idea of going to the theatre. So yes the tix prices have affected my choices. I’m not looking at West End now when we used to go regularly. I’ve done the same. I tend to buy tickets close to the date and often feel like these ticketing systems are biased against me. Does dynamic pricing work the opposite way? Seats getting cheaper if the show is not selling too well? Maybe wishful thinking! Also, if the tickets are silly prices…does it matter to the producers if it’s not sold out, but they’ve made profit?
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 12, 2024 16:36:39 GMT
I suppose this invites an interesting question. Could you argue that the opinion from those who have paid for tickets is of greater worth as they have no obligations?
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 12, 2024 10:53:31 GMT
Maybe I’m being cynical today…but can anyone claim to be a reviewer and get gifted tickets? 🤔
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 12, 2024 10:52:19 GMT
Salisbury Playhouse has comfortable seating and legroom and there's not a bad view anywhere Agreed, it’s a shame the theatre is so very patchy with their productions.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 12, 2024 10:51:40 GMT
According to online, the performance on Friday was cancelled. Hopefully everyone in the cast is ok.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 11, 2024 17:16:37 GMT
Monday is definitely an alternate Marty day. Yess…I knew that one 😃😃
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 11, 2024 17:15:31 GMT
Yes Prices certainly seem to have risen a lot lately. It would be interesting to know the impact this has/is having to theatre goers.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 11, 2024 17:14:25 GMT
I can’t remember which level, but in the Theatre Royal Haymarket (maybe dress circle level) to get to the men’s toilet you have to climb about 2 fights of stairs in a random narrow corridor. It’s quite an amusing experience.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 11, 2024 17:12:07 GMT
Wales Millennium Centre is excellent, there's space for people to pass without everyone in the row needing to stand up and there are plenty of toilets! Lovely venue apart from the stage door!
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 10, 2024 18:42:49 GMT
Barbican - great view from even the cheapest seats. That is if you can find it…and then your way out!
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 10, 2024 16:01:52 GMT
The gents loos at the Fortune are hilarious. They have a sloping ceiling and the three urinals are positioned around the corner of the tiny room, so (without being too graphic) you have to simultaneously lean your top half backwards while thrusting your bottom half forwards and squeezing yourself in between two other people. All at the same time as other people are trying to come into the room and directly facing you. When you retract to wash your hands, everyone has to do a sort of polite game of human Tetris to get into the right spaces for whatever they're doing. Been there…done that! It’s part of the fortune theatre experience 😂😂😂
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 10, 2024 12:32:59 GMT
The ladies loos at the Peacock Theatre are awful and there is always a huge queue, which snakes round the whole bar area. I don’t think anyone would miss this venue if it closed.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 10, 2024 12:31:53 GMT
I would imagine a good 90% of the audience who have tickets for this will go 'who?' at the Juliet as it'll be a theatre name, so I'm not at all surprised they just sold it off Holland. You’re likely to be right. The celebrity name sells the show but do they necessarily do the best acting?
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 10, 2024 10:49:32 GMT
Well, they had added some posters regarding Georgina being on ready for people exiting, so that’s something. Otherwise, I did get hit in the head on the way in with enough force to send my classes flying forward two rows, so that may explain any errors on my part. The joking remark from the man who hit me, that he was trying to remove a tight jumper, wasn’t really appreciated. No harm done, but it just shows how oblivious some people can be. That’s sounds a random experience. I hope you’re feeling better. I was at the evening performance and it was definitely David McNair as Young Loco (he has star tattoos on his right arm). On another note, does anyone know whether Ivano has been on recently?
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 10, 2024 10:45:18 GMT
May be a time to continue this discussion. I feel that dynamic seating is greed and can out price many people who want to see a show. If this trend continues, it could be very disappointing for many.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 10, 2024 10:41:07 GMT
The production shots look great too.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 10, 2024 10:40:34 GMT
Juliet has now been cast, but guessing they'll want a poster with them both on a) to announce her, and b) to replace the god awful one they announced Tom with. Is it Timothée Chalamet? Could you imagine the stage door for that?! I agree, Juliet features in the title and should have been announced at the same time…however the producers have made their money now anyway.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 10, 2024 10:38:26 GMT
Does anyone know if there is a specific day of the week for the alternate Doc?
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 10, 2024 10:37:16 GMT
To add to the list of annoyance…the Adelphi. The men’s toilets are tiny and so few given the audience capacity. If you dash off at the interval it would be quicker to use the ones in Charing Cross Station!
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 10, 2024 10:35:28 GMT
Oh I can understand the importance of highlighters and sharpies. Never trust an actor to return your stationary!!
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 9, 2024 9:30:52 GMT
Thank you SuperTrooper , that it really interesting. The DSM and ASM roles can be properly described as dealing with logistics! I wonder if the DSM feels like a chess master. Where would cast normally go if there is insufficient time to return to their dressing rooms? Logistics is a big part of Stage Management, logistics and stationary! There's not a lot of spare time on musicals really, especially if there is a decent sized ensemble who would probably be changing costumes as soon as they exit stage ready for their next entrance! If there are a few free minutes then they'll hang out in the change areas/stairs/corridor offstage so they're nearby. Sooo the most important question is…what are the most coveted stationary items? 😂
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 8, 2024 17:11:46 GMT
I'd happily lose these two... The Peacock in London - it's a scratty dust bowl...The Churchill in Bromley - horrible seating and awful design. The wonders of 60s and 70s theatre design
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 8, 2024 17:10:27 GMT
Jon it will be exciting having the Saville Theatre restored to its former use.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 8, 2024 16:48:30 GMT
Forgive me for going off topic for a second, Jan what did you see Ralph Richardson in and where please?
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 8, 2024 16:45:42 GMT
Thank you for setting up this topic adamkinsey, it's something I find quite interesting. A large proportion of the theatres in London (and indeed across the country) were built during the big theatre wave which is either Edwardian or Victorian. There were different standards and expectations in those days. As BurlyBeaR has pointed out, these (often beautiful) venues are listed meaning they are protected from demolition so an element of compromise is required. In those days, people were on average shorter and smaller in general, hence some of the original layouts. Additionally, with the systems of segregation in place the upper levels (the Balcony) used to have just undesignated bench seating. We expect more comfort nowadays, quite naturally given the often ridiculously priced seats for some productions. I believe Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber who are two theatre owners who come to mind, have actually reduced seating capacity in their venues as a way to increase comfort of leg room and larger seats. I think the general trend has been to reduce seating capacity ironically in many venues due to this. I agree, the gods seats should never be more than £40 for any show (in my opinion), but sadly I can't control these things. What don't you like about the Noel Coward? I totally agree BurlyBeaR those seats in the Arts Theatre are terrible...in fact that venue is not my favourite at all. I'm also really not a fan of The Savoy, it's cramped out of the auditorium and the decor is naff, but that's just my opinion. As for comfort wise, The Duchess is rather unpleasant as is The Harold Pinter in the upper levels. Most theatres have a great charm for me, so I can often put their faults aside.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 8, 2024 16:35:00 GMT
Thank you SuperTrooper, that it really interesting. The DSM and ASM roles can be properly described as dealing with logistics! I wonder if the DSM feels like a chess master. Where would cast normally go if there is insufficient time to return to their dressing rooms?
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 7, 2024 20:02:45 GMT
I’m resurrecting my thread from a few years ago…
I was in The Peacock Theatre recently and it was upsetting the auditorium is now just a black indeterminate “blob”. If you look online at drawings and photos from the auditorium was new in 1960 and opened it had lovely chandeliers and a shaped entrance around the stage. This had all gone. Does anyone know when this happened? It’s sad really as it now is devoid of any beauty at all.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 7, 2024 19:48:51 GMT
Another one from me, mainly associated with musicals too. I love sitting near to the stage and when you sit in the side seats you often get a good view into all the activity that goes into the wings. I’ve noticed some times a member of the backstage team will either wait to collect a cast member in the wings and/or cue them on. This made me wonder, how often is this done in musicals? And leading on from this, what measures are taken to ensure cast enter stage at the correct moment and exit safely?
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 6, 2024 17:56:14 GMT
Here’s something I’ve always wondered about. In musical theatre I’ve noticed the MD speaks on a phone (which is usually black for some reason, the traditional chorded type) before a show starts and before the interval. I assume this is to speak to stage management to confirm they are ready to start…but I’ve noticed these calls can last for up to a few minutes which seems a long time for a quick “we’re ready”…sooo what is discussed? 🤭😀 Once Beginners is called, the DSM comes on cans and checks everyone in. The conversation with the MD is checking they have a full band/orchestra and that everyone is happy with the set up. Sometimes a call will go out for LX to sort out a problem with a Music Stand, or to Sound for a Comms problem. Obviously the weather, a day off or other such important things can also be discussed at this point too 😁 Thank you! I’m sure some of those calls are amusing to listen to.
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Post by Distant Dreamer... on Mar 5, 2024 21:53:54 GMT
I got around to seeing this show last week. Both Elliot Evans as Marty and Stephen Leask as Doc were on. They have such a great rapport on stage, great performances from both. Elliot in particular was amazing, such energy and wonderful stage presence. He’s clearly loving every minute!
One thing I’ve always found unfair is when there are alternates in the cast, they always have smaller biographies in the programme when they usually perform every week and there are hardly ever any production photos of them. Let’s hope one day this could change.
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