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Post by HereForTheatre on Feb 1, 2024 11:06:02 GMT
Well there's some well know theatre performers in there who are very talented. I'm not sure what the issue is.
Why when a cast is announced and it's got some lesser known names in there is it met with derision and some kind of attitude they aren't gonna be good or the show is going to be worse? If every casting decision was a big well known name everyone wants then how would we ever get any new theatre stars emerging? You know, all the big stars started somewhere and got a big break that led them to how successful and well received they are now.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jan 27, 2024 21:01:12 GMT
This is a great celebration of Theatre. For this to be on Saturday night primetime BBC, it's wonderful.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jan 25, 2024 8:25:05 GMT
Well they don't have to. Again most people will visit London for theatre on a weekend when they are off or on their days off so it's the same in this case. I don't see a different between the challenges of this and the challenges of people visiting London for Theatre.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jan 24, 2024 9:22:27 GMT
I'm sure more people are put off by the added expenses of going to London for theatre than the other way around!
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jan 23, 2024 20:34:09 GMT
I'm quite excited for this, the score is very British indeed but from some clips I've seen I think looks and feels a bit too American. It's very much the American vision of a British set musical rather than feeling authentically British in the way that Billy Elliot is for example. Kinky Boots felt the same way to me. That said I loved Kinky Boots and imagine I'll like this as well, it's more just an observation.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Dec 29, 2023 14:32:37 GMT
Matt Kinley (Miss Saigon. Les Mis ect) designed an excellent set for the Curve production of Oliver that Paul Kerryson directed as his farewell show. In fact most of Cameron's go to creative team worked on that apart from Paul himself, not normal for Curve, which made me think at the time that the idea was for that to have a further life but no. I don't think Curve have ever beaten that set for Oliver. It was a two storey set designed with various parts of the set opening out like books to reveal different rooms, a bit like the way the Mary Poppins house did and had various completely 3d contained rooms truck in and out as well, Peter Polycarpou was Fagin and Laura Pit Pulford was Nancy.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Dec 19, 2023 20:16:04 GMT
Congratulations to richey for winning this give away! Don't forget to let us know which show you use the token on and leave the review!
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Post by HereForTheatre on Dec 13, 2023 14:03:39 GMT
To go for a court case that could bankrupt a theatre, when theatre and arts is something you claim to love, is quite something. Curve have said that if they lost this it would seriously jeopardise their future, which is btw already not completely certain as the chief exec recently had an interview with The Stage where he said they were seriously struggling to break even and it's only going to get harder.
The audacity and arrogance of this women is quite something.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Dec 9, 2023 2:32:47 GMT
As a big thanks to our members for all your support and contributions to the board over the last year we are giving away a £50 Theatre Token to 1 lucky TheatreBoard member just in time for Christmas!
To qualify for entry you need to be an existing member before the date of this competition going live (11/12/23) and have made 26 or more posts since joining with at least 1 of your posts being made between 1st November 2023 and 10th December 2023.
One entry only per member.
The competition will run until 18th December at 11.59pm, a winner will be randomly drawn and contacted via private message on 19th December.
Good Luck!
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Post by HereForTheatre on Dec 4, 2023 11:20:05 GMT
Is there quite a small pool of Asian musical theatre performers in the UK? I note that the same few performers seem to pop up in every Asian based/focused show as if the talent pool must be pretty small. Do we not see many Asian performers come over to drama school here? Is there just a lack of interest in performing/the arts within our Asian communities?
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Post by HereForTheatre on Dec 3, 2023 21:56:46 GMT
I used to buy a programme for everything it was just like a ritual I had to get one and collect them all. I stopped when I started to realise what a waste of money it was and extra expense it is to an already expensive trip cus I started to go a bit Martin Lewis and get all obsessed with money saving and finances. They are all in storage boxes under my bed now can't tell you the last time I looked at any of them or had any inclination to. Honestly what a waste of money and wish I didn't bother.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Nov 30, 2023 10:38:14 GMT
What's the experience like of being there in person from people who have gone before? I kinda want an an excuse to go to Manchester having never been and like the idea of going to this but if stuff like the sound is bad and it's a bit tedious because of it being filmed for tele it might be better to just watch in the comfort of my own home!
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 30, 2023 19:18:16 GMT
We really did get some now big theatre stars out of those old BBC casting shows, not just the winners either. I've seen quite a few on stage and most would are names in the industry. Rachel Tucker, Sam Barks, Danielle Hope, Jodie Prenger, Lee Mead, Daniel Boys, Bronte Barbe, Jessie Buckley, Sophie Evans, Lauren Samuels, Jessica Daley ect...
I can't see that the same will happen here...altho I think Desmonda's star was already rising and this will elevate her even more so maybe she will come out of this a star but other than that, doubt it.
Didn't ITV try another theatre casting show before? Was it for Grease or Dirty Dancing? You don't see many of them now either do you.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 26, 2023 12:20:12 GMT
Well I enjoyed it and thought it was excellent but I never say any other version, so? I mean if you haven't already seen it the only way that you will know whether it's worth watching it is by watching it....if it's close by and you can reasonably priced tickets why not? Of course it's great to read peoples opinions on a show but they will never be able to tell you what you yourself will think of something. I've gone to things people ripped to shreds on here and really liked it and then gone to things that people were giving 5 stars to left and right and didn't get what the hype was about. It's so individual. Should you go see something or not based off a few other peoples opinions? I don't think so. Another thing is given that, other than the two returnee's, the cast will be different, which gives a different energy to the version people saw at Curve originally automatically (and some of the criticism was the cast) , the set and staging will probably have to be slightly different now it's touring ect...it's not going to feel exactly the same show. My preference would always be to gives shows the benefit of the doubt.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 24, 2023 17:34:33 GMT
What a bizarre turn of events. I think I went in twice. Strangely as a solo theatregoer most of the the time I felt awkward in there alone, maybe other solo theatregoers were fine and it seemed popular with them but it felt awkward to be in there alone to me compared to 'normal' coffee shops. I think it is a shame to lose this though, it was a lovely idea and I know a special place for a lot of people.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 22, 2023 18:11:49 GMT
If this is the best they could find it's a bit concerning to be quite honest, don't mean to be negative and normally aren't but I don't think I've found one yet I'd actually be excited to see perform on stage in anything.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 20, 2023 7:57:48 GMT
I don't think Miriam will do the tour, if that's what they were planning wouldn't they have used her image in the promotion instead of randomly using all the Broadway stuff? And probably announced her as the lead along with the tour announcement itself. Nah i think it will be someone else. Interesting when I went first time I thought she sounded good it was more her acting that I wasn't sure of. Second time her voice sounded much poorer but i liked her portrayal better.
2nd time I had the understudy on for Cassidy and she was good but certainly no match.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 18, 2023 18:50:33 GMT
I'm so glad about this. You know looking back, I really think that &Juliet is a contender for one of my fave shows, looking back it's probably one of the shows I've most enjoyed and best theatre experiences I've had, I really enjoyed it, especially the first time, I remember it just filling me with joy and coming out the theatre so happy and connected to the show. I didn't have much expectation going in and was very intrigued how it would all work on stage but had such a blast and was so impressed with what they did. I'd love the chance to see it again with presumably a new cast so hopefully it comes close to me. It was starting to feel the boat had passed with this and we probably wouldn't get a tour which would have been a shame as I think it will go down really as a touring show, so really glad it's happening.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Sept 22, 2023 12:51:35 GMT
I love how Theatreboard gets ripped to shreds for negative reviews and toxicity, putting people off shows ect but you never hear when it actually makes people go to things instead because of it going down well. The amount of free PR and extra ticket sales this site has given certain shows I'm sure more than makes up for the amount it might have lost them.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Aug 28, 2023 18:36:23 GMT
How do you mean? That there's another show previewing there before a transfer? Sorry - another show that transferred/is transferring to the west end has previewed there And it's not been announced yet? I can't think of any show that previewed there recently actually, some smaller shows like Cake and Ride did I guess but they are already announced aren't they. Surely not La Bamba...and I assume you don't mean one of their own?
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Post by HereForTheatre on Aug 28, 2023 13:58:34 GMT
There’s a west end transfer that’s previewed there! How do you mean? That there's another show previewing there before a transfer?
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Post by HereForTheatre on Aug 27, 2023 20:26:57 GMT
Caught this last night, Jason's understudy (name has escaped me sorry!) did a lovely job as the Lion, a really nice performance, as did Louis as the scarecrow. Ashley was... fine. Hated the new Hamilton-esque rap. Seems that with the punch up in production for the Palladium run a little of the charm has been lost from the Curve run; and it feels as if direction has been pointed even more so to the panto-esque and not really trying to find any real humanity in the characters? Love Dianne and have a soft spot for her but I think her accent was doing a world tour but she was very funny, and tried her hardest to hide her obviously taking off her shoes prior to the melting scene as a 'character choice' and not a practical reason....! Orchestra sounded gorgeous, again I think they've taken out some of the more funky orchestrations but it was a treat to hear them fill the theatre. No matter my qualms when it came time for the curtain call I just knew id had a lovely, easy time, which WOZ I think always gives you! Punch up in production? How so? What are the changes made with the production then?
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Post by HereForTheatre on Aug 27, 2023 20:18:56 GMT
I guess he has a relationship with Curve after their Billy Elliot. That might be a good shout. Jerry Mitchell and the same producer also opened On Your Feet! there.....
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Post by HereForTheatre on Aug 27, 2023 7:50:14 GMT
Well there's only a few places that usually take try outs so that narrows it down a bit. Manchester is the main one but Cardiff has had some....Leicester has had some.....Bristol has had some....Bath has had some.....
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Post by HereForTheatre on Aug 12, 2023 10:28:47 GMT
What I'm seeing is people saying they want a replica of the original something to come back in some of these cases, not a revival. Isn't the whole point of a revival that it's different and a fresh take? Or at least has some kind of difference somewhere in there. You can think an original version of something can't be beaten or is perfect as is but you can't criticize a revival because it changed things and is different, because that was the whole point. You can of course dislike the changes, new parts and not think it's as good or does the original a disservice but the whole point was to be different and if a show just kept coming back exactly the same every single time it would be boring and there would be nothing for theatres to actually revive. Revivals might not always work and they might not always go down well with fans of the original but I like to see fresh takes.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Aug 7, 2023 13:10:14 GMT
Interesting casting, they are both great and I'm especially intrigued to see Tyrone as Che. It's nice to see him return to Curve and indeed the stage as I think he started focusing on directing recently. Looking forward to hearing more news on who is taking on the other roles too. I've heard a few things about this production, it's not going to be a traditional take but nor is it going to be as completely out there as the OAT version.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 30, 2023 21:56:12 GMT
Speaking of the Broadway Kpop musical, there is a Kpop musical in development over here called Icon, I'm not sure if it will ever see the light of day on stage but it's had workshops. I could see something like that doing very well in a small venue like The Arts or something.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 26, 2023 9:07:14 GMT
There used to be a few good Youtube theatre reviewers about, that seems to have died away. I used to like the break a leggers, they were clearly very knowledgeable and knew what they were talking about and very honest. I don't think they got very many freebies or invitations to press nights. There were a few more as well i liked. It seems now that the theatre content on Youtube is more general and filled with gossip and covering controversy and stuff with a few reviews thrown in. I imagine those sorts get these freebies because they mingle in with the right crowd.
I guess the reason that a lot of producers and directors ect don't like us is because there's no way to control the narrative, it's literally a free for all and if a show doesn't go down well there's literally pages and pages of criticism...which can't be attributed to just one critic or blogs opinion.... I remember all the messages and e-mails we've had complaining from the powers that be....but then you don't hear a peep when it's the opposite obviously!
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 25, 2023 19:50:30 GMT
I’m wondering what you have to do to be considered “Press” for press night tickets these days. I just came across a youtube channel who is doing theatre reviews (badly) amongst vlogging many other things in their lives (kids, outings, mum, family etc) . They have 2k subs and get no more than 200 or 300 views per video but are regularly being given press tickets for two guests for shows in the north west. For the record, TheatreBoard has never been offered a press night ticket in return for an “honest” review… I wonder why! 🙄 We've never been offered press night tickets full stop have we? My memory might be betraying me but I can't recall an instance. I dare say that the influence that TheatreBoard reviews from our members have just as much influence as some bloggers and even mainstream critics. Where else can you get such a diverse and in depth selection of reviews for a show, from regular theatre goers. No doubt if a show is well liked on here it has some impact, and likewise if it doesn't go down well. We know very much so how many industry professionals, producers, directors, PR's and artists do keep tabs here....
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 24, 2023 18:34:40 GMT
I don't know because I thought the Curve production was coming back in some capacity. That's what I assumed recently from an interview with Nikolai Foster where he all but confirmed that, it seemed to me. I can't imagine there would be another revival and that one though, although there were two WSS's in that year that Curve and RX did it, so i guess it could.
I do hope one of their more acclaimed shows would get a further life, it's a bit disheartening to see Grease and Oz be the ones when they have much better more acclaimed work. I don't think I ever heard anyone ever wish for either of those shows to transfer particularity unlike the wish by many for WSS and BE, yet that's what happened. Interesting indeed.
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