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Post by foxa on Jun 4, 2018 16:49:09 GMT
I my (relatively modest - by this forum's standards) experience, British theatre-goers are a very nice, affable and considerate bunch of people. Most of my London theatre trips have been solo, so I'm always happy when someone strikes a conversation as I find it difficult to go a whole day without talking to anybody and also like to compare my own impressions about the show with someone else's. Or just share a random joke with someone. Also, on many occasions, fellow audience members have been very kind and understanding - bringing me the bag and jacket I left behind after leaving mid-show due to a panic attack or chasing after me to give me the garden gnome I forgot under my seat. On another occasion, I let a fellow agoraphobic have my aisle seat as the poor man was obviously in agony and dying of embarrassment, so I got to sit with his wife and share with her tips and tricks on managing panic and agoraphobia in theatre. Although my favourite stranger on whose kindness I depended was a lovely usherette lady at the Watermill Theatre who took pity on me after I recounted her my misadventures around Newbury - getting lost, wandering into a golf course, then into a gutter and finally getting caught in a shower without an umbrella - so she waited for me after the show and gave me a ride to the train station. So, if anyone knows a Pauline from the Watermill, send her all my love. Also, as of last year, I realised I've started recognising people I spotted in the audience at other shows. There's a couple I first noticed at the pie-shop production of Sweeney Todd, mostly because one of them is always so fabulously dressed and styled and has the most infectious laughter. I love and miss British audiences quite a lot. If there was a LOVE button I would have pushed it for this. I think - at the very least - there is a short story in this! |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2018 17:03:01 GMT
I've had two interesting encounters recently. At Harry Potter, had a lovely chat with a Spanish guy after I noticed he was sketching these amazing drawings before the show. Rather than take a picture of the set, he sketched it and it was incredible how good it was! Spent the break in between with him at a bar, he was a lovely guy. Then at Beginning earlier this year, a lovely New Yorker was sat nect to me and we had a great chat about the Tonys and what was on Broadway. After the show we then walked up to Covent Garden so he could meet his friend. He offered for me to join them for some weed at their flat, but I opted out of that one.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2018 17:14:06 GMT
I'd forgotten my bizarre once in a lifetime weird experience. I was at a classical concert of some kind in Sheffield and got talking to the very attractive young man next to me before it started. At the interval we crept into the circle to get much better seats, and then we went for a drink afterwards which ended up in several drinks and um, him staying overnight at my house. He was at least half my age and very very attractive. I don't normally use Stravinsky as a pick up method though.
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Post by lynette on Jun 4, 2018 17:30:06 GMT
Classical music. Does it every time.
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Post by lynette on Jun 4, 2018 17:32:28 GMT
Anyone else thinking of Howard's End? Combination of umbrella and classical music in last two posts.
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Post by NeilVHughes on Jun 7, 2018 11:21:41 GMT
Can usually determine if someone is open for a conversation as soon as they sit down, experience of hundreds of solo visits over the years. When they occur they usually always add to the experience, had a wonderful conversation with lynette at the Donmar which was reprised at the Park a few months later and hopefully again when our paths cross again. Weirdest one was a few years ago, got chatting to a nice Canadian sat next to me, she was unsure how to get back to her friends in a nearby restaurant so gallantly offered to be her guide, when we got there turned out she was part of a Canadian trade attaché and spent the evening being entertained by the Canadian government. |
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 7, 2018 19:37:00 GMT
Lovely Tokyo native in the seat next to me today. Number 1 on my places I want to visit, and I now know just when to go, and a few sites "off the beaten track" into the bargain. Is it ever since you watched that wildlife documentary about the monkeys at the hot springs in Japan? |
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Post by Phantom of London on Jun 7, 2018 19:52:01 GMT
I've had endless chats with people seated around me over the years. One of the oddest was at the Wimbledon panto a year or two back, when I was alone (work, review) and the mother in the family next to me adopted me... and I ended up "minding" the kids at the interval for her, plus we had a dance together in the second half 'audience participation' bit. Are you sure they weren't behind you!!! |
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Post by Phantom of London on Jun 7, 2018 19:54:08 GMT
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Post by Phantom of London on Jun 7, 2018 20:38:21 GMT
I am a very affable guy and have been known to indulge in a chit chat. Love helping tourists with advice when I can. Such as; if seeing another show, how they might get tickets a bit cheaper, or getting around.
On the last point I mentioned I was in the Dominion for Bat Out of Hell and speaking to two guys from South America, who couldn't find Soho on the Tube Map, so were going to Uber it instead, they didn't do that in the end and as it was on my way to the Charing Cross I walked them down, gave them loads of other advice, mainly how to combine what they wanted to do when in a similar area, like they had tickets to see The Lion King later on their trip, I said "cool combine this nicely, with a visit to Covent Garden" etc, they bough me a nice coffee in Caffe Neros to boot. I got a free coffee, they ot a trip schedule where they can fit more stuff in and were looking to slot in Everyone is Talking About Jamie.
Another tourists from Finland in Dreamgirls and opined that London is killing him with all the walking, after the show set them on their way on the 'Boris Bike', which I am a member of.
Also in 42nd Street someone let off how much they felt ripped off, paying a lot of money for their ticket about £80, I kept my mouth shut, or I would of made her show a that little bit more terrible.
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 8, 2018 13:01:10 GMT
I've found a picture for you, TM.  It's a monkey's life!!! |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2018 13:07:28 GMT
I had a nice man next to me at Wicked a few weeks ago. The theatre had no cloakroom and I had 2 big bags. He saw me struggling to cram them under the seat (not sold as restricted legroom but it really should have been) and then offered to put them under his seat which was nice.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2018 16:21:05 GMT
I have a nice little postscript to to my story which started this thread. (And I hope Phantom of London will enjoy it, after he was a little disappointed with my lack of punchline last time...) I’ve just received a private message. “It’s me!” it reads. “I’m the guy at the Southwark Playhouse!” He’s a poster too, although I wasn’t aware of it, and he’s only just read my story. I’ve been found! And it turns out we’re both seeing Fun Home on the same day too! He’s made my afternoon...😀 |
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Post by showgirl on Jun 8, 2018 17:32:48 GMT
I met an extremely chatty chap at Southwark Playhouse and was trying to pluck up courage to ask if he was a board member, but then some friends of his arrived so I left them to it.
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Post by rockinrobin on Jun 9, 2018 7:21:08 GMT
I remember this one guy... He was really lovely, a massive fan of theatre and we had a very nice chat in the interval - about the show, other shows we enjoyed, price of jynnan tonyx et cetera. Standard theatre chat.
And then, all of a sudden, he says:
"You know what, I was watching you a little bit during act 1 and noticed that you kept your eyes fixed on one actor. You fancy him, don't you?".
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2018 8:25:36 GMT
I sat next to a lovely solo lady at Tina last week, who had booked for her birthday as a treat to herself. I’m not one usually for instigating conversation, but if it’s started by someone else I’ll likely join in. She was looking for Kinky Boots tickets at a reasonable price so offered my advice. She then encouraged us to dance during the medley at the end, and her presence definitely heightened our experience.
At the same performance I discovered that sat in the row behind was someone I’d worked with four years ago - which I found remarkable as neither of us have lived in London.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2018 22:14:42 GMT
Not a fellow audience member, but today at Aladdin I did a first - praised a member of the front of house team for a fantastic job. All throughout the time I was in the auditorium she was on the bad behaviour like a ninja. She ensured that a lady with mobility difficulties wasn’t disturbed by other audience members in her row by directing them to walk the longer way round to their seats (not a substantial extra distance but I’m sure it meant all the more for the lady with crutches). She zipped through the aisles quietly deterring anyone recording of with phones out, and even stepped in to stop people chatting during the show. It was a huge relief to know that she had it all covered.
Shout out to Sarah from the Prince Edward Theatre.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 22, 2018 22:34:11 GMT
Not a fellow audience member, but today at Aladdin I did a first - praised a member of the front of house team for a fantastic job. All throughout the time I was in the auditorium she was on the bad behaviour like a ninja. She ensured that a lady with mobility difficulties wasn’t disturbed by other audience members in her row by directing them to walk the longer way round to their seats (not a substantial extra distance but I’m sure it meant all the more for the lady with crutches). She zipped through the aisles quietly deterring anyone recording of with phones out, and even stepped in to stop people chatting during the show. It was a huge relief to know that she had it all covered. Shout out to Sarah from the Prince Edward Theatre. Perhaps she should run workshops for all other ushers - if everyone acted like that, we would soon see a reduction in the things that make modern theatregoing so much of a trial for those of us who know how to behave. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2018 7:37:32 GMT
Not a fellow audience member, but today at Aladdin I did a first - praised a member of the front of house team for a fantastic job. All throughout the time I was in the auditorium she was on the bad behaviour like a ninja. She ensured that a lady with mobility difficulties wasn’t disturbed by other audience members in her row by directing them to walk the longer way round to their seats (not a substantial extra distance but I’m sure it meant all the more for the lady with crutches). She zipped through the aisles quietly deterring anyone recording of with phones out, and even stepped in to stop people chatting during the show. It was a huge relief to know that she had it all covered. Shout out to Sarah from the Prince Edward Theatre. Staff like this should be recognised more. If you get chance, email the theatre to echo the comments! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2018 7:47:20 GMT
^ I found her at the end of the performance and told her how fantastic I thought she had been, and then echoed the same feedback to the duty managers in the foyer too. It’s honestly not something I’ve ever done before, but it was so refreshing to see I couldn’t ignore it. Also, I hoped in some way it might filter the same attitude to at least one other usher too.
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Post by Stephen on Aug 23, 2018 16:24:53 GMT
I often go to the theatre alone especially now living in London. I enjoy a nice chat with whoever is beside me. At 'The Girls' I managed to befriend the girl on my left and the whole family on my right. We shared sweets, drinks, and programmes! It probably helped that we all loved the show.
I also had a nice time at Angels in America sitting beside Andrew Scott. He was lovely. My actor friends tell me he isn't a nice person. I could never believe them!
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Post by jgblunners on Aug 23, 2018 16:44:45 GMT
I’m very jealous - I also mostly go to the theatre on my own, but find it very hard to strike up a conversation with anyone sat around me (even if they’re also obviously there alone). I’d give anything to be a bit more of an extrovert!
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Post by daisy24601 on Aug 24, 2018 10:52:24 GMT
I’m very jealous - I also mostly go to the theatre on my own, but find it very hard to strike up a conversation with anyone sat around me (even if they’re also obviously there alone). I’d give anything to be a bit more of an extrovert! Summed up my life. |
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Post by lichtie on Aug 24, 2018 11:16:11 GMT
I'll rarely start a convesation myself, but if someone talks to me I'll happily natter away for ever... Ended up next to someone at Lehman Brothers who said she worked in the NT Bookshop, and who had had tea with SRB that afternoon. Talking to someone who even in a small way works in the theatre world was quite fun (my own background is very different), and we managed to end up on the Theatre of the Absurd which wasn't something I never thought I would talk to a random stranger about!
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Post by Rory on Aug 24, 2018 13:46:20 GMT
I remember this one guy... He was really lovely, a massive fan of theatre and we had a very nice chat in the interval - about the show, other shows we enjoyed, price of jynnan tonyx et cetera. Standard theatre chat. And then, all of a sudden, he says: "You know what, I was watching you a little bit during act 1 and noticed that you kept your eyes fixed on one actor. You fancy him, don't you?". Bloody hell, that would have freaked me out no end! I would have exited stage left! |
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