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Post by max on May 2, 2024 10:01:51 GMT
What a great theatre space - I really like the configuration (like a mini Olivier Theatre, or the Gillian Lynne).
I definitely encourage anyone to give it a go - if you can easily get to Waterloo or Vauxhall, then trains to Kingston station are roughly a 25 min journey. Falls within the Zone 1-6 price cap for TFL daily capping.
I wonder how much it relies on (or wants to increase) its London-wide audience, or if its local area is enough, because it feels like some of the infrastructure around it could be better for that:
The Council could do so much more to signpost the theatre all the way from the station. Unless there's stuff I don't know about Kingston, isn't it the jewel in their crown? Is there much else that would pull outsiders there? (forgive my ignorance if there is).
My fault that I got quite lost on my first visit - I shouldn't have assumed there'd be lots of signage. Second time with smartphone guidance was better, but to show off Kingston a 'rose walk' with some pavement rose symbols would walk visitors through the more attractive streets and pedestrianised bits (which can be a bit confusing, as they're nice but samey). I'm thinking of the way The Barbican used to have yellow lines to lead you in/out.
As for TFL: Arriving at Kingston Station after the show (at about 10.20pm) the main entrance was closed, so you take a side route to a not very salubrious ramp to the platforms - where there was no electronic display of the next trains. For once the TFL App wasn't great on providing that info. I don't expect TFL to keep the main entrance open til 11pm due to budgets (it would be good for Kingston!), but at least adequate information would transform confidence about getting back from an evening show.
In the absence of that - perhaps the theatre should do a bit more to publicise train times (though they may shy away for fear of blame if services don't run as planned - I get it).
BUT...
This is all said in positivity towards the theatre; a really good Artistic Director and programming that makes me want to perfect my drill when it comes to going there; but it does feel a bit like you have to put the work in (in comparison to going to other venues). If we're spoiled with the ease of other venues, it may suffer.
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Post by lt on May 2, 2024 11:10:18 GMT
My visit to see The Glass Menagerie was my first visit to the Rose Theatre, but I was so impressed. I thought it was a terrific production and really liked the auditorium. Aside from public transport, driving to the theatre is also very easy. You get reduced parking costs for a local car park two minutes walk from the theatre by getting your ticket stamped at the theatre. And the signage from the cark park to the theatre is very clear.
Also worth mentiong the theatre's secret £10 tickets, which you can buy ahead of time and are then allocated on the day, and you can end up with excellent tickets. Due to the size and shape of the theatre you get a good view practically everywhere, so these are a real bargain.
I will definitely now be keeping my eye out for future Rose Theatre productions.
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Post by lichtie on May 2, 2024 11:30:53 GMT
It's not TfL - it's Southwestern trains that runs the station. |
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Post by max on May 2, 2024 11:56:38 GMT
It's not TfL - it's Southwestern trains that runs the station. Thanks for the correction - I made the mistake of thinking because it's in the Oyster payment system it's TFL; I expect TFL get a lot of complaints that aren't their gig. |
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Post by clarefh on May 2, 2024 12:13:18 GMT
There is also a bus stop right outside the theatre for anyone in south west London - I tend to get the night bus after a show.
I think as long as you go the right way on leaving the station then after that it is quite well signed ( I managed to follow them and have zero sense of direction!). The problem is heading onto the right street in the first place!
I agree though it’s a lovely theatre! Very friendly, comfy seats and a good view from every seat. I like it a lot.
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Post by aspieandy on May 4, 2024 10:53:01 GMT
Well, I'm glad to have started the production thread now  What a great theatre space - I really like the configuration (like a mini Olivier Theatre, or the Gillian Lynne).
I was chatting to one of the volunteer ushers who explained the theatre was "designed" by Sir Peter Hall. Can't imagine he got into the nuts and bolts of it but, as you suggest, the auditorium has a familiar sweep.
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Post by Jan on May 4, 2024 11:14:39 GMT
Well, I'm glad to have started the production thread now What a great theatre space - I really like the configuration (like a mini Olivier Theatre, or the Gillian Lynne).
I was chatting to one of the volunteer ushers who explained the theatre was "designed" by Sir Peter Hall. Can't imagine he got into the nuts and bolts of it but, as you suggest, the auditorium has a familiar sweep.
Yes, this place is Peter Hall's white elephant. He lobbied for years to get it built and he insisted it should be of the same size and on the assumed floorplan and configuration as the original Rose theatre from Shakespeare's day. His idea is was for it to be a perfect venue for Shakespeare productions with him as AD and links to a local theatre school. The result is that in my view it is about 50% too big, both in dimensions and capacity for the local market and it has struggled financially for its entire life. Hall directed a couple of productions there before the first of its many financial crises hit and in a staggering display of disloyalty he immediately cut all links with it and pushed off to Bath where he ran their commercially successful programme for several years. |
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Post by max on May 6, 2024 20:23:06 GMT
Well, I'm glad to have started the production thread now
I was chatting to one of the volunteer ushers who explained the theatre was "designed" by Sir Peter Hall. Can't imagine he got into the nuts and bolts of it but, as you suggest, the auditorium has a familiar sweep.
Yes, this place is Peter Hall's white elephant. He lobbied for years to get it built and he insisted it should be of the same size and on the assumed floorplan and configuration as the original Rose theatre from Shakespeare's day. His idea is was for it to be a perfect venue for Shakespeare productions with him as AD and links to a local theatre school. The result is that in my view it is about 50% too big, both in dimensions and capacity for the local market and it has struggled financially for its entire life. Hall directed a couple of productions there before the first of its many financial crises hit and in a staggering display of disloyalty he immediately cut all links with it and pushed off to Bath where he ran their commercially successful programme for several years. Ah interesting, thanks Jan and aspieandy ; from way back I was aware of Sir Peter Hall setting up a near-replica (or heavily influenced) Elizabethan Theatre but hadn't clocked that this was it. I think Judi Dench was involved at its inception (?), or I conflated that with her buying the Rose Theatre set used in the film 'Shakespeare In Love'. I just checked out the latter and apparently that set hasn't been installed anywhere in full (sadly) but was in storage for 25 years; now a piece of it has been used in Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot. Leads me to think: it would be great to see Theatre Royal Kingston spend part of the year with the full thrust installed, and be in an exchange of productions with the RSC Swan and Shakespeare North. Seems a shame not to play to its strength and let audiences experience that stage/audience configuration to the full. It would certainly draw me there. |
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Post by n1david on May 6, 2024 20:36:35 GMT
The 'Shakespeare in Love' theatre was intended to be installed in a new theatre in Islington, by Islington Green. It's been discussed several times on the board but I can't locate a thread now. But that option seems to be dead now as that theatre charity has now been wound up.
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Post by max on May 6, 2024 22:06:07 GMT
The 'Shakespeare in Love' theatre was intended to be installed in a new theatre in Islington, by Islington Green. It's been discussed several times on the board but I can't locate a thread now. But that option seems to be dead now as that theatre charity has now been wound up. That would have been great - if only. I know the site you mean - broadly where the Collins Music Hall used to be just behind where Waterstones is now. I go past it on the bus often. Such a strange case of residential developers building an underground theatre, and then objections about access and noise (from audiences) preventing it from ever operating. It's been used very occasionally for art-installation type theatre, and the odd narrative piece. A concrete galleried interior is the look - very Elizabethan/Jacobean in shape. What a waste. Edit: That 'lost' theatre in Islington got discussed in a thread about the Kings Head move, including by your good self n1davidFor anyone interested, it's this one: theatreboard.co.uk/thread/3344/kings-theatre-islington-moving-space |
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Post by Jan on May 9, 2024 18:36:46 GMT
Yes, this place is Peter Hall's white elephant. He lobbied for years to get it built and he insisted it should be of the same size and on the assumed floorplan and configuration as the original Rose theatre from Shakespeare's day. His idea is was for it to be a perfect venue for Shakespeare productions with him as AD and links to a local theatre school. The result is that in my view it is about 50% too big, both in dimensions and capacity for the local market and it has struggled financially for its entire life. Hall directed a couple of productions there before the first of its many financial crises hit and in a staggering display of disloyalty he immediately cut all links with it and pushed off to Bath where he ran their commercially successful programme for several years. Ah interesting, thanks Jan and aspieandy ; from way back I was aware of Sir Peter Hall setting up a near-replica (or heavily influenced) Elizabethan Theatre but hadn't clocked that this was it. I think Judi Dench was involved at its inception (?), or I conflated that with her buying the Rose Theatre set used in the film 'Shakespeare In Love'. I just checked out the latter and apparently that set hasn't been installed anywhere in full (sadly) but was in storage for 25 years; now a piece of it has been used in Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot. Leads me to think: it would be great to see Theatre Royal Kingston spend part of the year with the full thrust installed, and be in an exchange of productions with the RSC Swan and Shakespeare North. Seems a shame not to play to its strength and let audiences experience that stage/audience configuration to the full. It would certainly draw me there. Yes Judi Dench was something to do with it. One of the few productions Peter Hall actually directed there (in 2010) was Midsummer Nights Dream and Dench played Titania as Elizabeth I. She was nothing special, I’ve seen her in quite a few things and none of them were that good. That was also probably the last time I’ve seen that theatre full. Trevor Nunn directed the Henry VI plays and King John there - it is suitable as a space for plays like that but the local audience just isn’t there to support large cast plays like that, I assume Nunn self funded them. Plays which *are* economic are those which involve two or three people talking in a room and they are totally lost on such a large stage. |
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