1,873 posts
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Post by Dave B on Oct 29, 2024 13:48:45 GMT
They have also added well over 100 members recently. On the chalk board by the entry, they always thank patrons etc and at the bottom thank our number of members. It was 998 (or so) on my last visit about six weeks ago. With the season announced, presumably people have re-upped (I did!), the number was well over 1100 last night.
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7,218 posts
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Post by Jon on Oct 29, 2024 14:45:07 GMT
It's incredibly difficult to make money from 180 seats per performance so I don't blame the OT for having less cheaper tickets but TBH it's still somewhat affordable compared to a commercial West End production. Both Red Speedo and Here in America sold very well and that used dynamic pricing so it's not too surprising that the OT have decided to increases pricing because they have realised the audience is willing to pay more. Also they have (apparently unlimited) £15 under 30 tickets in all of bands A,B,C - so front row for the current Guards at the Taj for example which is very generous (too generous in my view) which massively increases accessibility. They also offer Theatre Union Member £15 seats which I regard as unnecessary. They don't offer any senior 60+ discounts either (the Old Vic does) because that wouldn't improve the diversity of their audience. Somebody has to pay full price. TBH the seniors of Richmond and that SW London corridors are not short of a few bob so the OT are probably right not to offer discounts! |
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Post by aspieandy on Oct 29, 2024 16:50:24 GMT
Well, if they have bagged £2 million already for the upgrde (as per @jan above), they should rename the place the Orange Magic Money Tree.
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Post by Jan on Oct 29, 2024 18:30:03 GMT
Also they have (apparently unlimited) £15 under 30 tickets in all of bands A,B,C - so front row for the current Guards at the Taj for example which is very generous (too generous in my view) which massively increases accessibility. They also offer Theatre Union Member £15 seats which I regard as unnecessary. They don't offer any senior 60+ discounts either (the Old Vic does) because that wouldn't improve the diversity of their audience. Somebody has to pay full price. TBH the seniors of Richmond and that SW London corridors are not short of a few bob so the OT are probably right not to offer discounts! That’s right, we are. |
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3,583 posts
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Post by showgirl on Oct 29, 2024 18:33:22 GMT
They have also added well over 100 members recently. On the chalk board by the entry, they always thank patrons etc and at the bottom thank our number of members. It was 998 (or so) on my last visit about six weeks ago. With the season announced, presumably people have re-upped (I did!), the number was well over 1100 last night. Tom Littler's name, track record & reputation must have helped; you couldn't say that about his predecessor. |
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3,324 posts
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Post by david on Oct 29, 2024 19:36:24 GMT
Sorting out booking for the new season tonight and with the discount offer of booking for 3 shows, I got Churchill in Moscow, Playhouse Creatures and In Praise for Love all for £33 sitting in the stalls. I have to say I thought that was terrific value for this venue considering that for WE venues, you would probably be sat up in the Gods or have a RV seat for a similar price.
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Post by lt on Oct 30, 2024 11:38:23 GMT
It's incredibly difficult to make money from 180 seats per performance so I don't blame the OT for having less cheaper tickets but TBH it's still somewhat affordable compared to a commercial West End production. Both Red Speedo and Here in America sold very well and that used dynamic pricing so it's not too surprising that the OT have decided to increases pricing because they have realised the audience is willing to pay more. Also they have (apparently unlimited) £15 under 30 tickets in all of bands A,B,C - so front row for the current Guards at the Taj for example which is very generous (too generous in my view) which massively increases accessibility. They also offer Theatre Union Member £15 seats which I regard as unnecessary. They don't offer any senior 60+ discounts either (the Old Vic does) because that wouldn't improve the diversity of their audience. Somebody has to pay full price. I am sure there are many well-heeled citizens of Richmond who will be happy to pay the new prices, but there will be some who won't be able to. And presumably many of the under 30s, come from prosperous families too, but again not all will, yet all of them will be eligible for cheap tickets. The OT received a bequest with particular provision for the under 30s, but I think they could have increased these prices by a small amount at least.
And this only increases accessibility for the under 30s not for anyone else. In terms of diversity, the OT is probably the least diverse of any theatre I go to, but I think socio-economic diversity matters too, so senior and other discounts could increase that. (I appreciate there is the scheme for people in receipt of benefits but that gets little take up.)
In terms of comparable theatres, perhaps the most relevant is the Park Theatre (200 seats) which also has no Arts Council funding, but its tickets are now better value than the OT with decent ground floor seats at less cost with previews starting at £15.
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