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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 12, 2024 17:32:21 GMT
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19,774 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 12, 2024 17:32:57 GMT
Pass!
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Post by marob on Jul 12, 2024 18:44:57 GMT
Copied, pasted and edited from whatsonstage www.whatsonstage.com/news/cast-set-for-a-midsummer-nights-dream-at-the-royal-exchange_1614054/The cast includes: Natalie Casey as Hippolita and Titania, Guy Rhys as Egeus and Oberon, Harry Egan as Puck and Theseus. Melissa James as Helena, Joe Usher as Demetrius, Alicia Forde as Lysander, Ntombizodwa Ndlovu as Hermia. David Mumeni as Bottom, LJ Parkinson as Quince, Sam Black as Flute, Rebecca Hayes as Snug. Manchester-based artist SALO, recently seen at Parklife 2024 and on Channel 4’s The Piano, will play the Moon. I’m intrigued, but it’s probably a no from me too, much as I liked Melissa James in REx’s Gypsy a few years back then as Satine in Moulin Rouge. I’m just not too fond of AMND. The story ends then you get the mechanicals’ play which just seems to go on forever. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 7, 2024 19:35:40 GMT
50% off with code MT50AMND 12th -14th Sept evening perfs.
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Post by Jan on Aug 8, 2024 1:00:09 GMT
Copied, pasted and edited from whatsonstage www.whatsonstage.com/news/cast-set-for-a-midsummer-nights-dream-at-the-royal-exchange_1614054/The cast includes: Natalie Casey as Hippolita and Titania, Guy Rhys as Egeus and Oberon, Harry Egan as Puck and Theseus. Melissa James as Helena, Joe Usher as Demetrius, Alicia Forde as Lysander, Ntombizodwa Ndlovu as Hermia. David Mumeni as Bottom, LJ Parkinson as Quince, Sam Black as Flute, Rebecca Hayes as Snug. Manchester-based artist SALO, recently seen at Parklife 2024 and on Channel 4’s The Piano, will play the Moon. I’m intrigued, but it’s probably a no from me too, much as I liked Melissa James in REx’s Gypsy a few years back then as Satine in Moulin Rouge. I’m just not too fond of AMND. The story ends then you get the mechanicals’ play which just seems to go on forever. Sometimes the Mechanical’s play is the best bit. The worst Shakespeares for the story ending but the play going on are Merchant of Venice with all that stuff about the rings at the end and Antony and Cleopatra where Antony dies but you’re still looking at another 45 minutes. |
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Post by richey on Sept 11, 2024 15:02:28 GMT
All performances up to Saturday 14th cancelled.
Just had an email offering refund or credit for future shows as it is being "postponed for ongoing logistical reasons"
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19,774 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 11, 2024 15:39:35 GMT
It’s sold terribly. Maybe a more traditional version would have appealed?
The Rex need to have a serious word with themselves about programming. It’s been absolutely dire since they reopened after covid.
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Post by SilverFox on Sept 11, 2024 16:15:53 GMT
It’s sold terribly. Maybe a more traditional version would have appealed? The Rex need to have a serious word with themselves about programming. It’s been absolutely dire since they reopened after covid. It was as well when they moved back into the REx after the bombing - after a brilliant season at the temporary theatre at Upper Campfield. They started off with a revival of the show that was playing at the time of bomb (Hindle Wakes) which was Ok, but then it went steeply downhill with Peer Gynt, Dreaming and Prize Night which haemorrhaged their audiences - I have never seen so many escape at the interval at Prize Night!
Pity - the REx can be astounding, but they plumb the depths more often than they should.
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Post by moviebuffff1n on Sept 11, 2024 16:29:40 GMT
It’s sold terribly. Maybe a more traditional version would have appealed? The Rex need to have a serious word with themselves about programming. It’s been absolutely dire since they reopened after covid. Personally as a student, their last few seasons has been very engaging for me. I very much enjoyed their reworking of Romeo and Juliet and planning to see Midsummers night dream in October. I can see why people aren’t a fan of the reworkings but I like it! Was going to see Midsummer with my grandparents as they love Shakespeare (don’t we all) but as soon as they heard it was about the rave scene they refused to book. It’s appealing to students but not to the older generations who want more traditional plays. Anyway I hope it’s good! |
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Post by n1david on Sept 11, 2024 17:03:01 GMT
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Post by moviebuffff1n on Sept 11, 2024 17:12:28 GMT
Very intrigued now. I have a close friend who’s going on Saturday afternoon (if it goes ahead) and I’m meeting him on Sunday so will ask for a full breakdown to tell you guys! |
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Post by anniel on Sept 11, 2024 17:17:00 GMT
Interesting comment regarding "Content".
A number of years ago when I was a secondary school teacher, I took a class of 13 year old boys to see MSND at the Royal Exchange. Towards the end of the play, Bottom's donkey head was removed and so were ALL of his clothes - on a Wednesday matinee full of pensioners and school children.
All the kids could talk about was "Miss has taken us to porn" and I had to go and report back to the headteacher in case we had any parental complaints. I wrote a strongly worded letter to the theatre explaining the need to be warned about nudity - and about its appropriateness too. I am not usually censorious at all, but on Wednesday matinees with a high number of young school parties, it is not acceptable and I think if I had been sitting on the ground floor, I might well have reported the theatre to the police.
MSND is a popular text to teach in secondary schools and I wonder if this is a bit too 'boundary pushing' for young people or school groups.
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Post by n1david on Sept 11, 2024 17:19:57 GMT
This is the content warning for the new production: Contains depictions of blood and recreational drug use, haze, loud noises, smoking, strobe lighting, staged gun violence, and strong language. Themes include consent, sexual abuse, and violence. |
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Post by richey on Sept 11, 2024 17:20:10 GMT
Very intrigued now. I have a close friend who’s going on Saturday afternoon (if it goes ahead) and I’m meeting him on Sunday so will ask for a full breakdown to tell you guys! All Saturday performances are cancelled |
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Post by SilverFox on Sept 11, 2024 17:41:11 GMT
Is it me, or are we currently seeing a big rise in the number of cancelled previews? Budgets / Rehearsals cut too tight?
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19,774 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Sept 11, 2024 18:08:05 GMT
It’s sold terribly. Maybe a more traditional version would have appealed? The Rex need to have a serious word with themselves about programming. It’s been absolutely dire since they reopened after covid. Personally as a student, their last few seasons has been very engaging for me. I very much enjoyed their reworking of Romeo and Juliet and planning to see Midsummers night dream in October. I can see why people aren’t a fan of the reworkings but I like it! Was going to see Midsummer with my grandparents as they love Shakespeare (don’t we all) but as soon as they heard it was about the rave scene they refused to book. It’s appealing to students but not to the older generations who want more traditional plays. Anyway I hope it’s good! No, actually. We don’t. And some weirdo rave version isn’t likely to persuade me. Or your grandparents clearly! Thing is, appealing to you as a student is one thing but students are not their core audience. Far from it. I’m sure it’s their aspiration that they play to packed houses full of students every single night but no, sadly it’s us middle aged geezers who are stumping up for the full price tickets. So it would probably be sensible to put something on that appeals to us. |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Sept 11, 2024 18:16:04 GMT
This is the content warning for the new production: Contains depictions of blood and recreational drug use, haze, loud noises, smoking, strobe lighting, staged gun violence, and strong language. Themes include consent, sexual abuse, and violence. WTF? It is Dream they are staging right? |
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Post by bigsymalone on Sept 11, 2024 18:23:08 GMT
Sounds like another case of “go woke go broke”
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Post by david on Sept 11, 2024 19:06:30 GMT
Personally as a student, their last few seasons has been very engaging for me. I very much enjoyed their reworking of Romeo and Juliet and planning to see Midsummers night dream in October. I can see why people aren’t a fan of the reworkings but I like it! Was going to see Midsummer with my grandparents as they love Shakespeare (don’t we all) but as soon as they heard it was about the rave scene they refused to book. It’s appealing to students but not to the older generations who want more traditional plays. Anyway I hope it’s good! No, actually. We don’t. And some weirdo rave version isn’t likely to persuade me. Or your grandparents clearly! Thing is, appealing to you as a student is one thing but students are not their core audience. Far from it. I’m sure it’s their aspiration that they play to packed houses full of students every single night but no, sadly it’s us middle aged geezers who are stumping up for the full price tickets. So it would probably be sensible to put something on that appeals to us. 100% this. When the season got announced this one got a hard pass from me and that is from someone who generally goes to the REX a fair few times a year. The Bridge version was brilliant a few years ago but the REX one just sounded bizarre and reading the content / themes warning posted hasn't changed my mind. I am all for doing different approaches to stuff but this one was just a step to far. I think the REX management need a strong rethink on their programming and core audience theatre interests if they want to get bums on seats. |
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Post by richey on Sept 12, 2024 5:59:54 GMT
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Post by Someone in a tree on Sept 12, 2024 6:08:59 GMT
This is the content warning for the new production: Contains depictions of blood and recreational drug use, haze, loud noises, smoking, strobe lighting, staged gun violence, and strong language. Themes include consent, sexual abuse, and violence. Is Calixto Bieito directing ?! I suspect now all the shocking stuff is getting cut and we just get some watered down production that pleases no one. |
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2,261 posts
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Post by richey on Sept 13, 2024 5:45:15 GMT
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Post by moviebuffff1n on Sept 13, 2024 9:53:57 GMT
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Post by crabtree on Sept 13, 2024 12:44:47 GMT
Such a shame about the Royal Exchange. It used to guarantee intelligent, exciting, theatrically imaginative and thrilling productions, and I would see everything, usually several times, mostly on the banquettes, but after a string of unforiveably 'what were they thinking' productions I have given up - sad really, as my first professional job was there during that first dynamic season. My father's life was changed after being assaulted by Patricia Routledge's fan and advancing cleavage, as mrs Malaprop - changed for the better. Now I fear to approach the building for some grim production with a token concept forced on a play that can't support that idea.
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Post by marob on Sept 13, 2024 12:58:07 GMT
They also had a different excuse every time I tried to get a refund off them during the pandemic. Not that I’m still bitter about that or anything. Definitely not. 😒
But I think their programming has been much improved of late. Pretty strong productions of Importance of Being Earnest and A Taste of Honey. Their modern dress Romeo and Juliet was way better than the one that turned up in the West End a few months later.
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