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Post by keyspi on Nov 7, 2024 18:59:13 GMT
Can understand why they kicked off with Dirty Dancing, as it was a big money earner, so gets the venue onto the map, although wouldn’t be too desperate to see it, appreciate a new venue. Wasn’t there another theatre in roughly the same location? Bush theatre? |
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Post by daniel on Nov 8, 2024 0:34:33 GMT
The short-lived Troubadour White City Theatre was only a stone’s throw away.
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Nov 8, 2024 10:40:42 GMT
Having seen an incredible production of Cats last night with an ecstatic reaction from a near capacity audience, and noting the success of Starlight Express I also think Cats would be a far better opening show for a new theatre.
Can't see Dirty Dancing will create much excitement, not a family.show, not long finished a West End Run and arguably not a proper musical anyway.
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Post by Jon on Nov 8, 2024 11:16:39 GMT
People are forgetting that this is a theatre located at Westfield so it'd be hugely risky to put Cats: The Jellicle Ball there. Dirty Dancing makes sense as the first production to test the water.
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Nov 8, 2024 11:31:32 GMT
People are forgetting that this is a theatre located at Westfield so it'd be hugely risky to put Cats: The Jellicle Ball there. Dirty Dancing makes sense as the first production to test the water. I don't know the area at all but is that huge risk because of the specific location, the costs relative to the likely size of the venue, or some other reason ? |
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Post by unseaworthy on Nov 8, 2024 11:34:17 GMT
According to the article in The Stage
"It promises an “intimate, flexible auditorium” that will deliver a “premium experience where every seat offers a fantastic view”. No audience member will be more than nine rows from the performance stage area"
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Post by Matt on Nov 8, 2024 12:17:09 GMT
People are forgetting that this is a theatre located at Westfield so it'd be hugely risky to put Cats: The Jellicle Ball there. Dirty Dancing makes sense as the first production to test the water. I don't know the area at all but is that huge risk because of the specific location, the costs relative to the likely size of the venue, or some other reason ? I presume because it’s in a shopping centre in zone 2. Although we are very connected with lots of transport links, it’s very much fringe theatre. |
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Post by Jon on Nov 8, 2024 12:28:39 GMT
I don't know the area at all but is that huge risk because of the specific location, the costs relative to the likely size of the venue, or some other reason ? I presume because it’s in a shopping centre in zone 2. Although we are very connected with lots of transport links, it’s very much fringe theatre. I agree, you have to consider the audience who will be coming to the show and the synergy with Westfield is that they'll probably be ones who might spend money at the shops and the restaurants before or after the show. |
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Nov 8, 2024 12:35:49 GMT
I see now I think. I didn't associate fringe theatre with a show like Dirty Dancing.
Hopefully Cats will be revived in London sometime this decade. Troubadour Wembley in 2026-7 would seem a possibility when Starlight runs out of steam.
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Post by n1david on Nov 8, 2024 12:48:16 GMT
I presume because it’s in a shopping centre in zone 2. Although we are very connected with lots of transport links, it’s very much fringe theatre. Although not many fringe theatres sell Premium VIP tickets for £175 each... They're all at cabaret tables but the first two rows of regular seating are £150 each at weekends... www.capitaltheatre.co.uk/book/They advertise seats from £45 but that's a handful of seats in the back row, the remaining back row seats being £90, everything else is a minimum of £135 at weekends. That seems... ambitious. |
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Post by Steve on Nov 8, 2024 13:34:18 GMT
Although not many fringe theatres sell Premium VIP tickets for £175 each... They're all at cabaret tables but the first two rows of regular seating are £150 each at weekends... www.capitaltheatre.co.uk/book/They advertise seats from £45 but that's a handful of seats in the back row, the remaining back row seats being £90, everything else is a minimum of £135 at weekends. That seems... ambitious. And a very reasonable £6 booking fee on top!
Who needs a £5 ticket to the Globe when you can spend your ticket money here on a lovely jubbly booking fee instead? |
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Post by Dave B on Nov 8, 2024 14:46:11 GMT
it’s very much fringe theatre. I'm boggled by this, so you reckon it's on par with Old Red Lion or Drayton Arms or Etcetera (the list could go on here) or any of the other wonderful pub theatres that make up a huge chunk of the actual fringe?
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Post by SilverFox on Nov 8, 2024 15:09:02 GMT
it’s very much fringe theatre. I'm boggled by this, so you reckon it's on par with Old Red Lion or Drayton Arms or Etcetera (the list could go on here) or any of the other wonderful pub theatres that make up a huge chunk of the actual fringe?
'Fringe' is a hard term - theatrewise - to define. It is usually a mix of off-West End and smaller venues. Theatres such as Hackney Empire, Lyric Hammersmith, Wimbledon, Richmond, TR Stratford East, Troubadour etc are often refered to as Fringe. Given the 'adaptable' auditorium, and general appearance of the design images, I would say this is firmly in 'fringe' territory.
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Post by Jon on Nov 8, 2024 15:23:13 GMT
I'd consider Capital Theatre and Dirty Dancing off West End. Fringe to me is something like Southwark Playhouse not a touring theatre like New Wimbledon or Richmond Theatre.
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Post by Dave B on Nov 8, 2024 15:32:38 GMT
Theatres such as Hackney Empire, Lyric Hammersmith, Wimbledon, Richmond, TR Stratford East, Troubadour etc are often refered to as Fringe. Lyric Hammersmith is an SOLT venue and Olivier eligible, Hackney Empire, Wimbledon and Stratford East are eligible as Olivier associate SOLT venues - hardly fringe! Anyone really referring to places like these as fringe really doesn't have any idea what fringe theatre actually is.  That would now be lumping a small black box ~50 seater (Finborough, Bridge House, Hen & Chickens) into the same category as the 650 in this new one, 850 in Richmond, Troubadour can hit 2000 depending on seating arrangements. I agree it's hard to define sometimes but off west end and fringe are very different! Couple of examples, A Little Life from last year. Was that a fringe show? It debuted in Richmond so by this definition it would be... So did Vanya as I recall. I don't think anyone ever thought of them as fringe for a second! |
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Post by SilverFox on Nov 8, 2024 15:47:59 GMT
Theatres such as Hackney Empire, Lyric Hammersmith, Wimbledon, Richmond, TR Stratford East, Troubadour etc are often refered to as Fringe. Lyric Hammersmith is an SOLT venue and Olivier eligible, Hackney Empire, Wimbledon and Stratford East are eligible as Olivier associate SOLT venues - hardly fringe! Anyone really referring to places like these as fringe really doesn't have any idea what fringe theatre actually is. That would now be lumping a small black box ~50 seater (Finborough, Bridge House, Hen & Chickens) into the same category as the 650 in this new one, 850 in Richmond, Troubadour can hit 2000 depending on seating arrangements. I agree it's hard to define sometimes but off west end and fringe are very different! Couple of examples, A Little Life from last year. Was that a fringe show? It debuted in Richmond so by this definition it would be... So did Vanya as I recall. I don't think anyone ever thought of them as fringe for a second!
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Post by Dave B on Nov 8, 2024 15:55:31 GMT
Lyric Hammersmith is an SOLT venue and Olivier eligible, Hackney Empire, Wimbledon and Stratford East are eligible as Olivier associate SOLT venues - hardly fringe! Anyone really referring to places like these as fringe really doesn't have any idea what fringe theatre actually is. That would now be lumping a small black box ~50 seater (Finborough, Bridge House, Hen & Chickens) into the same category as the 650 in this new one, 850 in Richmond, Troubadour can hit 2000 depending on seating arrangements. I agree it's hard to define sometimes but off west end and fringe are very different! Couple of examples, A Little Life from last year. Was that a fringe show? It debuted in Richmond so by this definition it would be... So did Vanya as I recall. I don't think anyone ever thought of them as fringe for a second!
As I said, anyone really referring to places like these as fringe really doesn't have any idea what fringe theatre actually is.
A couple of clicks and I see that Guys & Dolls, Dear England and Starlight Express are listed as fringe so I rest my case. The National Theatre, that famous fringe venue  |
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Post by Jon on Nov 8, 2024 16:08:23 GMT
SOLT has its list of affiliate members which include the likes of the Almeida and Donmar although weirdly Richmond Theatre isn't an affiliate member but New Wimbledon Theatre, the Polka, OT and the Rose Theatre in Kingston are
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Post by Dave B on Nov 8, 2024 16:21:05 GMT
SOLT has its list of affiliate members which include the likes of the Almeida and Donmar although weirdly Richmond Theatre isn't an affiliate member but New Wimbledon Theatre, the Polka, OT and the Rose Theatre in Kingston are Richmond doesn't tend to present new work. It has short runs for touring productions many of which would not be eligible so no point in joining at least for Olivier possibilities. Polka is eligible for the younger/family. Rose and OT present new work (and/or work new to London in the case of the Rose) and so eligible. Wimbledon is the one that makes little sense to me, they also tend to do the touring productions. |
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Post by Jon on Nov 8, 2024 16:40:16 GMT
SOLT has its list of affiliate members which include the likes of the Almeida and Donmar although weirdly Richmond Theatre isn't an affiliate member but New Wimbledon Theatre, the Polka, OT and the Rose Theatre in Kingston are Richmond doesn't tend to present new work. It has short runs for touring productions many of which would not be eligible so no point in joining at least for Olivier possibilities. Polka is eligible for the younger/family. Rose and OT present new work (and/or work new to London in the case of the Rose) and so eligible. Wimbledon is the one that makes little sense to me, they also tend to do the touring productions. I wonder if Wimbledon's affiliate status is due to the New Wimbledon Studios rather than the main theatre? |
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Post by Matt on Nov 8, 2024 18:21:59 GMT
it’s very much fringe theatre. I'm boggled by this, so you reckon it's on par with Old Red Lion or Drayton Arms or Etcetera (the list could go on here) or any of the other wonderful pub theatres that make up a huge chunk of the actual fringe?
My understanding of fringe was “not west end, not off west end, but slightly further out, but wouldn’t get national touring west end shows”. If I’m wrong then that’s fine, not sure why you’re irked by my comment though, it’s not that deep. 🙄 |
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Post by Dave B on Nov 8, 2024 23:48:22 GMT
If I’m wrong then that’s fine, not sure why you’re irked by my comment though, it’s not that deep. 🙄 Not irked at all, just boggled (hence the emojis!) |
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Post by Phantom of London on Nov 9, 2024 0:00:04 GMT
Let’s not talk about fringe as it is wholly subjective, instead let’s talk about what is West End?
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Post by SuttonPeron on Nov 9, 2024 0:38:09 GMT
These prices for Dirty Dancing are absolute MADNESS. I genuinely hope it doesn´t go ahead and everyone cast finds a better gig. 20 seats at 45 quid and the rest at 95+?? MADNESS!
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Post by unseaworthy on Nov 9, 2024 13:02:58 GMT
These prices for Dirty Dancing are absolute MADNESS. I genuinely hope it doesn´t go ahead and everyone cast finds a better gig. 20 seats at 45 quid and the rest at 95+?? MADNESS! Agreed. It makes Operation Mincemeat look reasonable! |
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That would now be lumping a small black box ~50 seater (Finborough, Bridge House, Hen & Chickens) into the same category as the 650 in this new one, 850 in Richmond, Troubadour can hit 2000 depending on seating arrangements. I agree it's hard to define sometimes but off west end and fringe are very different! 
