Lost Theatre Mojo

Similar to aspieandy, I take a couple of weeks off from theatre 4 times a year. Otherwise it can get a bit relentless, not so much the theatre itself, but the late nights and not having time for other things.

Yep, I know how you feel. I felt the same way really for the first time this year. I have seen 32 shows in total this year and there were definitely a few that I could have done without (Dear Octopus, Romeo & Juliet, Juno and the Paycock come immediately to mind). I typically get to London once a month for a solo theatre trip (hence my username) and I try to pack in as many shows as possible in each visit due to ridiculous hotel costs. Some poor shows and increasing prices have really dampened the experience on more than one occasion. The challenge is, there are some outstanding shows I packed in as 'fillers' that ended up being my highlights (e.g. Sunset Boulevard last year, The Motive and the Cue this year) that I wouldn't have paid to see otherwise. 

This year, one of my resolutions was to see a show at the ROH.  I saw Swan Lake for the first time in April which subsequently triggered a dangerous passion for ballet and my bank balance suffered even more 

I have 11 shows booked already for 2025 with a few more planned but I am definitely going to be more selective about what I choose in future (if only to make room for more ballet!). I have been let down by so many productions at the National recently that I feel those will be the first to go. 

I definitely suffer from theatre fatigue every now again, but honestly it has also been my saving grace after a really difficult few years for me personally. I still get excited completely switching off from work / family, getting the train to London for a couple of days every month and immersing myself into the arts. Pure escapism.

I avoid Dec and due to train engineering works I have nothing until 15 Jan, but I’ve just looked at my diary and  I have 17 shows and the WoS Awards between 15 Jan - 15 Feb. I already think I won’t make some of them.

No. I have been to New York but that was almost 50 years ago. Only flown four times in my life. Long day trips by train and coach with an occasional night in a travelodge is enough for me.

I empathise with much of this.  It might be coincidence but I think covid has a lot to answer for here.  Many of us were prevented from travelling and physical attendance because for some time it was literally, or almost literally, forbidden.  And when we were allowed to resume we found the railways had gone into severe decline and hotels cost getting on for double what they used to.  If I didn't have friends to put me up in London my current level of theatre attendance would be unaffordable whereas less than a decade ago I'd have thought nothing of booking a Travelodge (other basic hotels are available) in zone 6 for £30 a night or even less.  Visiting other cities (and I did like to visit the cities, not just the theatres) is now seldom a practical proposition as hotel costs mean I'm restricted to matinees in places amenable to a day trip and the unreliability of trains means I often can't plan a full day but just get to town a couple of hours before the show and head home straight after.  There are other factors, of course - I'm getting older and slowing down a bit - but the contrast between pre- and post- pandemic is too stark to be ignored.

Wow, do those four flights mean just two trips (ie there and back) or four separate trips?

In that case I have lived! I went there several times as a child when we lived in Kent.

As you asked. Flew to LA for a 21 day coast to coast package tour ending in and returning from NYC. That was on my own in 1977. About 10 years later did a Golden West package tour with partner flying to LA and back from San Francisco. Neither trip included any theatre and all travel in the USA was by coach. No great urge to fly again or even leave the UK now.