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Post by longinthetooth on May 7, 2017 14:43:22 GMT
Short answer is yes, you should know this! Apologies for my ignorance. I now feel like I'm not worthy to go the National. So much for a national theatre's presumed remit to encourage theatregoers. I'm definitely not worthy of the National. On my only previous visit, during the interval the woman next to me turned to her friends and said, "I'm so sorry it's a musical. I knew I should have booked Henry V." I was quite enjoying myself until that point, but obviously lovers of musicals are beyond the pale to certain National patrons. Which is ridiculous, when it's the National itself that is staging the show. |
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Post by palace on May 7, 2017 14:45:59 GMT
I'm not going to go through and answer all of your post. I'm just glad to have discussed my experience with the NT and to have discussed policies from other theatres/groups. I haven't seen any premium seats on sale at the NT but it's somewhere I've never been before. OK. Well, it's an amazing place. It seems to be wrong to have National Theatre which is a charity and in receipt of subsidies sitting here on the South Bank masquerading as the country's National Theatre when it really appears seems to be a nice little members' club with tickets available to them before Joe Public. That's not very inclusive is it? It just smacks of elitism. If it wasn't for those dedicated members, the place would have gone down many years ago. It is the regulars who keep it going when there isn't a big show on. Ant the 'regulars' = members who get first dibs at the best seats. It's become nothing more an exclusive little club for pretentious theatre-going luvvies. |
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Post by kathryn on May 7, 2017 14:46:41 GMT
Yes, the NT is a repertory theatre, usually with multiple shows running in each space, and you are supposed to know this when you book a show. They list the dates each show is playing on its webpage. I guess it's one of those things 'everyone knows' and so they don't state outright (though they do state under 'About Us' that they average 30 productions a year, and could easily add 'in repertory' to that to make it clearer). All it says on Follies' webpage is "From 22 September", not even an end date, let alone an indication it's only on some of the time. Oh well, I guess I'm too stupid to go to the National Theatre as I didn't know it was rep. Maybe I'd better return my Follies ticket. Or, you could get over it - after all, no-one need know that you just found it out - go along, have a great time, then come back for more. The same as the rest of us did! We all discovered the NT for the first time at some point... |
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Post by palace on May 7, 2017 15:02:54 GMT
I'd been on the NT website the previous evening to make sure I knew where to click etc. on the day but there's no mention on the Follies webspage that it is going to be in rep. Is everyone supposed to know this? I'm a frequent theatregoer but have only been to the National twice before in my life, as I don't want to see most of what they do, so had no idea they did rep rather than continous runs. Yes, the NT is a repertory theatre, usually with multiple shows running in each space, and you are supposed to know this when you book a show. They list the dates each show is playing on its webpage. I guess it's one of those things 'everyone knows' and so they don't state outright (though they do state under 'About Us' that they average 30 productions a year, and could easily add 'in repertory' to that to make it clearer). The NT don't say so but we're supposed to know!!!!! Yet many of us don't know. It's all clear now though. Perhaps us plebs should keep away from this discriminatory, elitist venue and and its superior in-the-know audiences and leave them to audiences and members who are truly worthy of sitting in a seat of its hallowed auditoruims or is it auditoria? I expect those in-the-know will be able tell us. |
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Follies
May 7, 2017 15:04:48 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2017 15:04:48 GMT
If you hate the NT that much, you're more than welcome to stay away. Simple as.
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Post by palace on May 7, 2017 15:06:04 GMT
Tickets are on Viagogo at £113 each plus fees for a back stalls preview!! drives me mad!! lets hope Hamilton gets it right and their method to prevent resale gets rolled out to all events so actual fans of theatre can get tickets at the price they were intended to be sold at!! Must be those damned non-members. |
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Post by paulbrownsey on May 7, 2017 15:06:56 GMT
Perhaps us plebs should keep away from this discriminatory, elitist venue and and its superior in-the-know audiences and leave them to audiences and members who are truly worthy of sitting in a seat of its hallowed auditoruims or is it auditoria? I expect those in-the-know will be able tell us. It's not elitist. That's a cheap yah-boo word people use for something that involves a bit of thought and concentration. And the audiences get to be "in-the-know" because they take the trouble to find out. |
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2017 15:12:09 GMT
This thread's taking a darker turn than Follies does. I'm still here though.
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Follies
May 7, 2017 15:19:43 GMT
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Post by kathryn on May 7, 2017 15:19:43 GMT
Yes, the NT is a repertory theatre, usually with multiple shows running in each space, and you are supposed to know this when you book a show. They list the dates each show is playing on its webpage. I guess it's one of those things 'everyone knows' and so they don't state outright (though they do state under 'About Us' that they average 30 productions a year, and could easily add 'in repertory' to that to make it clearer). The NT don't say so but we're supposed to know!!!!! Yet many of us don't know. It's all clear now though. Perhaps us plebs should keep away from this discriminatory, elitist venue and and its superior in-the-know audiences and leave them to audiences and members who are truly worthy of sitting in a seat of its hallowed auditoruims or is it auditoria? I expect those in-the-know will be able tell us. Or, you could expand your experience and learn something new. None of us was born in-the-know, and there's nothing elitist about learning. |
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2017 15:20:52 GMT
Ant the 'regulars' = members who get first dibs at the best seats. It's become nothing more an exclusive little club for pretentious theatre- going luvvies. Excuse me! I have a membership because I want to support the national theatre and it happens that by doing so I get priority booking but you have sussed me out. When I book tickets I buy all the cheap seats just to annoy the 'regulars'while evilly laughing |
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2017 15:26:03 GMT
I'm really lost. What is rep? Sorry for my ignorance. I also don't understand what people are upset about.
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2017 15:26:04 GMT
So to sum up: 1. There are still tickets available for EVERY show after previews, at a range of prices 2. Tickets at ALL price ranges were available when they went on public sale 3. More tickets at various price ranges WILL appear on the website during the run. For instance this happens regularly with Angels in America which is otherwise sold out (unlike Follies, see point 1) 4. The National plays shows in rep, and not everyone knows this 5. Having said that there has been a list of dates and times on the website for weeks 6. There is plenty of very helpful information here about how to book for the National 7. There will be more dates going on sale - if it doesn't say "Last Performance" on the final currently announced performance, that means it is continuing. Which is something else people may not be aware of if they aren't national regulars, but it has been pointed out several times on this thread. 8. If you book a ticket now, and a better ticket turns up later, you can exchange your tickets for a small charge. 9. There is also plenty of information here - www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/help-centre/ - which admittedly doesn't use the word "rep" but does tell you how to find out when productions are on, when extra performances will be announced, among other things. 10. It's a sunny day so chill the f*** out people. Did I miss anything? |
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2017 15:26:48 GMT
I'm really lost. What is rep? Sorry for my ignorance. I also don't understand what people are upset about. It just means they do a number of different shows at the same time in each theatre so no show is on every night. |
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2017 15:31:47 GMT
I'm really lost. What is rep? Sorry for my ignorance. I also don't understand what people are upset about. It just means they do a number of different shows at the same time in each theatre so no show is on every night. Thank you. |
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Post by palace on May 7, 2017 15:37:23 GMT
Perhaps us plebs should keep away from this discriminatory, elitist venue and and its superior in-the-know audiences and leave them to audiences and members who are truly worthy of sitting in a seat of its hallowed auditoruims or is it auditoria? I expect those in-the-know will be able tell us. It's not elitist. That's a cheap yah-boo word people use for something that involves a bit of thought and concentration. And the audiences get to be "in-the-know" because they take the trouble to find out. Yah boo? How frightfully common! What word should be used then? Humble? Modest? Egalitarian? I don't see anything humble, modest or egalitarian about the NT or some of you commentators on this forum. Audiences in-the-know take the trouble to find out? What a terribly jumped-up and pretentious statement. Where would one find out that the NT is a repertory theatre? Is it out there somewhere or is it something one just expected to know. Beyond such information as where it's on, when it's on, ticket prices and booking details; no one actually needs to know anything else. Why can't comments/criticisms be made without some superior-sounding member of this forum jumping on the unenlightened and/or new member? Try and understand that not everyone is a member of the NT and maybe doesn't even want to be but perhaps when they want to buy tickets expect the same rights as everyone else. IMO membership of the NT does not promote equality or inclusivity. |
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Post by shady23 on May 7, 2017 15:38:51 GMT
I'm really lost. What is rep? Sorry for my ignorance. I also don't understand what people are upset about. Thank goodness, I thought it was just me! |
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Post by alece10 on May 7, 2017 15:43:08 GMT
That sounds like a fantastic evening - but why did Eartha have to sing it twice? Cos all the old queens blew a fuse and wouldn't sit down until she did. i was there the night before (Julia MacKenzie had returned for final two days, but it wasn't announced until just before the show started. There were groans at the words "At tonight's performance the part of Sally Durant will be played by.." then cheers as it concluded "Miss Julia MacKenzie". I remember seeing Follies a couple of times at The Shaftsbury. First time when it opened with Julia McKenzie, Dolores Gray, Diana Rigg, Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson etc etc then again when they did the cast change and the wonderful Eartha Kit was in it. I also remember going to a Sondheim Gala concert at Drury Lane where Eartha performed. Got invited to the after show party and she attended. It was like the parting of the waves when she swanned in with her very young and very pretty male assistant. Oh and don't call us "old queens!" I was a considerably younger queen then................... |
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Follies
May 7, 2017 15:44:41 GMT
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Post by couldileaveyou on May 7, 2017 15:44:41 GMT
Cos all the old queens blew a fuse and wouldn't sit down until she did. i was there the night before (Julia MacKenzie had returned for final two days, but it wasn't announced until just before the show started. There were groans at the words "At tonight's performance the part of Sally Durant will be played by.." then cheers as it concluded "Miss Julia MacKenzie". I remember seeing Follies a couple of times at The Shaftsbury. First time when it opened with Julia McKenzie, Dolores Gray, Diana Rigg, Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson etc etc then again when they did the cast change and the wonderful Eartha Kit was in it. I also remember going to a Sondheim Gala concert at Drury Lane where Eartha performed. Got invited to the after show party and she attended. It was like the parting of the waves when she swanned in with her very young and very pretty male assistant. Oh and don't call us "old queens!" I was a considerably younger queen then................... Didn't it close 30 years ago tho?  |
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Post by palace on May 7, 2017 15:47:18 GMT
The NT don't say so but we're supposed to know!!!!! Yet many of us don't know. It's all clear now though. Perhaps us plebs should keep away from this discriminatory, elitist venue and and its superior in-the-know audiences and leave them to audiences and members who are truly worthy of sitting in a seat of its hallowed auditoruims or is it auditoria? I expect those in-the-know will be able tell us. Or, you could expand your experience and learn something new. None of us was born in-the-know, and there's nothing elitist about learning. Here we go again. How rude. Perhaps I don't want to be in-the-know or learn. I've done plenty of learning and still do. Perhaps I just want to see a show and express an opinion on a forum without some long-time, self-entitled members getting on their high-horses and getting aggressive because a new members dares to question them or quite simply makes a point. This is a very cliquey and aggressive forum. Does anyone ever dare to express an opinion that goes against the general consensus of the self-elected great and the good on here? |
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Post by palace on May 7, 2017 15:49:21 GMT
Cos all the old queens blew a fuse and wouldn't sit down until she did. i was there the night before (Julia MacKenzie had returned for final two days, but it wasn't announced until just before the show started. There were groans at the words "At tonight's performance the part of Sally Durant will be played by.." then cheers as it concluded "Miss Julia MacKenzie". I remember seeing Follies a couple of times at The Shaftsbury. First time when it opened with Julia McKenzie, Dolores Gray, Diana Rigg, Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson etc etc then again when they did the cast change and the wonderful Eartha Kit was in it. I also remember going to a Sondheim Gala concert at Drury Lane where Eartha performed. Got invited to the after show party and she attended. It was like the parting of the waves when she swanned in with her very young and very pretty male assistant. Oh and don't call us "old queens!" I was a considerably younger queen then................... It sounds utterly fabulous. Dare I ask when was that? Just seen - it was 30 years ago. |
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Post by kathryn on May 7, 2017 16:02:53 GMT
Or, you could expand your experience and learn something new. None of us was born in-the-know, and there's nothing elitist about learning. Here we go again. How rude. Perhaps I don't want to be in-the-know or learn. I've done plenty of learning and still do. Perhaps I just want to see a show and express an opinion on a forum without some long-time, self-entitled members getting on their high-horses and getting aggressive because a new members dares to question them or quite simply makes a point. This is a very cliquey and aggressive forum. Does anyone ever dare to express an opinion that goes against the general consensus of the self-elected great and the good on here? Oh god, yes, all the time! We have an ignore function on here (you can find it on your profile) which people use when they find they really can't bear someone's posts, and the mods are pretty good at keeping the peace, so we generally all rub along reasonably well. But this is, to be honest, the very weirdest argument I've seen. You're very welcome to remain ignorant, but it's a bit self-defeating - particularly if you're going to then complain about your ignorance, and get so angry about it. |
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Post by alece10 on May 7, 2017 16:05:02 GMT
I remember seeing Follies a couple of times at The Shaftsbury. First time when it opened with Julia McKenzie, Dolores Gray, Diana Rigg, Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson etc etc then again when they did the cast change and the wonderful Eartha Kit was in it. I also remember going to a Sondheim Gala concert at Drury Lane where Eartha performed. Got invited to the after show party and she attended. It was like the parting of the waves when she swanned in with her very young and very pretty male assistant. Oh and don't call us "old queens!" I was a considerably younger queen then................... Didn't it close 30 years ago tho? Yeah don't rub it in!! Mind you I was 4 years old at the time. I started bring interested in Sondheim at a vert early age. 😁 |
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Follies
May 7, 2017 16:16:35 GMT
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Post by AddisonMizner on May 7, 2017 16:16:35 GMT
GOT TICKETS FOR FOLLIES!!! (Despite limited availability). Row C in the Dress Circle. I just hope they are good. The seats are green on the TheatreMonkey seating plan, but no reason is given as to why.
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Follies
May 7, 2017 16:19:12 GMT
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Post by kathryn on May 7, 2017 16:19:12 GMT
I'm really lost. What is rep? Sorry for my ignorance. I also don't understand what people are upset about. Thank goodness, I thought it was just me! It used to be a lot more common - you used to have a company of actors performing different productions on different nights, which not even the NT now does - but has mostly died out. It was how a lot of older actors learnt their trade. In the West End The Winters Tale and Harlequinade/All on Her Own in the Ken Branagh season is the only time we've had old-style rep that I can recall. If I'm wrong someone will correct me I'm sure. |
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Post by paulbrownsey on May 7, 2017 16:55:54 GMT
You're very welcome to remain ignorant, but it's a bit self-defeating - particularly if you're going to then complain about your ignorance, and get so angry about it. Well, self-esteem has been boosted so much in recent years that people get uppity and aggrieved if they realise they're not the last word in knowledge, expertise and general human wonderfulness. |
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