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Post by daisy24601 on Mar 25, 2019 16:34:39 GMT
Tickets for the 'new' production at the Queen's Theatre are now on sale from Delfont Mackintosh - playing from December 18th. A cursory glance suggests that ticket prices are pretty similar, and not much is changing in terms of seating but they appear to be getting rid of the central aisle in the Upper Circle. I'm sure @theatremonkey can comment more confidently on the changes. And the Dress Circle slips are no longer on sale which used to be my go to cheap seats. Gutted Ah no, me too. |
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Post by TheatreTwittic on Mar 25, 2019 21:30:04 GMT
Perhaps I was expecting too much but with the no doubt pretty considerable lower production costs of the new staging, I was hoping for a price reduction when it seems to be not the case.
It's also fascinating that a 'staged concert' costs more to see than either production.
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Post by apubleed on Mar 25, 2019 21:41:04 GMT
Hahaha if the strategy is to increase profit margin they can't reduce ticket prices, that would defeat the purpose!
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Post by vabbian on Mar 26, 2019 7:27:48 GMT
Perhaps I was expecting too much but with the no doubt pretty considerable lower production costs of the new staging, I was hoping for a price reduction when it seems to be not the case. It's also fascinating that a 'staged concert' costs more to see than either production. Due to the cast of the staged concert. In particular Alfie Boe. Perhaps cheaper to stage, but shows are not priced according to cost, but to what the audience will pay. They know people would pay a lot more even to see him in Les Mis. And they wouldn't reduce ticket prices much on performances he is not on, so as to not sh*t on the other Valjean. |
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Post by kimbahorel on Apr 12, 2019 16:01:21 GMT
There is only now 8 seats left for 13th July evening. If anyone was still looking to book for the last one.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2019 10:55:06 GMT
Mary Berry is having a tour of the theatre and a bit of a Les Mis feature now on BBC1
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Post by Rory on May 1, 2019 8:47:47 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2019 9:00:01 GMT
That is sh*t.
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Post by theatregod on May 1, 2019 9:46:11 GMT
It’s sadly, more than 50% (more like 80%) of the orchestra will be removed and replaced. The same happened when the show relocated from the palace to queens and the orchestrations re-worked and musicians replaced.
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Post by horton on May 1, 2019 11:26:45 GMT
Some people take pride in their legacy. Others take the money and run.
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Post by theatregod on May 1, 2019 11:30:27 GMT
You referring to CMac ?
Run it cheaper, take the money and run ?
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Post by daisy24601 on May 1, 2019 12:46:00 GMT
That's depressing.
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Post by danieljohnson14 on May 1, 2019 12:48:41 GMT
Urgh, this whole thing just annoys me. Losing one of the iconic London shows in its original production is one thing, but you forget about those who will get screwed over in the process. Such a money making ploy that honestly could be a hit or miss in the long run.
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Post by indis on May 1, 2019 12:53:37 GMT
first they do a big-orchestra-concert version and then you got maybe 5 people in the pit? wow, this surely sounds different then why suddenly the cheapening of the show? is the money the make through the show too less? as if the 14 people they had before in the pit were too many  how sad |
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Post by wickedgrin on May 1, 2019 13:10:26 GMT
The band ( I hesitate to say that 14 musicians is an orchestra) will still number 14 - it is just that half of them have not been rehired for some unknown reason. 5 have been kept on and 2 go and play for Mary Poppins. New musicians will be brought in. I assume (again) this is about money in that the new musicians will be cheaper and on a different contract.
Clearly without the revolve (with the high maintenance issues) less staff are required backstage.
The royalties of the original creatives will not be paid on this "new" production - a huge saving I suspect.
So the show will be much cheaper to run - again, as it was when it moved from the Palace to the Queens. The prices off course will not be cheaper!
My question is this - do we think it will continue to be successful? If the production is deemed inferior will the audience fall away. Even long runners close eventually - Cats, Starlight Express etc. Has Cam Mack shot himself in the foot? Or do we think like The Mousetrap and Phantom the show is almost immune to the usual artistic criteria?
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2019 13:22:53 GMT
I'm pretty sure they're not halving the band. They're just letting people go and they'll hire new people. Why is everyone making it look like it's a big deal? Actors come and go every year and everyone gets excited at a cast change. This is the same thing, people.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2019 13:46:20 GMT
The Stage article is misleading and just click bait.
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Post by Rory on May 1, 2019 15:28:54 GMT
The Stage article is misleading and just click bait. How so? |
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Post by Jon on May 1, 2019 17:11:26 GMT
Les Miserables is a business so cutting costs isn’t a new thing, they did it 15 years ago when they moved to the Queens.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2019 17:25:52 GMT
Les Miserables is a business so cutting costs isn’t a new thing, they did it 15 years ago when they moved to the Queens. And before that when they trimmed the show to under 3 hours in order to save money on overtime costs.
It's always sad when people lose their jobs, but I guess a lot (most? all?) of the cast's contracts won't be renewed either, when they expire in July. |
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Post by danb on May 1, 2019 17:37:46 GMT
Perhaps it’s ready for the sort of shake up that traditional employment law cannot accomodate. 😳
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2019 17:38:43 GMT
Les Miserables is a business so cutting costs isn’t a new thing, they did it 15 years ago when they moved to the Queens. And before that when they trimmed the show to under 3 hours in order to save money on overtime costs.
It's always sad when people lose their jobs, but I guess a lot (most? all?) of the cast's contracts won't be renewed either, when they expire in July. Most cast expect to change 1-2yearly which can be different for musos and crew. The odd thing here is “7 of the 14 musicians” have been asked back. Why only those specifically? As reported it’s created a very awkward atmosphere backstage. Some crew had been working on the show for 15 years, I think that’s a bit more than “sad”. |
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2019 18:13:22 GMT
And before that when they trimmed the show to under 3 hours in order to save money on overtime costs.
It's always sad when people lose their jobs, but I guess a lot (most? all?) of the cast's contracts won't be renewed either, when they expire in July. Most cast expect to change 1-2yearly which can be different for musos and crew. The odd thing here is “7 of the 14 musicians” have been asked back. Why only those specifically? As reported it’s created a very awkward atmosphere backstage. Some crew had been working on the show for 15 years, I think that’s a bit more than “sad”. I wasn't trivialising someone losing their job. But unfortunately it happens every day in every profession. To people who have given more than 15 years of service to their employer. Also, shows close (including long runners) and everyone loses their job, but I don't go around saying I'm "heartbroken" or "devastated" for them.
So no, I'll stick with "sad".
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2019 18:15:48 GMT
I acknowledge this may not be ethical, if it's a cost-cutting exercise to get rid of people on older, more expensive contracts, thus creating the "awkward atmosphere backstage". But that's where unions/tribunals come in.
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Post by theatregod on May 1, 2019 18:24:53 GMT
And before that when they trimmed the show to under 3 hours in order to save money on overtime costs.
It's always sad when people lose their jobs, but I guess a lot (most? all?) of the cast's contracts won't be renewed either, when they expire in July. Most cast expect to change 1-2yearly which can be different for musos and crew. The odd thing here is “7 of the 14 musicians” have been asked back. Why only those specifically? As reported it’s created a very awkward atmosphere backstage. Some crew had been working on the show for 15 years, I think that’s a bit more than “sad”. |
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how sad 
