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Post by david on Feb 1, 2019 23:41:28 GMT
Event dates announced - June 22nd and 23rd
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Post by anthony40 on Feb 2, 2019 7:24:26 GMT
Already locked into the calendar.
Past experience has told me that you do Saturday morning- up till about 2-3pm, which is the times the matinees start and with the occasional exception, all the rest is fodder, filling in time till the end of the day,
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Post by david on Feb 2, 2019 11:54:07 GMT
Already locked into the calendar. Past experience has told me that you do Saturday morning- up till about 2-3pm, which is the times the matinees start and with the occasional exception, all the rest is fodder, filling in time till the end of the day, Just had a quick look in the diary, I've got a free weekend then so i'll be coming down to watch it along with a few shows. I think the last WEL event I did was when it was based in Leicester Square so a good few years ago!. Thanks for the advice about Saturday. |
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Post by partytentdown on Feb 2, 2019 13:18:09 GMT
Be ready for a giant queue! Last year it stretched all the way up to Piccadilly Circus!
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Post by david on Feb 2, 2019 13:51:38 GMT
Be ready for a giant queue! Last year it stretched all the way up to Piccadilly Circus! Thanks for the heads up. I’ll try and get there early if I can. I just hope it’s decent weather that weekend. |
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Post by HereForTheatre on Feb 2, 2019 14:17:12 GMT
I really don't think i can be bothered with the line. It so crazy and then you are packed in like sardines and struggle to even get out. I was really hoping they changed it up this year and held it somewhere else or made it ticketed or something.
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Post by anthony40 on Feb 2, 2019 16:56:11 GMT
The irony is that it moved from Leicester Square to Trafalgar Square in order cope with number of performances and audience numbers and now it's (virtually) outgrown this location.
Despite the horrendous size of the queue, it's because of security and crowd-control, to be fair, it is fairly fast moving.
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Post by LaLuPone on Apr 7, 2019 10:23:47 GMT
I’m looking at booking trains up for this now and I’m wondering what sort of time do you need to be in London by to get a reasonably good spot in the queue?
The performances usually start at 11 right?
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Post by alece10 on Apr 7, 2019 10:32:00 GMT
I’m looking at booking trains up for this now and I’m wondering what sort of time do you need to be in London by to get a reasonably good spot in the queue? The performances usually start at 11 right? Ive never queued to be at the front but I would think you would need to be there around 9am to stand any chance of being by the stage. Hopefully another board member might be able to give more accurate information if they have done this. I have turned up just before 11 in the past once the main queue (which can be massive) have gone in. They operate a good system so you will always get in even if you have to wait a bit as its a one out, one in policy. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2019 14:12:15 GMT
Went last year on the Saturday and it depends what shows you want to see.They always advertise the running order on the web-site and there is a lovely FREE glossy brochure-type programme.Last year was in the massive queue for 8am and got in for first performance.If your faves are on later in the day, there is no rush.Great atmosphere and a real sense of joy and happiness in the crowd.Didn’t do the Sunday because all my faves were on the Saturday.Food/drink options inside venue were very limited for a veggie like me.Left at 2 so I could hot-foot it to see BAT.Got quite sun-burned as well I recall.
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Post by firstwetakemanhattan on Apr 7, 2019 15:13:32 GMT
I’m looking at booking trains up for this now and I’m wondering what sort of time do you need to be in London by to get a reasonably good spot in the queue? The performances usually start at 11 right? I went last year, and despite staying in a hotel nearby literally 2 minutes away, made the mistake of not going to queue til around 9.30am, by which time the queue was already snaking round and up the Haymarket(past the TRH and past the Harold Pinter theatre), through the little gap where you cut through to Leicester Square and eventually found the end of the line just past the top of Leicester Square(the bit where the street performers always do that beatbox thing).
People kept on coming, trying to find the end of the line, by the time i started moving i couldnt see where the end was, but it must have been somewhere near the Charing Cross Road. People were going past and amazed at how long the line was.
So if you want to be anywhere near the start of the line, I suggest that 7.30am is more what you would be looking for to get a good spot and less time waiting in the line.
I had no problem exiting and was out very quickly when I decided to leave.
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Post by david on Apr 7, 2019 18:17:45 GMT
Thanks for the queuing time info. I was planning on getting an early train to London on the Saturday, but based on this info I’m coming down on the Friday night and getting to WEL early Saturday morning.
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Post by daisy24601 on Apr 8, 2019 23:26:51 GMT
I heard last year from someone who was there queuing well before it started who didn't get in until about 45 minutes after performances started, which puts me right off. What's the point in queueing for ages then missing loads of it.
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2019 13:42:41 GMT
From WoS - Shows participating in the weekend announced today are:
Disney's Aladdin
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ - The Musical
Avenue Q
BalletBoyz Brainiac Live
Come From Away
Everybody's Talking About Jamie
Fiddler On The Roof
Heartbeat Of Home
Jesus Christ Superstar
& Juliet
Disney's The Lion King
Magic Mike Live
Mamma Mia!
Matilda The Musical
Les Misérables
On Your Feet!
Only Fools And Horses The Musical
The Phantom Of The Opera
Six
Thriller Live
Tina – The Tina Turner Musical
The View UpStairs
Waitress
Wicked
The Worst Witch
Yummy
9 To 5 The Musical
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Post by xanady on May 16, 2019 15:20:05 GMT
Yaaaay! This announced on same day as My Fair Lady...Happy Thursday!
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Post by xanady on May 16, 2019 20:11:17 GMT
Noticed that a lot of outlets are suggesting that there are more announcements still to come to fill the two days.
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Post by david on May 24, 2019 20:39:16 GMT
Can’t be too long now before they release a running order. I haven’t been to a WEL event for a few years so hoping for a great weekend of entertainment.
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Post by anita on May 25, 2019 9:58:19 GMT
Can’t be too long now before they release a running order. I haven’t been to a WEL event for a few years so hoping for a great weekend of entertainment. Usually not until a maximum of 2 weeks in advance. |
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Post by xanady on May 25, 2019 12:25:05 GMT
For everyone who has never been to this event and truly loves MT....go!!!
It’s free.Just turn up on each day.Arrive very early as in 7am-8am or you will be queuing a long,long time.Some will be there even much earlier and I am guessing that there might even be sleep-outs.
To watch one blockbuster after another in quick succession with often the actual leads performing in full costume is exciting and very emotional.
Take water with you and sun cream.There are food stalls inside Trafalgar Square.You have to stand up,but there were some sponsors areas with covered seating.Last year I did the Saturday and left at about two to rush over to the Dominion to see ‘Bat..’
A lot depends on the running order but last year I got lucky with a lot of my faves including Jamie,Kinky Boots,Wicked,Les Mis etc.
Programmes were free last year and beautifully produced.
Got to speak to a lot of MT fans last year and the atmosphere was electric.Ruthie H was MCing and got the crowd stoked!
Well worth getting down there if you can.
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Post by ncbears on May 25, 2019 15:17:38 GMT
So, I'm coming from the US to be at Oxford on 23 June - so, it looks like if I come just a day or two early, I'll be able to catch the Saturday West End Live!
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2019 15:25:16 GMT
A lot depends on the running order It doesn't really matter so much on the Saturday - nearly all the big shows will be on before about 1.30pm as they do WEL and then rush off to do their matinees! It's got far too big for my liking over the years - it was fun a few years ago but now the queues are utterly ridiculous unless you get there stupidly early, and the presenters seem to get worse each year! I won't be bothering this year - the performances seem to end up on YouTube anyway so it's not worth the hassle. |
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Post by Phantom of London on May 25, 2019 15:45:52 GMT
A lot depends on the running order It doesn't really matter so much on the Saturday - nearly all the big shows will be on before about 1.30pm as they do WEL and then rush off to do their matinees! It's got far too big for my liking over the years - it was fun a few years ago but now the queues are utterly ridiculous unless you get there stupidly early, and the presenters seem to get worse each year! I won't be bothering this year - the performances seem to end up on YouTube anyway so it's not worth the hassle. I agree and I also think it’s a poor showcase to sell shows. Being outside I find the sound quality does not serve the songs very well, as it does in a theatre. |
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Post by anthony40 on May 25, 2019 17:14:57 GMT
I have been every year but one and of course I'll be there this tear too however experience tells me, Saturday is always the better day of the two and go home by 2. All the best are done by then and when the matinees start, the rest is just filler.
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Post by Dawnstar on May 25, 2019 17:18:37 GMT
It's got far too big for my liking over the years - it was fun a few years ago but now the queues are utterly ridiculous unless you get there stupidly early, and the presenters seem to get worse each year! I won't be bothering this year - the performances seem to end up on YouTube anyway so it's not worth the hassle. I agree. I first went to it when it was still in Leicester Square & went a couple of times when it moved to Trafalgar Square but then gave up. I don't like either huge crowds or standing around in full sunshine. I'd rather pay to see any shows I want to see in their theatres. (Before I get the inevitable "so why look at this thread then" comments, I'm bored killing time between shows!) |
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Post by alece10 on May 25, 2019 17:42:15 GMT
I've been going for years and it's a great day out. But it outgrew Leicester Square and now its outgrowing Trafalger Square. But it's the obvious location as it's in the middle of theatre land and if you go on a Saturday you can just pop off to see a show around the corner.
I have had to stop going unfortunately as I just cant stand for long. Used to be lucky as got invites to the seated sponsored area but last year they didn't have it so its the first time I've missed it.
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