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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2019 18:11:09 GMT
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Aug 3, 2019 19:06:16 GMT
To complete the traffic updates, Blenheim have sorted the Countryfile traffic. Good behaviour by a venue today getting in or out.
Arrived early, walk round the estate and lunch in town.
Theatre setup was good. Quite a lot of scaffolding but a great concept.
Saw Midsummers Night Dream. A very entertaining afternoon at the theatre with a very acrobatic Puck.
Top marks to the front of house steward in my section. I like to 'self police' phone use but she was eagle eyed and lightning quick. One was the seat in front of me but I saw nothing until she had intervened.
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 13, 2019 13:45:56 GMT
As I was in York yesterday, I swung by. (Does anyone really say swing/swung by?)
I can't comment on the quality of the productions, but the theatre, and especially 'Shakespeare's Village', is all a bit embarrassing. Though in fairness, that part of York has been an embarrassment for years. In the words of an American(?) visitor, "That's supposed to be the Globe?" "No." and "No."
It's quite difficult (and dangerous) to reach, via a busy car park that's full of potholes, and even a short shower led to rivers running through the bark chippings. Goodness knows what happens during prolonged rain. The goldfish's fate worried me the most. Perhaps that's why there only seems to be one?
And the less said about the shop mannequin in the stocks, complete with mop cap, the better!
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Post by rockinrobin on Aug 15, 2019 9:35:23 GMT
Saw Hamlet last night. The weather was truly awful (and so was the overwhelming smell of chips) but much fun was had - there's a lot of humour in this production. It is, at the same time, very... elegant. The costumes are beautiful, the music is also great. And in my humble opinion David Oakes has the most impressive thighs in the history of theatre.
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Post by demelza on Aug 16, 2019 21:00:03 GMT
I was also at Wednesday's performance of Hamlet (sadly in seats and not in the groundlings as my mum really didn't fancy standing for three hours) and absolutely loved it! It was my fourth production of Hamlet, having previously seen the RSC prod with Paapa Essiedu, the Almeida prod with Andrew Scott and the Kenneth Branagh/Tom Hiddleston vanity project at RADA (the less said about that last one, the better) and I think that this one might have pipped the Almeida to being my favourite - and that's not just my preference for David Oakes speaking! I loved that this was more traditionally staged, and as others have said, the costume design is brilliant. I won't be forgetting the Ghost of Old Hamlet in his shroud for a while! I may be very bias, but I thought that David Oakes was an incredible Hamlet, and walked that fine line between hamming up Hamlet's pretence of madness too much and just the right amount. I also really enjoyed Richard Standing's turn as Claudius, a role that I have previously found to be quite dull. Shoutouts also go out to Serena Manteghi as Ophelia and Anthony Bunsee as Player King. If York wasn't so far away from where I live I would definitely consider making a return visit to see Hamlet again, and try to fit in the other plays as well as I didn't get the chance.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2019 12:52:15 GMT
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Post by lou105 on Sept 25, 2019 17:23:20 GMT
It's been announced that the company behind Shakespeare's Rose Theatre (both venues) has gone into liquidation. They cite unsustainable losses due to current economic uncertainty. Visitor numbers in York fell from 78000 last year to 47000 this year. Blenheim attracted 38000 rather than the expected 75000.
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Post by irisjeregenboog on Sept 25, 2019 17:27:15 GMT
That is unfortunate! I was hoping to be able to visit next year, because it seems like such a cool concept!
Maybe they misjudged the visitor numbers by having two events simultaneously?
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Post by NeilVHughes on Sept 25, 2019 17:33:47 GMT
Sad to hear, enjoyed my time on York over the last two years.
The times I visited they were far from sold out but this was early on whilst the schools were still open so not sure how popular they were over the main holiday period.
Was interested in visiting Blenheim but the logistics didn’t work and wonder whether this broke the bank and wonder how many made the trip to Blenheim.
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Post by lou105 on Sept 25, 2019 17:59:52 GMT
I had a quick scan of comments on a Facebook page, and most locals are saying that the seated tickets were just too expensive to tempt them. Even as a regular theatre goer who sees a couple of Shakespeares most years, I baulked at paying £50 and more for yet another Macbeth/Twelfth Night.
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Post by learfan on Sept 25, 2019 18:53:14 GMT
That is unfortunate! I was hoping to be able to visit next year, because it seems like such a cool concept! Maybe they misjudged the visitor numbers by having two events simultaneously? Me too, i was awaiting their 2020 announcement. Personally i think Blenheim was a mistake and thought so at the time. Shame. |
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Post by learfan on Sept 25, 2019 18:53:57 GMT
I had a quick scan of comments on a Facebook page, and most locals are saying that the seated tickets were just too expensive to tempt them. Even as a regular theatre goer who sees a couple of Shakespeares most years, I baulked at paying £50 and more for yet another Macbeth/Twelfth Night. plus the travel and probable overnight stay |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2019 6:36:53 GMT
Wasn't something that appealed to me but sorry to hear this - hope the cast, crew and other workers don't lose out financially. The producers' statement blames economic uncertainty around Brexit which feels like nonsense to me - I imagine the state of the pound means a lot more overseas tourists who could form a good audience for this.
Interestingly Countryfile has announced they are not returning to Blenheim due to (I think) costs and reduced visitor numbers. Wonder if the rent at Blenheim is significantly more than York?
Regarding reduced visitor numbers in York - presumably in addition to tourists you need to attract a returning local audience, which it would appear they didn't manage to do.
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