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Post by theatremad on Mar 25, 2020 9:54:22 GMT
In an interview with The Stage, the technical director of the RSC states the Swan will be upgraded next year. No further information but may mean a closure, possibly after Richard III has run I guess
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Post by lynette on Mar 25, 2020 12:09:05 GMT
Upgraded? Does that mean a refurb? Or a completely different layout? Interesting. I like The Swan as it is on the whole though I do find the seating a bit ‘close’ and some seats give you much more leg room than others. So I try to go for these of course! One thing : I always think they need to use the opposite exit at the end of a show because the one exit gets very slow.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Mar 25, 2020 15:10:58 GMT
They better not ruin the atmosphere of my favourite theatre space.
It is such a special place that whilst there are some infelicities in terms of speed of egress, it is a wonderful intimate space that already offers a lot of flexibility.
Why do people keep messing with things?
The RSC has far more pressing issues. Like finding an AD eho is worthy of the job.
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Post by fossil on Mar 25, 2020 16:55:34 GMT
The current design works so well for the audience. Unless anything in the Swan is reaching the end of its life the only improvement I would like to see is a slightly better rake for the seating?
It would be cynical to suggest that this could be just one of those unnecessary projects that allow those at the top to go to lots of meetings, make big decisions, and feel very important. So I had better not.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2020 18:11:34 GMT
Some of the upstairs seats are really not good for fat people. Really really not good.
But apart from that, please don't touch the Swan!
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Post by David J on Mar 25, 2020 20:54:52 GMT
The comfort of the seats could do with an upgrade. Me and my mum tried the £16 high seats at the sides last year. I’ve sat in those in upper gallery but had the benefit of leaning forward to see the action
Instead I’m sitting normally in that seat and could feel the front end is raised slightly so it digs into your thigh towards the leg joint. Slightly discomforting for me but it was worse for my mum who had to stand before the first act ended and asked to be moved in the interval
Otherwise I don’t know what needs improving in that theatre. Like others have said it’s almost perfect. Maybe it’s something to do with backstage, but you’d think that was addressed in the transformation project. Maybe the rehearsal space in the loft above the theatre is involved?
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Post by Jan on Mar 26, 2020 10:11:02 GMT
I don't like the Swan at all and never have since it first opened, hardly any seat in the entire theatre faces the centre of the stage.
They would be very foolish to spend any money at all on a non-essential upgrade in the current climate of theatre closures, and by essential I mean health & safety issues only - it would be all to easy for the press to compare the money being spent with those theatres who have had to close due to bankruptcy for the same money.
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Post by Boob on Mar 26, 2020 13:11:32 GMT
Given the interview was with the technical director, one would assume the changes are not cosmetic and more about the technical capabilities of the space? Things we won’t necessarily notice but which will make a difference for crew and creatives.
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Post by moelhywel on Mar 26, 2020 14:17:42 GMT
If you look at the seating plan for The Wars of the Roses in the autumn it is radically different.
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Post by lynette on Mar 26, 2020 14:19:48 GMT
I don't like the Swan at all and never have since it first opened, hardly any seat in the entire theatre faces the centre of the stage. They would be very foolish to spend any money at all on a non-essential upgrade in the current climate of theatre closures, and by essential I mean health & safety issues only - it would be all to easy for the press to compare the money being spent with those theatres who have had to close due to bankruptcy for the same money. Why would you want to see the centre of the stage? More often than not there is an actor facing the back when stood there and another one standing in the corner hiding the one in the middle. Sides are good. |
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Post by Jan on Mar 26, 2020 21:30:23 GMT
I don't like the Swan at all and never have since it first opened, hardly any seat in the entire theatre faces the centre of the stage. They would be very foolish to spend any money at all on a non-essential upgrade in the current climate of theatre closures, and by essential I mean health & safety issues only - it would be all to easy for the press to compare the money being spent with those theatres who have had to close due to bankruptcy for the same money. Why would you want to see the centre of the stage?. So you don’t sit the entire evening with your head turned permanently sideways. Some of the front stalls seats are angled so if you look straight ahead you barely see the stage at all, just a corner, very poor design - in general the focus of all the seats should be the centre of the stage if possible. |
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Post by showgirl on Mar 27, 2020 5:27:11 GMT
I love the Swan and was apprehensive about revisiting the main house for the first time in c 40 years (since a school visit to see a Shakespeare) for The Boy In A Dress. In the event it was fine but I still prefer the intimacy and closeness of the Swan (depending on where you sit - I've always chosen the affordable end front stalls). I find it bizarre that from the outside, the Swan looks more like a grand church than a theatre and have no idea why this is but am sure I could find out if I bothered to look online for info.
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Post by Jan on Mar 27, 2020 7:39:04 GMT
I've seen 35 productions in the Swan, I've always liked their programming but not the venue. I'm aware this is a minority opinion. Things that other people love - the light wood they used for the construction for example - I hate, it draws attention to the audience, sitting at the side of the stage you spend the whole evening staring at the audience members opposite you shuffling and coughing and rummaging in their bags.
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