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Post by danb on Jan 4, 2022 16:12:39 GMT
It’s possibly a good time to get into London to see something, as long as you’re flexible about what you want to see? Only if you're also prepared to risk getting covid and/or getting stuck in London due to the many train cancellations currently happening! You can mitigate against most of that by wearing a mask, washing your hands and driving. “A life lived in fear is a life half lived”.
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Post by firefingers on Jan 4, 2022 16:28:23 GMT
I think part of the problem is the collapse of international tourism. Pretty much every person in the South East of England who might want to see Les Mis or Phantom has plenty of opertunity, so why go now? Particularly if you've caught the news that both those examples are now stripped back productions.
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3,927 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Jan 4, 2022 17:53:04 GMT
You can mitigate against most of that by wearing a mask, washing your hands and driving. “A life lived in fear is a life half lived”. I don't own a car. The train is my only realistic option for London theatregoing. I'm not impressed by the number of late night trains Thameslink seems to be cancelling in the near future.
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Post by craig on Jan 4, 2022 18:22:17 GMT
We had a train cancelled on us last time we were in London for the evening. No biggie. We just got a burger and waited for the next one!
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4,458 posts
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Post by poster J on Jan 4, 2022 18:35:35 GMT
Only if you're also prepared to risk getting covid and/or getting stuck in London due to the many train cancellations currently happening! You can mitigate against most of that by wearing a mask, washing your hands and driving. “A life lived in fear is a life half lived”. That's a bit unfair - not everyone drives or can afford a car. And many people are constrained by last train times as not all train lines run all night.
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6,337 posts
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Post by danb on Jan 4, 2022 18:41:35 GMT
I didn’t say it was fair. I realise that we are all in different situations with different levels of risk. This is how I have got around it.
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4,562 posts
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Post by Mark on Jan 4, 2022 23:20:56 GMT
Arrived at Southwark Playhouse just after 3pm to find the 3:30 matinee of Gatsby cancelled. Not the venues fault but it is frustrating to find out only 25 minutes before the performance that it isn't going ahead. But hey ho, we went along to the Tate for a look around before an extended dinner and wine before our evening show of Bring it On tonight.
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Jan 5, 2022 0:09:02 GMT
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Post by robertb213 on Jan 5, 2022 0:29:30 GMT
Thank you, I'll keep an eye out for it!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 5, 2022 16:21:56 GMT
Still struggling with the concept of rolling up to the theatre at 6pm for a 7.30 show as ATG ask me to do for School of Rock this week. What the actual you-know-what do they expect me to do for 90 minutes? Even if the auditorium was open, which it won’t be until 7.15, I’m still not prepared to do this because I see no rhyme or reason for it. In fact I think it’s dangerous. If this is about forcing people into the bars it is a dreadfully cynical move by ATG or any theatre doing this. The Palace has some reasonably sized public areas, certainly bigger than some theatres but equally nowhere near big enough to accommodate this policy safely. I’ll turn up about 7.15, join a queue in the fresh air outside and be in my seat for 7.25 as has been the case for years.
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2,347 posts
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Post by zahidf on Jan 5, 2022 16:56:20 GMT
Still struggling with the concept of rolling up to the theatre at 6pm for a 7.30 show as ATG ask me to do for School of Rock this week. What the actual you-know-what do they expect me to do for 90 minutes? Even if the auditorium was open, which it won’t be until 7.15, I’m still not prepared to do this because I see no rhyme or reason for it. In fact I think it’s dangerous. If this is about forcing people into the bars it is a dreadfully cynical move by ATG or any theatre doing this. The Palace has some reasonably sized public areas, certainly bigger than some theatres but equally nowhere near big enough to accommodate this policy safely. I’ll turn up about 7.15, join a queue in the fresh air outside and be in my seat for 7.25 as has been the case for years. They've never enforced the 'get to the theatre at this time' type of thing at all the things I've been too for the last year or so. I just rock up 15 mins before doors and they waved me in.
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518 posts
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Post by ruby on Jan 5, 2022 16:59:16 GMT
Still struggling with the concept of rolling up to the theatre at 6pm for a 7.30 show as ATG ask me to do for School of Rock this week. What the actual you-know-what do they expect me to do for 90 minutes? Even if the auditorium was open, which it won’t be until 7.15, I’m still not prepared to do this because I see no rhyme or reason for it. In fact I think it’s dangerous. If this is about forcing people into the bars it is a dreadfully cynical move by ATG or any theatre doing this. The Palace has some reasonably sized public areas, certainly bigger than some theatres but equally nowhere near big enough to accommodate this policy safely. I’ll turn up about 7.15, join a queue in the fresh air outside and be in my seat for 7.25 as has been the case for years. I agree. As far as I'm aware, ATG haven't enforced the arrival times at any theatres I've been to (Bristol Hippodrome and Savoy). I was given 6pm for Pretty Woman at the Savoy and turned up just after 7 with no issues.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 5, 2022 17:01:57 GMT
I know they’re not enforcing it, because they can’t. But some people will comply (there’s evidence of that here on this forum) and I think it’s wrong to even ask people to do this.
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Post by talkingheads on Jan 5, 2022 18:05:07 GMT
I know they’re not enforcing it, because they can’t. But some people will comply (there’s evidence of that here on this forum) and I think it’s wrong to even ask people to do this. Isn't it so that the entire audience doesn't do what you do thus staff having to check a few hundred Covid passes ten minutes before curtain up?
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 5, 2022 18:14:34 GMT
I know they’re not enforcing it, because they can’t. But some people will comply (there’s evidence of that here on this forum) and I think it’s wrong to even ask people to do this. Isn't it so that the entire audience doesn't do what you do thus staff having to check a few hundred Covid passes ten minutes before curtain up? Might be, but they’ve been doing bag searches on the queue for some years now and it’s a different person who looks at the bag, looks at the covid pass etc. really, the amount of attention given to covid passes us nominal. You show your phone, they look at it and wave you through. And anyway, even if that was a reason and it was causing delays is that more important that herding people into small spaces?
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Post by Phantom of London on Jan 5, 2022 21:11:12 GMT
It is a cynical policy to sell more drinks, shame on them. I would say hanging round a bar drinking unmasked and you are more than certain to get Covid. I would be more than happy to turn up at 6:50 and that would be the Caffe Nero a few doors down, where I can sit down in comfort with a nice cappuccino and feel more safer and turn up at the theatre 30 minutes later.
On a side note - bar sales do matter for ATG, I was in one of their venues in Manchester and after a prolonged interval, I saw the FOH manager check the bar before giving the go ahead for act 2.
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Post by talkingheads on Jan 5, 2022 22:48:10 GMT
It is a cynical policy to sell more drinks, shame on them. I would say hanging round a bar drinking unmasked and you are more than certain to get Covid. I would be more than happy to turn up at 6:50 and that would be the Caffe Nero a few doors down, where I can sit down in comfort with a nice cappuccino and feel more safer and turn up at the theatre 30 minutes later. On a side note - bar sales do matter for ATG, I was in one of their venues in Manchester and after a prolonged interval, I saw the FOH manager check the bar before giving the go ahead for act 2. I'm honestly surprised ATG sell any drinks at all at their prices.
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Post by Mark on Jan 6, 2022 0:13:32 GMT
Just following what I’m reading in the Phantom thread rather than going off topic there, I am quite surprised we haven’t had any closure announcements for West End shows (no complaints here!), wheras Broadway has had quite the blood bath with numerous early closures.
If the West End can make it the next few months with some decreased schedules and only Cinderella postponing for a month, then it’s not doing too badly. (Not including POE in this as it had a lengthy final closure announcement).
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Post by Stephen on Jan 6, 2022 0:41:20 GMT
We have just booked ticket to see Cursed Child in NYC in April. We had our pick of pretty much the entire theatre. I worry for many shows with advance sales being so low especially if shows like Harry Potter aren't selling. Don't get me wrong I don't care much about Harry Potter closing but it does mean that smaller excellent plays are unlikely to survive.
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Jan 6, 2022 13:08:06 GMT
We have just booked ticket to see Cursed Child in NYC in April. We had our pick of pretty much the entire theatre. I worry for many shows with advance sales being so low especially if shows like Harry Potter aren't selling. Don't get me wrong I don't care much about Harry Potter closing but it does mean that smaller excellent plays are unlikely to survive. Still one performance rather than two shows?
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Post by Stephen on Jan 6, 2022 13:21:20 GMT
We have just booked ticket to see Cursed Child in NYC in April. We had our pick of pretty much the entire theatre. I worry for many shows with advance sales being so low especially if shows like Harry Potter aren't selling. Don't get me wrong I don't care much about Harry Potter closing but it does mean that smaller excellent plays are unlikely to survive. Still one performance rather than two shows? Yes it's still one which was our reason for booking there instead of in London where it would take much longer to get through!
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Post by stuart on Jan 6, 2022 14:29:54 GMT
Still struggling with the concept of rolling up to the theatre at 6pm for a 7.30 show as ATG ask me to do for School of Rock this week. What the actual you-know-what do they expect me to do for 90 minutes? Even if the auditorium was open, which it won’t be until 7.15, I’m still not prepared to do this because I see no rhyme or reason for it. In fact I think it’s dangerous. If this is about forcing people into the bars it is a dreadfully cynical move by ATG or any theatre doing this. The Palace has some reasonably sized public areas, certainly bigger than some theatres but equally nowhere near big enough to accommodate this policy safely. I’ll turn up about 7.15, join a queue in the fresh air outside and be in my seat for 7.25 as has been the case for years. I went to see Les Mis in Glasgow and was given a 6:15pm entry for a 7:30pm show. We turned up just after 7pm and walked in. The real kicker? All bars and seating areas were closed due to COVID staff shortages so everyone was ushered straight into the auditorium! Drinks only available via their Ordertorium site (and in cans only!).
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Post by johng on Jan 6, 2022 15:14:42 GMT
Received from CFT yesterday
We are deeply sorry to have to tell you that the production of Two Cigarettes in the Dark will not go ahead as planned this Spring. Unfortunately, due to the uncertainty around Covid-19, the producers feel unable to proceed with their tour, therefore all performances have been cancelled including those at Chichester
Having looked at the miniscule bookings for performances of An Hour and a Half Late (March), Private Lives (April), and The Homecoming (May) at Theatre Royal Brighton I worry that other productions may get cancelled prior to rehearsals starting if producers see no prospects of sales picking up.
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Post by robertb213 on Jan 6, 2022 15:40:18 GMT
I'd heard about Two Cigarettes as I was meant to be reviewing that in March. Also Burn The Floor (Kevin Clifton) was cancelled at the Derngate for this week, as is a Queen Extravaganza tribute tour later in the month, so it definitely feels like regional stuff is struggling.
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Post by david on Jan 6, 2022 16:18:24 GMT
Still struggling with the concept of rolling up to the theatre at 6pm for a 7.30 show as ATG ask me to do for School of Rock this week. What the actual you-know-what do they expect me to do for 90 minutes? Even if the auditorium was open, which it won’t be until 7.15, I’m still not prepared to do this because I see no rhyme or reason for it. In fact I think it’s dangerous. If this is about forcing people into the bars it is a dreadfully cynical move by ATG or any theatre doing this. The Palace has some reasonably sized public areas, certainly bigger than some theatres but equally nowhere near big enough to accommodate this policy safely. I’ll turn up about 7.15, join a queue in the fresh air outside and be in my seat for 7.25 as has been the case for years. 100% this. The times I been given on tickets to arrive at the Liverpool Empire (around 6.30pm for 7.30pm show) are just not practical for me. I’ll leave work around 5-5.20pm and by the time I get into Liverpool it’s around 6pm and once I’ve had my tea it’s around 6.45pm by the time I get to the theatre and do all the bag , COVID pass and ticket checks. I’ve been stuck in the foyer at the Empire for a good 30 minutes before we are allowed to take our seats. With a capacity of 2k in there, there isn’t any social distancing and you are crammed in like sardines. If you want me to arrive early then get those doors open early to stop the crushing of people at the bars and merch stand and to allow the social distancing to happen.
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Post by Mark on Jan 7, 2022 0:35:58 GMT
Heard a rumour that Fat Friends musical tour has been cancelled and looking at booking options for the tour dates, it appears to be true.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 7, 2022 9:55:11 GMT
Heard a rumour that Fat Friends musical tour has been cancelled and looking at booking options for the tour dates, it appears to be true. ATG still has 4 venues on sale, Sheffield Lyceum still on sale too.
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Post by Stephen on Jan 11, 2022 17:44:25 GMT
Not this country but several Broadway shows are running 2 for 1 offers during January and February. Never thought I’d see the day!
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Post by Mark on Jan 11, 2022 17:54:10 GMT
Not this country but several Broadway shows are running 2 for 1 offers during January and February. Never thought I’d see the day! I thought they did this every year for Broadway week?
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Post by Wilf on Jan 11, 2022 18:09:43 GMT
Fat Friends is still on sale at The Grand Wolverhampton!
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