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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2020 19:19:32 GMT
I could actually imagine Six running in the small Lowry theatre for an open season.
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Post by Phantom of London on Dec 28, 2020 19:38:57 GMT
Thing is with Manchester it does have 3 theatres, however all the big shows end up in the Palace, the ones that can’t get the Palace end up in the Opera House. The Lowry seems to struggle to get shows. I would have thought Manchester scene would be much brisker, as it is our second biggest city. It is also very accessible from other cities such as Leeds, Sheffield and Liverpool. So no big deal to go for a night out in other cities. Where in London you are pretty much trapped in London and it is very hard to go to other cities..
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Post by Phantom of London on Dec 28, 2020 19:39:31 GMT
Bat Out of Hell and Ghost both tried out in Manchester.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2020 19:44:52 GMT
@dom I'm guessing out of the current crop Hamilton could maybe have a sit down run. This thread does make me question where is the next Phantom, Les Miz, Wicked etc? I also wonder this! In fact 30 years on lol, I think Phantom or Les Mis would STILL have the best chance of an open ended Manchester run. Wicked would be the next most likely contender. I honestly can't see Hamilton having traction outside of London, but I could be wrong. Before Covid I would have said Hamilton would easily have traction outside London, but most people who wanted to see it will now have done so on Disney + I would have thought the Lion King could still potentially make enough money in a sit down production in Manchester - it is pretty much timeless. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2020 20:01:32 GMT
I guess the thing about the sit down productions in Manchester in the 90s, was that they were huge physical productions so there was an economical reason to make that investment and claw it back over the longer term. It also enabled the 'mega musicals' to be seen in the North. To mount them elsewhere they kind of had to be sit down.
It isn't really the case now and most of the recent West End musicals could tour easily with exactly the same set (Six, Jamie, Evan, Waitress, Come From Away).
Certainly there is nothing that would require the removal of a wall like the barricades getting in to the Edinburgh Playhouse.
For that reason I guess it's unlikely to be something we'll see again. Although on this basis Lion King and Wicked would be the front runners. Though both already been seen on tour there.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Dec 28, 2020 20:05:32 GMT
Thing is with Manchester it does have 3 theatres, however all the big shows end up in the Palace, the ones that can’t get the Palace end up in the Opera House. The Lowry seems to struggle to get shows. I would have thought Manchester scene would be much brisker, as it is our second biggest city. It is also very accessible from other cities such as Leeds, Sheffield and Liverpool. So no big deal to go for a night out in other cities. Where in London you are pretty much trapped in London and it is very hard to go to other cities.. The main stage at the lowry is committed to regular performances from Opera North and Northern Ballet. Donkeys ago when I lived in Brum I remember the tour of Les Miz coming in and Welsh National Opera was kicked out of the Hippodrome. Back then they performed for three weeks of the year but because of Les Miz it was only two that year |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2020 20:07:28 GMT
Thing is with Manchester it does have 3 theatres, however all the big shows end up in the Palace, the ones that can’t get the Palace end up in the Opera House. The Lowry seems to struggle to get shows. I would have thought Manchester scene would be much brisker, as it is our second biggest city. It is also very accessible from other cities such as Leeds, Sheffield and Liverpool. So no big deal to go for a night out in other cities. Where in London you are pretty much trapped in London and it is very hard to go to other cities.. Is the Palace more desirable than The Opera House in terms of location or stage/technical facilities? Was amazed when found out they have much the same seating capacity as the Palace feels so vast. |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Dec 28, 2020 20:17:38 GMT
Does anyone remember David Cameron's, genius plan of 'levelling up' the North by making the Royal Opera perform at the Palace Theatre for a season each year? It may have made a s*it down tour of I can't sing quite difficult... I can't remember what happened to the plan!
From my Manchester days I much preferred the Opera House.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2020 21:02:33 GMT
Thing is with Manchester it does have 3 theatres, however all the big shows end up in the Palace, the ones that can’t get the Palace end up in the Opera House. The Lowry seems to struggle to get shows. I would have thought Manchester scene would be much brisker, as it is our second biggest city. It is also very accessible from other cities such as Leeds, Sheffield and Liverpool. So no big deal to go for a night out in other cities. Where in London you are pretty much trapped in London and it is very hard to go to other cities.. Is the Palace more desirable than The Opera House in terms of location or stage/technical facilities? Was amazed when found out they have much the same seating capacity as the Palace feels so vast. From what I can tell, the Palace stage is bigger than the Opera’s, so therefore it’s better equipped for big productions such as Wicked, Lion, Phantom. And also there are a hundred or so more seats, which I guess producers may enjoy as they can really cram people in. |
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Post by david on Dec 28, 2020 21:03:51 GMT
I'm another fan of the Manc Opera House. For me it just has that more intimate feel that the Palace doesn't.
I am glad that producers are using cities like Manchester more for previewing shows rather than just going straight to the WE. It hopefully gives opportunities to people to see these shows who may not be able to get to London.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2020 21:24:20 GMT
I’ve only been to the Palace and I wasn’t a fan, found the FOH very claustrophobic and legroom too tight. Can’t speak for the other Manc theatres but the Lowry looks lovely.
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Post by danb on Dec 28, 2020 21:33:48 GMT
The Opera House looks and feels more like an opera house, hence it being Phantoms obvious second home. The Palace isn’t very comfortable but is much better located right opposite the station. The Opera House less so and much further down the road...
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Post by sph on Dec 28, 2020 21:39:58 GMT
I doubt Cats was to be open-ended in Blackpool - it's a tourist town and is very quiet during the winter, a show wouldn't survive past the summer/illuminations season. It's virtually empty from November to April. Other musicals have done long summer seasons there too. Mamma Mia did a few years back I think.
There have been a few sit-downs outside the UK within Europe. Germany is known for them but apparently in Spain, Madrid has had a production of The Lion King running since 2011!
I guess UK sit-downs are rare because London is technically quite accessible for most of the country. I could imagine Harry Potter doing an open-ended Manchester run, but everything else will just tour with a few elongated summer/christmas stops.
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Post by Phantom of London on Dec 28, 2020 21:57:43 GMT
Is the Palace more desirable than The Opera House in terms of location or stage/technical facilities? Was amazed when found out they have much the same seating capacity as the Palace feels so vast. From what I can tell, the Palace stage is bigger than the Opera’s, so therefore it’s better equipped for big productions such as Wicked, Lion, Phantom. And also there are a hundred or so more seats, which I guess producers may enjoy as they can really cram people in. The Palace has 35 extra seats. I actually prefer the Lowry, over the Palace and Opera House. |
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Post by Phantom of London on Dec 28, 2020 22:02:08 GMT
Toronto used to be massive for sit downslope until 9/11 changed everything.
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Post by Phantom of London on Dec 28, 2020 22:52:58 GMT
Put the above in English.
Toronto used to be a massive sit down city, until 9/11 changed everything.
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Post by JJShaw on Dec 28, 2020 23:27:09 GMT
Put the above in English. Toronto used to be a massive sit down city, until 9/11 changed everything. Very interested as to why you think that, would love to know more please! Also am I wrong in thinking Book of Mormon was trying to have a sit down in Manchester or again was it an extended stay before kicking off the tour? |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2020 23:49:33 GMT
From what I can tell, the Palace stage is bigger than the Opera’s, so therefore it’s better equipped for big productions such as Wicked, Lion, Phantom. And also there are a hundred or so more seats, which I guess producers may enjoy as they can really cram people in. The Palace has 35 extra seats. I actually prefer the Lowry, over the Palace and Opera House. Really? Only that many more? It’s been a while since I looked. |
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Post by Phantom of London on Dec 29, 2020 0:56:21 GMT
Put the above in English. Toronto used to be a massive sit down city, until 9/11 changed everything. Very interested as to why you think that, would love to know more please! Also am I wrong in thinking Book of Mormon was trying to have a sit down in Manchester or again was it an extended stay before kicking off the tour? Glad to fill you in then. Americans used to go to Toronto, as in some cases it was closer and cheaper than New York. Toronto being close to the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio. So Americans went for a cheaper weekend in Toronto instead of New York. Americans didn’t need a passport to enter Canada, but 9/11 changed that and now a passport is required as well as an ESTA. Toronto lost it big shows and also some of its theatres, it now resembles, how this for irony as we have been talking about it and that is Manchester, with having just 3 big theatres.It also didn’t help having a big impresario who was corrupt, who embezzled money and ended up doing a stretch. Glad to see Toronto making a comeback with audiences flocking to see The homegrown Come From Away. That is why Phantom run so long there, with Colm Wilkinson. |
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Post by undeuxtrois on Dec 29, 2020 1:21:19 GMT
I'm another fan of the Manc Opera House. For me it just has that more intimate feel that the Palace doesn't. I am glad that producers are using cities like Manchester more for previewing shows rather than just going straight to the WE. It hopefully gives opportunities to people to see these shows who may not be able to get to London.
My only issue with the Opera House is the poor rake in the stalls. I sat in (I think) row M for The King And I, and even then I was having to peer my head round those in front at times. Other than that I prefer it to the Palace despite it being further away from Deansgate station which I use when going to the Opera House.
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Post by Phantom of London on Dec 29, 2020 1:21:39 GMT
Thing is with Manchester it does have 3 theatres, however all the big shows end up in the Palace, the ones that can’t get the Palace end up in the Opera House. The Lowry seems to struggle to get shows. I would have thought Manchester scene would be much brisker, as it is our second biggest city. It is also very accessible from other cities such as Leeds, Sheffield and Liverpool. So no big deal to go for a night out in other cities. Where in London you are pretty much trapped in London and it is very hard to go to other cities.. The main stage at the lowry is committed to regular performances from Opera North and Northern Ballet. Donkeys ago when I lived in Brum I remember the tour of Les Miz coming in and Welsh National Opera was kicked out of the Hippodrome. Back then they performed for three weeks of the year but because of Les Miz it was only two that year Opera North also play Leeds (where it’s based), Nottingham and Newcastle as part of their season. Northern Ballet also tour. This leaves big holes in the Lowry schedule. I know when I am in Manchester and want to see something else, it is hard to find something appealing in the Lowry, it is very hit and miss there. The Lowry also did/does a big Christmas musical, recently it did The Girls, Dr Doolittle, Elf and White Christmas. The Palace also do a big Christmas musical. Where the Opera House always does a pantomime. |
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Post by sarissima on Dec 29, 2020 11:36:25 GMT
I doubt Cats was to be open-ended in Blackpool - it's a tourist town and is very quiet during the winter, a show wouldn't survive past the summer/illuminations season. It's virtually empty from November to April. Other musicals have done long summer seasons there too. Mamma Mia did a few years back I think. There have been a few sit-downs outside the UK within Europe. Germany is known for them but apparently in Spain, Madrid has had a production of The Lion King running since 2011! I guess UK sit-downs are rare because London is technically quite accessible for most of the country. I could imagine Harry Potter doing an open-ended Manchester run, but everything else will just tour with a few elongated summer/christmas stops. Yes; they're quite common in Spain. Mamma Mia ran for three years in Madrid, then moved to Barcelona where it ran for about 18 months. It's always the same production, they never have two companies of the same show running simultaneously. |
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Post by SuttonPeron on Dec 29, 2020 12:20:45 GMT
You forgot to say that MM! then toured Spain for two years, until 2011, including a short stint in Madrid; and then came back in 2015, and toured again for 3 seasons.
Spain isn’t really the best example though. Shows here are done exclusively because of profit. Producers no longer want to bring new shows except if they’re their own productions. That’s the reason Lion King has been running for so long. A touring production in a sit-down house, with a very cheap orchestra and prices that are extremely expensive for our country. People think it’s a Broadway replica and they pay, when literally the UK Tour is bigger.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 29, 2020 20:18:09 GMT
Thing is with Manchester it does have 3 theatres, however all the big shows end up in the Palace, the ones that can’t get the Palace end up in the Opera House. The Lowry seems to struggle to get shows. I would have thought Manchester scene would be much brisker, as it is our second biggest city. It is also very accessible from other cities such as Leeds, Sheffield and Liverpool. So no big deal to go for a night out in other cities. Where in London you are pretty much trapped in London and it is very hard to go to other cities.. Lol. Not really! If you think people in the North are doing that “for a night out” you are very much mistaken. Some are, yes. Most are not. |
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Post by Phantom of London on Dec 29, 2020 20:35:23 GMT
I agree some do and they’re all buying tickets? If a 100 - 200 come from outside Manchester, this is helpful production wise. I imagine something like Wicked at the Palace would attract a small percentage of an audience from nearby cities, because Manchester is very accessible transport wise, where for me who lives in London, on the Kent borders would take 70 minutes to get to London Euston.
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