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Post by emicardiff on May 22, 2016 15:19:54 GMT
I mean I know I'm antisocial but I always remember a friend of mine saying that they prefered going alone to certain shows as if they were worried their companion wouldn't like it then they were distracted. Now for some shows I love company, but others I 100% agree I'd rather be only 'worried' about my own opinon!
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Post by peggs on May 22, 2016 15:22:26 GMT
I mean I know I'm antisocial but I always remember a friend of mine saying that they prefered going alone to certain shows as if they were worried their companion wouldn't like it then they were distracted. Now for some shows I love company, but others I 100% agree I'd rather be only 'worried' about my own opinon! Yes unless it's a seasoned theatre goer who is happily taking the risk I never quite relax with someone else there in case they don't enjoy it, or worse they don't enjoy it, I love it and then they want to tell me why it was so bad.
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Post by Snciole on May 22, 2016 15:23:28 GMT
I go mostly alone and have told my current fancy piece that I will not invite him to everything I see. Going with a friend puts a lot of pressure to make it a good night. It doesn't affect my enjoyment, it is a relief when I see something awful and I haven't dragged someone else along. At least I can leave at the interval.
If Shenton is so insecure he struggles to do his job without a companion by his side he is in the wrong job. His enjoyment of the night is irrelevant. He is there to do the job he is being paid to do, not entertain his companions.
For majority of us bloggers that ticket is our payment, if we are really lucky we get a programme too, but to suggest it influences how he will review a show stinks of blackmail of theatres, who still rely on a voice like Shenton's to sell tickets.
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Post by emicardiff on May 22, 2016 15:31:32 GMT
I mean I know I'm antisocial but I always remember a friend of mine saying that they prefered going alone to certain shows as if they were worried their companion wouldn't like it then they were distracted. Now for some shows I love company, but others I 100% agree I'd rather be only 'worried' about my own opinon! Yes unless it's a seasoned theatre goer who is happily taking the risk I never quite relax with someone else there in case they don't enjoy it, or worse they don't enjoy it, I love it and then they want to tell me why it was so bad. Exactly! I have a very small group of friends I can trust to take to the theatre and have a healthy debate with and still be friends and not worry that they now hate me for poor taste!
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Post by PalelyLaura on May 22, 2016 16:10:39 GMT
I also get nervous when taking friends to shows (with good reason - one of them was that dire Trevor Nunn Tempest at the Haymarket). I don't see theatre as a social activity - although judging by the frequent bad behaviour we all see, plenty of people do. It's a *shared* activity but that's not quite the same thing.
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Post by Baemax on May 22, 2016 18:33:20 GMT
I'd go to the theatre with any of you, you all sound very smart, and as we're all seasoned theatre-goers, we wouldn't need to worry about each other.
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Post by DuchessConstance on May 22, 2016 18:56:40 GMT
Gosh Shenton is being such a Tw*t about this
I have quite a bit of second hand embarrassment for the New Wolsey popping their heads into the debate to say "we'll give you two tickets if you'll come to Ipswich!" and being roundly ignored by everyone.
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Post by peggs on May 22, 2016 19:45:02 GMT
I'd go to the theatre with any of you, you all sound very smart, and as we're all seasoned theatre-goers, we wouldn't need to worry about each other. now we just have to get our schedules to coincide and we'll have those pesky single seat websites sussed as well.
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Post by partytentdown on May 22, 2016 19:55:31 GMT
Gosh Shenton is being such a Tw*t about this I have quite a bit of second hand embarrassment for the New Wolsey popping their heads into the debate to say "we'll give you two tickets if you'll come to Ipswich!" and being roundly ignored by everyone. Hilariously within the last week he's been boasting about his fancy holiday to San Francisco, travelling in first class - as a change to his regular trips to NYC where he owns a house. So, yeah, come on Mark, twenty quid once every 3 months?
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Post by Snciole on May 22, 2016 19:59:27 GMT
Gosh Shenton is being such a Tw*t about this I have quite a bit of second hand embarrassment for the New Wolsey popping their heads into the debate to say "we'll give you two tickets if you'll come to Ipswich!" and being roundly ignored by everyone. Oh the shame up Shenton would only screech about how he is too poverty stricken for the Megabus to Ipswich.
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Post by Phantom of London on May 22, 2016 23:51:01 GMT
I bet my next free ticket at the National that this rule would never apply to Michael Billington.
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2016 5:31:39 GMT
I mean I know I'm antisocial but I always remember a friend of mine saying that they prefered going alone to certain shows as if they were worried their companion wouldn't like it then they were distracted. Now for some shows I love company, but others I 100% agree I'd rather be only 'worried' about my own opinon! Yes, I'm with you on this. I spent many of my younger years going to the theatre solo so don't have a problem with this. I am lucky enough to have theatre going friends and husband now, but there are still things I choose to see on my own. Nice to have company to discuss the play with but not necessary all the time. I'd rather go alone than be uneasy about the person I am with disliking the event.
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Post by Latecomer on May 23, 2016 6:46:56 GMT
I have to think that we are all somewhat missing the point here.....if Rufus has to ban +1s for critics it seems like penny pinching cost cutting. It is rather like a large company cutting back on the biscuit fund when times are hard. In the grand scheme of things it will make no difference at all to the profit the NT makes....he needs to have shows that sell out and are popular! Simple.
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Post by Baemax on May 23, 2016 8:37:53 GMT
I definitely mentioned penny-pinching earlier in the thread. What with doing away with Sunday performances, closing War Horse, sending out emails asking for donations for drum-revolve upkeep, and now this, there's clearly some financial issues going down that we're only getting the tiniest glimpses of. And, frankly, that we're seeing as much of them as we are is something of a concern in itself.
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Post by Jon on May 23, 2016 8:53:59 GMT
I definitely mentioned penny-pinching earlier in the thread. What with doing away with Sunday performances, closing War Horse, sending out emails asking for donations for drum-revolve upkeep, and now this, there's clearly some financial issues going down that we're only getting the tiniest glimpses of. And, frankly, that we're seeing as much of them as we are is something of a concern in itself. War Horse closing isn't penny pinching, it closed because sales had fallen and rather than keep it going and potentially lose money, they decided to close it. its clear transfers have helped the National in the last decade and thankfully Curious Incident is doing well as is People Places and Things
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Post by Baemax on May 23, 2016 9:03:50 GMT
It's still a visible reflection of a financial situation. There was a time when War Horse brought in a lot of money, then we entered a time when War Horse was not making enough money to be worth its continued presence. Curious Incident is a positive sign, and PPT is good in that it has had a successful West End transfer, but not too auspicious as it will come to the end of its limited run and that will be the end of it (pending possible New York transfer, I suppose).
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Post by emicardiff on May 23, 2016 9:10:19 GMT
War Horse is a good money maker when it's selling but a quick money loser when it's not-big cast, puppet maintenance etc
Curious is still doing good business though, and is probably less costly to run once up?
PPT would have to be a short NY transfer (when does it close here anyway?) if Gough is going as she's in Angels in America next spring...doesn't mean it won't transfer but it's not going to be a long runner in either place unless they replace her (which is unlikely I guess?)
Clearly some penny pinching at the NT but reflective of the times we live in I guess. But I'm fond of the old concrete monstrosity so I'll throw them some money for the drum...
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Post by Honoured Guest on May 23, 2016 12:07:56 GMT
I'm afraid I never give a penny to the NT although I might give to the Studio, now New Work Department, if it continues to provide a truly national resource. I get quite depressed by the squillions which the NT raises and squanders on the likes of NT Future. I much prefer to support much smaller scale organisations where every donation has a much bigger benefit.
The need to renew the revolve is entirely foreseeable and should have been funded from reserves which are built up to be used for such purposes. This appeal is simply a cunning way for the NT to attract donations from people who wouldn't otherwise have gifted money to them.
Next year, there'll be an appeal to support Watch This Space and an appeal for a Dorfman festival season of emerging artists and an appeal for extra musicians in the next Olivier musical and so on.
Ideally, the NT needs a much larger amount of regular giving, to help to make all its activities sustainable. Then, these mini-appeals can focus on providing publicity and a sense of investment by the specific scheme givers but won't be crucial to the NT's sustainability.
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Post by Jon on May 23, 2016 12:56:18 GMT
War Horse is a good money maker when it's selling but a quick money loser when it's not-big cast, puppet maintenance etc Curious is still doing good business though, and is probably less costly to run once up? PPT would have to be a short NY transfer (when does it close here anyway?) if Gough is going as she's in Angels in America next spring...doesn't mean it won't transfer but it's not going to be a long runner in either place unless they replace her (which is unlikely I guess?) Clearly some penny pinching at the NT but reflective of the times we live in I guess. But I'm fond of the old concrete monstrosity so I'll throw them some money for the drum... The costs of War Horse are comparable to a musical. When the NT sacked the musicians a few years back, I suspected that sales were slipping. I'm sure Denise could do the transfer for PPT if they transferred it in the Autumn for say 12-14 weeks then do Angels from March or April 2017
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Post by emicardiff on May 23, 2016 13:06:02 GMT
Yup War Horse is a beast to run...pardon the pun. On the topic I was amused to see that 'The Good Wife' did a fun parody of it in season 2 of the show...with a cow instead of a horse!
PPT could certainly do a limited run in NY if there was space-unless of course DG wants to lie down in a darkened room for a few weeks after doing it for so long already!
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2016 15:15:23 GMT
War Horse was the National's Cash Cow. They made money from every single worldwide production. I have no doubt it'd closing as had a financial impact on the NT.
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Post by Jon on May 23, 2016 17:05:22 GMT
War Horse was the National's Cash Cow. They made money from every single worldwide production. I have no doubt it'd closing as had a financial impact on the NT. They will make money from it since its touring next year but I agree that the closing it would have impacted their regular income. Transfers have become more important with cuts in funding and I imagine they'll try and keep Curious Incident open as long as possible
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Post by peggs on May 23, 2016 19:26:02 GMT
I have to think that we are all somewhat missing the point here.....if Rufus has to ban +1s for critics it seems like penny pinching cost cutting. It is rather like a large company cutting back on the biscuit fund when times are hard. In the grand scheme of things it will make no difference at all to the profit the NT makes....he needs to have shows that sell out and are popular! Simple. But we were having such fun criticising the critics or was that just me. If NT is onto penny pinching might explain why the main seem so incensed when I filled up two bottles of free water last time i was in.
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Post by Snciole on May 24, 2016 21:57:03 GMT
Saw Shenton looking delighted at the Arts Theatre tonight with his plus 1 and free wine!
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2016 14:53:08 GMT
Saw Shenton looking delighted at the Arts Theatre tonight with his plus 1 and free wine! I don't think I'd recognise Mark Shenton even if he was in a lineup. To me he just looks like any normal mug. I thank you.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2016 21:41:07 GMT
I just really hope it was a high up decision and not a creative 'hey I'm here and I'm thinking outside the box' idea from the new head of press at the NT. What a start to a new job to see the idea you've presented to demonstrate your innovative vision snowball into such a terrible PR disaster that gets the top boss personally dragged in. Just the idea gives me sympathy palpitations...
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