1,485 posts
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Post by mkb on Oct 6, 2021 13:02:54 GMT
The reference to seeing two consecutive shows in the matinées thread made me wonder how far theatre addicts will push it to maintain their fix.
I live in the Midlands, so, when I have a weekend in London, it's common for me to try to fit in a Friday evening show, two on Saturday and one on Sunday. Sometimes, unusual performance times mean I can squeeze in more.
My most extreme trip was a fleeting June 2016 visit to Broadway, arriving on the early flight just after lunch on Friday and fitting in ten shows before flying out again on Monday morning. If that sounds impossible, here's how it was done:
Friday
16:00 - Accomplice New York (outdoor promenade show)
20:00 - Waitress
23:35 - Sleep No More
Saturday
14:00 - The King and I
17:30 - Hello Dillie! (Dillie Keane cabaret)
20:00 - Bright Star
23:15 - Sleep No More (again)
Sunday
15:00 - Fun Home
17:00 - The New York Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes
19:00 - Fuerza Bruta
Getting from Fun Home to the Rockettes was a very fast run and close call as Fun Home was delayed 12 minutes. There had been a complete failure of the sound desk, and the whole show was performed without any amplification. So just voices and non-electric instruments, some of it acapella. It made for quite a unique experience.
Can anyone beat this *madness?
[* - Actually, not mad at all. It was huge fun.]
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4,179 posts
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Post by HereForTheatre on Oct 6, 2021 13:51:30 GMT
I'm struggling to even take the step to book something at the moment. Ive seen how much the lack of theatre during lockdown saved me and now I'm just finding it so hard to get back into the habit of paying out to go see something, especially a london trip. I'm meant to be going next week but every time I go to try a book the weekend I get scared of the cost and put it off. I wouldn't have thought twice before lockdown.
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Post by fiyerorocher on Oct 6, 2021 13:58:53 GMT
I did nine Broadway shows last time I made it to New York but spread it out over a week and threw in lots of other New York stuff while I was there. Wanted to justify the cost of the plane tickets :')
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2021 14:11:48 GMT
I can't imagine flying all the way to New York and not seeing New York. I did 5 shows in 6 nights last time I was there and that was more than enough. There is far more to New York than theatre!
I've also found myself being more selective about shows post-pandemic. I expect that will continue.
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1,485 posts
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Post by mkb on Oct 6, 2021 14:41:01 GMT
I can't imagine flying all the way to New York and not seeing New York. I did 5 shows in 6 nights last time I was there and that was more than enough. There is far more to New York than theatre! I've seen New York lots of times, so no biggy to do a trip that avoids the tourist stops. And in the heat of summer, it's nice to stay in the AC. Part of the joy of being in London, New York, or any city, is just soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the architecture and cityscape. You get to do that regardless. |
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Post by eua78 on Oct 6, 2021 16:00:19 GMT
I'm struggling to even take the step to book something at the moment. Ive seen how much the lack of theatre during lockdown saved me and now I'm just finding it so hard to get back into the habit of paying out to go see something, especially a london trip. I'm meant to be going next week but every time I go to try a book the weekend I get scared of the cost and put it off. I wouldn't have thought twice before lockdown. I'm the same, I have to go to London in a few weeks for something other then theatre so I'm just thinking if I'm tempted I'll pick up a on the day ticket, as currently I don't see the need to pre-book. Craziest weekend before the pandemic would have been Friday show, 2 on Saturday and then one on Sunday before heading home from West end. I've never done Broadway, maybe one day but I'd prefer to just be selective and just do one show an evening and see the rest of New York. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 6, 2021 16:16:26 GMT
I'm struggling to even take the step to book something at the moment. Ive seen how much the lack of theatre during lockdown saved me and now I'm just finding it so hard to get back into the habit of paying out to go see something, especially a london trip. I'm meant to be going next week but every time I go to try a book the weekend I get scared of the cost and put it off. I wouldn't have thought twice before lockdown. I did my first London trip the other week. I deliberately committed to several shows, the hotel and train way in advance because I knew spending all that dosh was the only way to make me break the cycle of the last 18 months and get my ass down there. I feel so much better having done it… make that move! |
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Post by Mark on Oct 6, 2021 16:18:03 GMT
My first time going to New York was busy, with evening shows Monday-Sunday and matinee Wed/Sat/Sun - 10 in a week. I was only 17 at the time. Most of my subsequent trips were usually 9 shows in the week or slightly less when I had 4 or 5 day visits.
In 2018 though I did 15 shows in the space of 10 days. A show a night from the Friday to the following Saturday (9) then matinees on the Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday (Phantom), Saturday and Sunday, and then we were straight to the airport after our Sunday matinee. It's the only way to do it!
I was 11 shows in a week for 2020 (Thurs-Weds eve, with Mats Thurs/Sat/Sun/Weds) and then covid stopped my fun, cancelling Beetlejuice on the Thursday night and everything after it. I had planned to do another 9 or 10 shows so would have done around 20 in my two weeks. Nevermind.
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491 posts
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Post by djdan14 on Oct 6, 2021 18:07:54 GMT
I have 7 in a 4 day London trip planned in a couple of weeks
I once did 6 in 4 days in new york
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1,743 posts
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Post by fiyero on Oct 6, 2021 18:13:11 GMT
I have 7 in a 4 day London trip planned in a couple of weeks I did this a couple of weeks back: Wednesday: Bedknobs and Broomsticks (Woking), Amelie Thursday: Prince of Egypt, Rock of Ages (Wimbledon) Friday: Back to the Future Saturday: Anything Goes, &Juliet Not sure I'd rush to recreate that schedule but an amazing long weekend as I also got Shrek's Adventure, Sea Life Centre and Chessington in! |
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Post by marob on Oct 6, 2021 18:19:26 GMT
If I’m booking a trip to London I’ll generally go for 4 nights, starting on a Wednesday, so that I can get 7 shows in so long as the Wednesday and Thursday matinees line up.
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7,183 posts
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Post by Jon on Oct 6, 2021 18:30:18 GMT
I'm clearly slacking because I only see 2 or 3 shows when I have been to New York.
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353 posts
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Post by properjob on Oct 6, 2021 19:43:26 GMT
I'm based in the Midlands and on a Saturday I have often done a Matinee and and an Evening show in different cities.
I am enjoying the rise of London Sunday Matinee's to do three shows in a weekend. However this thread has made me realise that I could be doing Friday matinees and do 5 shows in a long weekend.
I've done two Broadway trips and found that the mornings and non matinee afternoons left enough time to do plenty of non theatre tourism. You do get the atmosphere just walking around.
My most extreme theatre going is the Edinburgh festival. I routinely do 7 shows a day and have done 10 in a day.
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4,029 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Oct 6, 2021 19:47:14 GMT
I can't imagine seeing 10 shows in 3 days in conjunction with travelling to New York & back. I think I'd end up in hospital with exhaustion & stress! When I've tried to do multiple shows in a short time period, in order to see Mischief & Showstopper improv, I've ended up feeling ill from the strain & that was at my local theatre (7 Mischief in 5 days & 5 Showstopper in 4 days) & in London (6 Mischief in 2 days & 4 Showstopper in 2 days), not on another continent.
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2,422 posts
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Post by robertb213 on Oct 6, 2021 21:10:38 GMT
I did 5 London shows in 2 days, I think that was my most intense.
My obsession is more long term, I just passed 700 live performances in August. That's taken 15 years though, and about 100 of them were through volunteering rather than a paying punter 😁
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Post by Mr Crummles on Oct 6, 2021 21:11:31 GMT
Managing a theatrethon, I envy that! The passion and stamina alone are quite remarkable.
When I travel to London (all the way from Dublin) to see a show on the weekend, I try to squeeze a second one (a matinée) to make the most of my theatrical visit. I do it because of the opportunity, though, rather than the pleasure. Honestly, I would much prefer to see two plays in two different days. Theatre is a very immersive, and even draining, experience to me, and a good show usually stays in my heart and mind for a good many days. It’s almost as if I need to fully digest it. In short, I wouldn’t do it if I lived in London.
Having said that, though, I might try a theatre extravaganza on Broadway, because I’m one of those strange people who don’t really find in the city much else to enjoy, and the available fare is mostly musicals, that don’t quite convulse me that much. Even in New York, though, I never managed to see more than two shows in one day.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2021 22:14:13 GMT
I can't imagine flying all the way to New York and not seeing New York. I did 5 shows in 6 nights last time I was there and that was more than enough. There is far more to New York than theatre! I've seen New York lots of times, so no biggy to do a trip that avoids the tourist stops. And in the heat of summer, it's nice to stay in the AC. Part of the joy of being in London, New York, or any city, is just soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the architecture and cityscape. You get to do that regardless. Oh I say that as someone who has been there half a dozen times. I don't do much of the really touristy stuff anymore, except the Met. There is much more to see than that, and the architecture and atmosphere in midtown Manhattan, while interesting, is only a small slice of NY. And I would never go in summer so AC is no issue. I guess my point is that I love theatre, but I don't plan my holidays entirely around theatre and never will. Travel is about much more to me than that. Theatre is a way to pass an evening but doesn't rule my agenda. |
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Post by Forrest on Oct 7, 2021 10:27:38 GMT
I must say I am both impressed and baffled reading how many plays some of you manage to squeeze into just a few days.
I love theatre, but even two-show days are not my favourite thing: I need time to process what I've seen to be able to move on to the next thing. I often find myself so wrapped up in the world of a play that I need time to get out of there, and I think seeing many things in a short time span would feel quite disorienting.
Also, I am more than happy to take a trip to see something in a different city, but I don't think I'd want my trips - especially long-distance ones - to revolve around theatre, as there are so many other things to experience, explore, try and enjoy: food, architecture, concerts, museums.. I try to and am the happiest when I manage to squeeze in a bit of everything when I travel, rather than focus on just one thing.
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Post by hairspray57 on Oct 7, 2021 11:36:09 GMT
I have three shows booked for December and that feels very hectic for me. Plus most likely a cinema trip during that time as well.
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2,409 posts
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Post by theatreian on Oct 7, 2021 13:11:43 GMT
I remember going to the Edinburgh fringe festival about 15 years ago and over booking. It was the first time I had gone and I underestimated the distance between venues. I think I booked about 5 shows a day and literally had to run between each one! Couldn't do it now unless oxygen was at hand at each venue!
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Post by cavocado on Oct 7, 2021 14:46:41 GMT
On average I see about 7 or 8 plays a month. I'm definitely not an 'extreme theatregoer', but I'm interested to hear about other people's theatregoing habits. I'm with @forrest in preferring a bit of time afterwards to think about a play, but I'll do two in a day sometimes if it's easier logistically, e.g. I saw both current plays at the Royal Court on the same day. I sometimes go away for a night or two and base it around theatre, but I also like to explore a town and go to museums and other places while I'm there. Good on you mkb for your dedication, and I'm glad it was fun, but for me that schedule would be far too stressful! |
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Post by Phantom of London on Oct 7, 2021 15:23:27 GMT
I'm struggling to even take the step to book something at the moment. Ive seen how much the lack of theatre during lockdown saved me and now I'm just finding it so hard to get back into the habit of paying out to go see something, especially a london trip. I'm meant to be going next week but every time I go to try a book the weekend I get scared of the cost and put it off. I wouldn't have thought twice before lockdown. I did my first London trip the other week. I deliberately committed to several shows, the hotel and train way in advance because I knew spending all that dosh was the only way to make me break the cycle of the last 18 months and get my ass down there. I feel so much better having done it… make that move! And I did the exact opposite. I had my first night away in 18 months in Manchester. |
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Post by Phantom of London on Oct 7, 2021 15:25:45 GMT
I've seen New York lots of times, so no biggy to do a trip that avoids the tourist stops. And in the heat of summer, it's nice to stay in the AC. Part of the joy of being in London, New York, or any city, is just soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the architecture and cityscape. You get to do that regardless. Oh I say that as someone who has been there half a dozen times. I don't do much of the really touristy stuff anymore, except the Met. There is much more to see than that, and the architecture and atmosphere in midtown Manhattan, while interesting, is only a small slice of NY. And I would never go in summer so AC is no issue. I guess my point is that I love theatre, but I don't plan my holidays entirely around theatre and never will. Travel is about much more to me than that. Theatre is a way to pass an evening but doesn't rule my agenda. The Met is fantastic, if you like that, it is worth checking out the Frick Collection, when you go back. |
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Post by talkingheads on Oct 7, 2021 17:03:00 GMT
One day at the Edinburgh Fringe I saw 10 shows from 10AM to midnight. That was an experience!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2021 21:09:02 GMT
Whenever I'm in London, it's usually 12-14 shows in 10 days. I love it!
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