Newsies - Troubadour Wembley Park

Hey. I was wondering if anyone had booked using this offer? If so, when do you find out your seat numbers because when I try to book it takes me straight to checkout. Has anyone else tried? Thanks!

I really hope the marketing is ramped up in the last six weeks or so of this run, particularly to American tourists (many will have performed in High School versions of Newsies). Apart from outside of the theatre, not seen any posters for a few months now (even the massive poster banner above the exit at Wembley Park has gone now). Anything to reduce those empty seats which must disappoint the cast!

Also is it too much to hope for a soundtrack and film recording? There's certainly enough new and different in this production to justify one!

It is a shame. It is a very good production of a musical that is not very well known. It's also in a bit location (although I appreciate you couldn't do this production in a typical West End theatre). In many ways, billing this as a Disney musical hurts things, especially when you see families with young children who are rather bored (I had a chair kicker near me yesterday), or you spot the reaction of some parents when they sing "b******" in the first song. I've also never understood why there are certain prime seats they just don't put on sale.

I did make my silver visit for the matinee yesterday, which is frankly only possible due to the ticket offers (and the theatre location is convenient for me - plus the Asda down the road does enough reductions on a Sunday afternoon to keep me fed for the week). And there are people there who must attend every show. I attend quite a few and keep spotting the same faces. Thankfully after a totally dead crowd on Friday, which really took a lot of the joy out of the show, the Sunday crowd was more lively.

Matthew Duckett (Crutchie) is now the only member of the cast I've seen on in the same lead role at every performance. He really is a trooper. I was very close to hitting a full run with Mukeni, but he had some time away. I finally filled my Les quota as well, even though the actor managed to mangle his big line. Rory covered yet more swing tracks and must be in line for swing of the year.

What else happened during the week? There was a show stop due to crowd illness (which also happened at Jersey Boys, it must be the season). I had a nice chat with Mark Samaras when he tried to sell me a newspaper (I'm not sure what would happen if I tried to buy one, as the Newsies never seem to have papers with them). I was warned not to trust Kai Oxley, which I can't believe is necessary, as he has the best hair out of everyone. And there are kinds of little things the cast do that are only visible from certain seats, as well as odd ad-libs and line changes. Jack Bromage has been out a bit and I think was under the weather when he was on, but he's always a joy to watch, whether he's friendly aiming his feet towards you when swinging, casually making a w***** hand motion in the background, or trying to catch an apple.

Thanks also to the theatre for always being so good at having water available (appreciated all the time, but especially in the current heatwave).

Funnily enough in reference to the high school production comment, I've been in Canada recently, which was completely devout of watchable theatre, but there were signs advertising a two night only production of Newsies for the week after I returned to the UK. I can't somehow imagine comparing the two, although I may well have attended if it had been the week I was there. Alas, I'm away for work a lot during the closing July weeks, but I did manage to get a front row seat for Brooklyn for Wednesday, somewhere I've not sat since the very first performance.

The Sunday matinee cover schedule is a bit unpredictable to me (at least), but they usually put some of the first (and sometimes second) covers on. George tends to do Thursday matinees and some Sunday matinees. Matt, I haven't seen on for a while, but I'm sure he's due at least one more Jack show before closure. I'd be very happy with George though. I've seen him three times and he's got better and better. Crystal clear voice and instantly likeable.

I think they hoped they might pick up some better business going into the summer and it might make up for some of the losses in the winter and spring but unfortunately it didn't happen

I’d have gone to see it again if it was in the West End - can’t be bothered trekking to Wembley again though.

I live in North East London, Wembley is in North West. It takes as much time to get from Central London to Wembley as it takes me to get to Central London from home - so it’s double the journey time. It’s not a huge deal on a weekend, but not that practical on a weekday evening, which is when I see most shows.

I live in South London and travelling to Wembley is a bit of a trek.

Bit melodramatic, but yes it is a bit of a pain unless you live in Metropolitan or Jubilee served areas. Buses to Brent Cross are a good shout to get you nearer to Wembley.

Note to all. If you try and travel to Wembley when Harry Styles is in the area, it will be an interesting experience. I’ve already been warned of two hour queues to get tubes to central London afterwards (thankfully, I can walk to a bus).

For anyone interested, the verdict on the Harry Styles travel is Newsies finishes just early enough to miss the mass exodus of people. A firework display started about five minutes later, which I presume was the official end. There were people about who had already left the concert, but not too many of them, and I'm guessing they knew to leave early.

I did see some of the firework display (above Wembley Stadium) as due to road closures, the bus I planned to get was diverted. City Mapper wasn't much help here as it showed the regular route. I jumped on the Bakerloo line from Wembley Central, which was surprising peaceful.

As for the show itself, you do really get to appreciate the choreography from the front centre, but you don't get some of the intimacy that you get at the sides. Somehow, they had the full cast on for the first half (not reflected on the online cast list), which rarely ever happens. They only had the full cast for the first half, as Rory was on as Tommy Boy for the second half. I'm not sure what happened to Jack Bromage, so hope he's okay, as he's always one of my favourites to watch (and I'll avoid spreading rumours that he rushed out to catch the end of Harry Styles).

Thanks as well to my favourite Les, Nasim, for throwing his torn paper. I did end up letting another lady on the front row take it as she asked very nicely (even though I'm sure she must have plenty of papers by now). One of the full size papers did end up landing right at the edge of the stage, but I decided against a race against the person next to me during the interval (and, as expected, she proved quite agile).

The funny moment of the show was Matthew Duckett's (Crutchie) costume breaking in the closing moments, a part flying across the stage, then him frantically trying to pull his strap up, missing part of his usual routine, and various unconcealed laughter on the stage. These things happen and everyone got through it.