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Post by lynette on Mar 24, 2016 23:48:48 GMT
Just seen a tweet that the NT is closed for the Bank Holiday. What is going on? People in London on weekend breaks, the weather lousy so what to do? Oh yes, let's pop into that iconic building of entertainment so well placed next to the River Thames. There will be entertainment, three plays in rep and lots of exhibitions and displays not to mention food of all kinds. Ah, sorry. Closed.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2016 1:02:20 GMT
It's closed on Good Friday and open again on Saturday. It's respectful, what's the problem?
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Post by Oleanna on Mar 25, 2016 1:08:39 GMT
It's definitely open on Saturday - I'm seeing two plays!
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Post by showgirl on Mar 25, 2016 6:28:39 GMT
For the reasons Lynette gives, I think it's a shame it's closed; I think it was announced but of course only those on the mailing list would have been informed by the NT itself, and that clearly doesn't include casual visitors, tourists, etc, who will be surprised and disappointed. I would have thought it would be worth the NT staying open for the goodwill and revenue, but they must have costed the latter and still decided against it.
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Post by danb on Mar 25, 2016 7:06:04 GMT
It really does beggar belief that people get up in arms over an employer saying; "here you go team, have a religious bank holiday off. We actually care about you and your families, go and spend this valuable time together". So few people working in service industries get this any more since American 365/24-7 culture took over, and our Jeremy Kyle led sense of entitlement make us think that it's our right to access to every aspect of our lives every single moment. (Even if the reality is that lieu days or bank holiday payments would simply cost them too much, I still respect them massively for doing it.)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2016 10:10:02 GMT
The NT is closed on Good Friday every year. When Lynette was a girl, absolutely nothing was open on Good Friday, except for religious services.
This seems an ideal opportunity to remind (or inform) Lynette that Sunday trading doesn't apply to Easter Day so she won't be able to pop into her Waitrose or M&S this Sunday.
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Post by duncan on Mar 25, 2016 13:16:48 GMT
Eh bah gum, I can remember the days when Bookies closed on Good Friday and you could see two shows at the national for a thruppney bit and a jam jar.
Eeeh, its not like when I were a lad.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 25, 2016 14:33:52 GMT
My mum once said to me "I don't know why the Chinese takeaway is closed on Christmas Day, they don't even HAVE Christmas!"  |
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Post by firefingers on Mar 25, 2016 15:27:58 GMT
My mum once said to me "I don't know why the Chinese takeaway is closed on Christmas Day, they don't even HAVE Christmas!" Traditionally Jewish families in the US go to a Chinese restaurant on Christmas Day, as they were two groups who didn't celebrate. A Friday off in theatre is a very rare thing, and most of us work 6 days a week, every week, so I think an extra Friday off is wonderful for them. I've still got an evening show to do mind. |
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Post by showgirl on Mar 25, 2016 16:52:10 GMT
When I was working, I positively preferred to work Bank Holidays as imho it's an awful time to be off: everything is so crowded and more expensive; cinemas and theatres are closed or have limited hours; public transport has a reduced service or is unavailable due to engineering work, etc. It also meant that those who did want the time off (e.g. if they had children) could have it. But I had good T & C which would not be available to many employees now.
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Post by alece10 on Mar 25, 2016 17:07:51 GMT
When I was young I used to stand in line on Maundy Thursday and be given a coin by the Queen. Remembering to take my flat cap off first. Then go home to eat some coal  |
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Post by lynette on Mar 25, 2016 18:19:54 GMT
The NT is closed on Good Friday every year. When Lynette was a girl, absolutely nothing was open on Good Friday, except for religious services. This seems an ideal opportunity to remind (or inform) Lynette that Sunday trading doesn't apply to Easter Day so she won't be able to pop into her Waitrose or M&S this Sunday. And it was soooo boring. I'm delighted that shops open on Sundays and most other stuff too. I am somewhat amazed that the NT is closed for Good Friday but if that is the reason, OK, point taken. I still think it is an opportunity missed to show off a great venue on the South Bank and what it offers in a respectful way. Just a little note for my dear friend, HG: my groceries are delivered to my door and I'm all good for the weekend, thanks. Come over for a glass of prosecco, do. |
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Mar 25, 2016 18:54:10 GMT
A lovely reply Lynette. Often wondered the logistics of asking who would like to work on a bank holiday or who would like the day off to celebrate the death of our lord jesus Christ? Just wondered if my local supermarket or the national could cover a shift.
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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 25, 2016 23:15:47 GMT
I posted on the Nap at the Sheffield Crucible thread why no tickets were on sale for tonight about a week ago and Honoured Guest pointed out it is Good Friday, I assume both buildings are public buildings, so maybe it is mandatory to close public buildings on religious holidays? I wonder if any other shows were dark tonight? If so plenty of oppurtunity to do extra performances during the Easter holidays.
Worth noting in the USA, which is more secular than us, unless money is to be made, have performances on Christmas and New Year Day, but never on their eves.
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Post by Jon on Mar 25, 2016 23:19:21 GMT
I posted on the Nap at the Sheffield Crucible thread why no tickets were on sale for tonight about a week ago and Honoured Guest pointed out it is Good Friday, I assume both buildings are public buildings, so maybe it is mandatory to close public buildings on religious holidays? I wonder if any other shows were dark tonight? If so plenty of opportunityto do extra performances during the Easter holidays. Worth noting in the USA, which is more secular than us, unless money is to be made, have performances on Christmas and New Year Day, but never on their eves. NYE makes sense given it would be chaos having so many extra people plus people going to the theatre. Even the National and many other places only schedule matinee performances on NYE. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2016 10:04:24 GMT
The Royal Court Theatre in London always closes on every English Public Holiday.
I like to give my servants a small orange.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2016 10:13:39 GMT
I was looking to book for something yesterday and can report the following. Not an exhaustive list, just the ones I looked at
Closed:
Royal Court, Bush, National, BFI Southbank
Open:
Barbican, Almeida, Hampstead, Southwark Playhouse, ICA
Most West End shows were on as normal with a few exceptions - eg no performance in Trafalgar downstairs, not sure about upstairs
So no consistent pattern. May depend on the contracts they have with staff?
Until recently Good Friday had very restricted licensing hours - old style closed in the afternoon and at 10:30 PM which may have had an impact on some of the buildings like BFI and NT being closed.
I remember being out shopping the first year shops were open on Good Friday and having to hide in WH Smiths from my uncle who was leading a Christian parade through the town centre.
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Post by peelee on Mar 29, 2016 10:18:42 GMT
Good Friday has religious significance, but it may be a bank holiday too. Staffing shops and the like at Easter in a city like London nowadays, is likely to depend on the religious affiliations of staff.
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