Happy Days - Riverside Studios Hammersmith

Why no single seats ? Is it the appalling ATG handling the booking ?

Doubt it will sell out. But I'd need a single ticket for it. 

Oddly, you wouldn't guess, but the Riverside Studios have prospered during lockdown more than most other fringe venues as they've had several TV productions in. 

I presume you know the play, Neil. One of the very few masterpieces I do not want to see again. If by any remote chance you don't know it, may I suggest a hip flask of something strong ....

You are very strong. 

Oh there's plenty of tedious masterpieces .... Cyrano de Bergerac, King Lear, The Way of the World, A Moon for the Misbegotten, Mother Courage, Bartholomew Fair, Playboy of the Western World, Man and Superman, Don Carlos, Peer Gynt, anything from the Spanish Golden Age, Oedipus at Colonos, The House of Bernarda Alba, Knight of the Burning Pestle ... and many more. 

Experience tonight. My first time in the Riverside Studios. I presume the room we were in is mostly used for TV. It is a flat floor and freestanding seats (uncomfortable, no arm rests) mostly in 2s, but with the occasional 1.

When I originally booked, seating was allocated, but it looks like they now choose seats for you on arrival. I paid for 2, but was a 1, so was put in one of the single seats, at the end of the row. Possibly a better view than where I'd originally booked.

The stage is slightly raised, so the view should be reasonable throughout the room, but this is an intimate play.

A long stage, mostly dead grass effect, with the leads in the centre. I've managed to avoid seeing this before, so I think it was performed well but I don't really have a baseline. I also have no immediate desire to see this again. The uncomfortable seats didn't help, but the audience was well-behaved throughout.

The deafening surprise chimes didn't help with my enjoyment. Just too loud and enough to leave me on edge for most of the second half.

Today was meant to be sold out, but there were a few pairs of empty seats around, perhaps due to late cancellations and people who couldn't attend the revised date.

The whole Riverside Studios complex is quite nice, right by the river, bars around etc. I don't think it's used much as a theatre, but I notice it's where the upcoming Mischief Movie Night is broadcasting from. I would have been tempted to go, but now I've seen how the space works as a theatre I'm less sure.

Anyway, I suspect if you're reading this, you'll already know if you like Happy Days or not. I am glad I have seen it (once). Running time is about 2 hours, including the interval.

This was very well done and i enjoyed it overall. I got 2 10 pound seats and ended up centre front so cant complain on that regard

Skip to about 13 minutes in for Lisa Dwan and Juliet Stephenson comparing notes:

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000x0vh

Having seen Juliet Stevenson and Maxine Peake in the role in recent years Lisa Dwan made it her own.

She inhabited the character completely, every gesture, every pause were natural in the way only a few can achieve, made even more difficult with the absurdity of the piece.

The play may not be to everyone’s taste but to see a Becket master class it is well worth a trip out to Hammersmith.


The only negative is the venue itself, a cavernous space with no rake reminiscent of a school assembly hall, the wide stage and narrow cinematic aspect tried its best to overcome these deficiencies but maybe would have been better suited to the Almeida or similar.

Despite this I am tempted to return, breaking my no returns rule as it was that special.

This was my 4th HDs after Felicity Kendall, Fiona Shaw and Juliet Stephenson.

But I just knew Lisa Dwan would be amazing, and she was. Great set, but, like others, i was disappointed at the lack of a rake in the auditorium. Still the seats were spaced and the stage high enough for everyone to be able to see.

I'm assuming though, that the seating for HDs is just for COVID social distancing and that there will be flexible seating with rake(s) for future performances.

I saw this yesterday. Lisa Dwan gave a very powerful and moving performance. I wished I'd re-read the play beforehand (haven't read it since university, many years ago, and have never seen it performed before). I'm sure I missed some detail and references, and would like to see it again.

The venue was much better than I'd expected. Seats were fine, only lacking arm rests, and I think the view would have been good from anywhere, despite the lack of a rake, as the stage was high and the set was sloped towards us. It was nice to go to a theatre with foyer and bar open - all large enough to sit apart from other groups.