|
Post by nick on Apr 20, 2024 6:41:56 GMT
I may be wrong, but I had never heard of this book probably because ballet was not a part of growing up for me. There will be those who do have fond memories of it but it probably doesn't have universal appeal. Its pretty popular. Enough to have had two TV versions - 1970s and 2007 (the latter one written by Heidi Thomas with Emma Watson, Emilia Fox and Victoria Wood - Boxing day special). It's certainly high on my radar and I'm not a ballet buff.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Apr 13, 2024 6:59:28 GMT
Am I showing my age or my lack of MT knowledge? The first thing that I thought when I read Lyn Paul was The New Seekers.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Apr 9, 2024 12:44:50 GMT
I'm an optimist so I see the last gasp of this. The next generation (with a small minority of exceptions) wont care about colour/gender/sexual orientation. But, as I say, I'm an optimist.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Apr 7, 2024 7:11:18 GMT
There is a big concert tonight at Brighton including the Brighton Gay Men's Choir. They were on BBC breakfast yesterday singing and talking about the concert. . I was there. Slightly underwhelming. We decided that ABBA songs don’t go with male voices. Nice to hear the various Eurovision guests though. Some very good voices.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Mar 30, 2024 15:08:22 GMT
The Avengers. (The British 60s Tv - not the superhero thingy. )
|
|
|
Post by nick on Mar 20, 2024 19:12:34 GMT
Disabled access? Toilets and auditorium are not very wheelchair friendly I seem to remember. The Equalities Act doesn't apply to any audience facilities or any requirements placed on the audience such as no latecomers being admitted. Ah well, shows what I know. Edit. Actually you’re wrong. The equality act section 3 covers service and public functions and includes access for those with disabilities. Double edit. Ah but is that only public services? Oh it’s confusing and I give up.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Mar 20, 2024 17:04:28 GMT
Menier Chocolate Factory barely compliant with the Equality Act. They are free of ACE so their choice. Miserable policy. How is the Equalities Act relevant ? Disabled access? Toilets and auditorium are not very wheelchair friendly I seem to remember.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Mar 18, 2024 16:50:03 GMT
Latecomers row = brilliant idea.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Mar 18, 2024 15:12:26 GMT
When I started theatre going I didn’t know what I liked. I lived in a small town with a decent touring theatre so just booked everything I could afford. Same when I went to university. I discovered accidentally that I like mime and puppet shows. And contemporary dance. I never would if I hadn’t just gone along.
But many years later I have an instinct to what I might like. Doesn’t always work (war of the worlds I’m looking at you).
However the journey of discovery was part of the fun.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Mar 14, 2024 8:42:23 GMT
Basically, anything post-Victorian seems fine.
Royal Festival Hall is a bit of a barn though seating is fine and love the interiors and exterior. I was in the box opposite the royal box recently. The overhang of the box in front was terrible - those of us at the back were ok but I was at the front were not. Having said that the main auditorium looked fine.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Mar 10, 2024 16:34:11 GMT
Seeing has there’s a strand on theatres needing an overhaul, I thought it might be interesting to have one on good theatres.
I went to the Theatre Royal, Dury Lane last week with a cheap ticket on the second circle. I wasn’t expecting much but it turned out to be a great seat. And the FOH felt very plush. I got lost going to the toilet but they seemed more than adequate.
And I’ve always had a soft spot for the Royal Exchange, Manchester. Although it’s a few years since I went. I hope it’s not gone downhill.
Finally Greenwich Theatre has a decent auditorium and I can’t fault the FOH staff. The bar gets busy and feels a little cheap. Toilets cheap and cheerful.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Mar 6, 2024 16:54:10 GMT
It was so sad. All arranged for a West End transfer just as Covid took off. I feel particularly sad as a cast member is a good friend and she caught long covid and is still not ready to return to work. So Covid turned a West End role into forced retirement. That is really awful to hear, nick. I hope your friend makes some good progress soon and I wish them back to full health. It always seemed odd to me that this play appeared to just be cancelled from the offset whereas others were postponed. Many others came back and so far no suggestion that this play may still happen. This, Sunday in the Park and City of Angels really were the ones that got away. I don’t think Menier coped well with covid. My guess is they sank funds into the transfer and timing meant that they lost all that with no ticket sales at all. It couldn’t have been worse. Factor in that the restaurant still hasn’t reopened and it feels like they were hit hard. Slightly amazing they ever reopened. Just for clarity. This is a guess in my part - I have t discussed it with my friend.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Mar 5, 2024 17:31:38 GMT
This one sank without a trace? It had such good reviews too. Alas, it's been 5 years already.. It was so sad. All arranged for a West End transfer just as Covid took off. I feel particularly sad as a cast member is a good friend and she caught long covid and is still not ready to return to work. So Covid turned a West End role into forced retirement.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Feb 20, 2024 11:46:17 GMT
Sorry to bump an old thread but is anyone shocked so many theatres are still card only when during the last year or so there has been a major revival of cash use. Where I live in London only chains shops or shops targeting higher income people accept cards - everything else is still cash only despite the last remanining bank closing soon. I’m shocked so many shops still only accept cash. Where I live in London (Catford so not posh) I’d say most shops accept cards and a significant number only accept card payment.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Feb 11, 2024 18:15:00 GMT
Oh I think it’s fairly clear that the US is richer than the UK. But I suspect it’s simply opinion that Americans take more pride in their work. Or that Brits are addicted to benefits. My opinion is that businesses in the US are more likely to take advantage of their staff particularly about working hours without pay. And the UK looks after the vulnerable in society more than the US. As I say my opinion. I know where I’d rather live. I've lived in both, there are advantages and disadvantages to each. I've also lived in a EU country, same. Well that’s the sensible answer.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Feb 10, 2024 18:58:47 GMT
I assume you can back that up with statistics? Particularly "pride in working" and "addicted to benefits" that feels a bit insulting. The USA is a much richer country than UK. GDP per capita in USA is £76,000 and in UK is $45,000. In fact GDP per capita in UK is lower than even the poorest USA state which is Mississippi at $47,000 per capita. Oh I think it’s fairly clear that the US is richer than the UK. But I suspect it’s simply opinion that Americans take more pride in their work. Or that Brits are addicted to benefits. My opinion is that businesses in the US are more likely to take advantage of their staff particularly about working hours without pay. And the UK looks after the vulnerable in society more than the US. As I say my opinion. I know where I’d rather live.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Feb 10, 2024 16:35:11 GMT
I think Broadway pays better, though only a slightly higher marginal average to pay when compared across different industries. US pays better generally, taxes are lower, and there's higher productivity and pride in working and paying one's way. UK pay is poorer, taxes are much higher, productivity is lower, and society is addicted to benefits and subsidies. I know where I'd rather live. I assume you can back that up with statistics? Particularly "pride in working" and "addicted to benefits" that feels a bit insulting.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Dec 31, 2023 7:43:01 GMT
Just seen the Greenwich panto. I was nervous as it is the first I’ve seen since Anthony Spargo took over from Andrew Pollard as writer (and Dame in this production). But he acquited himself well in both roles. It’s messier in style and structure than Andrew’s and parts didn’t quite work but overall it’s a terrific traditional panto.
Also praise for the front of house staff. For the first time ever in my life we arrived a day late. But our blushes were spared as with no fuss they found us some other seats (the reserved comp ones) and left us to it with no recrimination.
I really like the theatre. The bar is fine, the vintage posters up the stairs to the auditorium are fascinating and the rake of the seating works very well - no heads in the way but not vertigo inducing.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Dec 30, 2023 17:22:23 GMT
Murder is Easy What a poor piece of work. Decent cast squandered on a woeful adaptation that didn't know how to handle tone. How the writer got the commission with no screenwriting credits of their own is hard to understand. Glad it wasn't just me. There was potential there but not for a prime time christmas special.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Dec 26, 2023 18:22:43 GMT
Fern Britton, Simon Webbe, Helen Skelton & Matt Goss all did. Ah Thanks. I don't watch the Christmas specials as, to put it simply, there's no 'journey' so I don't get attached to the celebs. I find the first couple of weeks of the main programme a chore for similar reasons but I know I'll get a payoff eventually.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Dec 26, 2023 17:32:41 GMT
Had Shirley been at the Christmas sherry a bit early as she seemed giddy with excitement towards the end of the Xmas special? Right couple won although Tillie did run Jamie close IMO both would seem more like good contestants for a future series than an Xmas special. Danny Cipriani likewise so were they testing the water? Has anyone from the christmas special ever gone on to the main contest? Serious question as I don't know.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Dec 24, 2023 11:15:10 GMT
cause someone said "tryouts on the road are tryouts, not premieres. Opening night on Broadway is the only premiere." Us West End souls might disagree with the Broadway part.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Dec 14, 2023 16:27:26 GMT
They could still have a bad day on Saturday and lose it. But it seems unlikely I’ve been Ellie for a while but Bobby was stunning last week. If he does that again, who knows. Although I suspect at this stage it’s simply a popularity contest. Whoever has been voted for most will continue the trend and take the glitter ball And as Ellie hasn’t been in a dance off surely she’s favourite on that score?
|
|
|
Post by nick on Dec 11, 2023 20:49:18 GMT
I suppose the important thing is that the red nails were rescuing the Master.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Dec 8, 2023 11:09:57 GMT
The Royal Exchange seems to be the gold standard for in the round. My favourite performance ever was there - Ben Kingsley in Dr Faustus.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Dec 4, 2023 14:18:02 GMT
For information, The British Film Institute do free A4 sheets (printed on both sides) with production details and some sort of a writeup. Great for guest panels and nice for old films where they tend to print contemporary reviews.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Dec 4, 2023 14:12:24 GMT
We have bins in all the foyers, ushers patrolling the auditorium with bin bags in the interval, and ushers on every door with bin bags at the end of the show. The auditorium is still an absolute state and takes the ushers ages to do the pick-up - absolutely knackering, especially on a 3-show Saturday. My favourite group who came to see a show was a school group - at the end of the show the teacher bellowed "RIGHT YOU LOT! I want all your rubbish picked up, if there's anything left you'll be in detention for the week, and I want to see you with one piece of someone else's rubbish too, let's show the staff how much we value them!" I asked her if she could come back for all performances :-) I must have taught at the right schools as that was a pretty standard teacher comment. Mind you we wouldn't have had rubbish in the first place, but leaving with one piece of other people's rubbish was normal - teaches respect as well as keeping 30 energetic bodies occupied while the theatre empties.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Dec 4, 2023 10:53:47 GMT
I don’t trust digital stuff. The idea that things are always available online is just not true. I used to have a digital magazine subscription, then they changed their system and all the back issues I’d paid for were no longer available. I bought digital copies of Angelo Badalamenti’s score to Twin Peaks. Gone. BBC Shop/Store or whatever closed so the archive programmes I’d bought are no longer available (but they did at least issue refunds.) Local theatres have done free online programmes recently. Nice in theory, but once that show’s over so is the programme, so no referring back. If I was going to pay for a digital programme it would have to be downloadable to keep. Don't confuse digital with online. I like digital. EVERYTHING I have tends to be made digital (programmes, magazines, films, TV programmes) onto a single hard drive (with a backup). Attached to my computer so all available at a click. Online can and does vanish. To me digital is like having the object while online is like it being available at the shop/theatre. For the latter they always vanish eventually - often quicker if it's physical. While the former it's up to you how well you look after it.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Dec 1, 2023 7:09:58 GMT
There is a huge cultural value in ephemera. Getting rid of theatre tickets, programmes and flyers would rob future generations of access to important documents and images. PDFs won't last. Websites get taken down. Real objects can be preserved. I once undertook a short research project into the history of the Oxford University Opera Club and found that a huge quantity of material was held at the Bodleian Library. Old posters. Programmes. Minute books from committee meetings. Reviews. Details that would lost otherwise. Even the adverts contain important snippets of history. Let's not rob future generations of their cultural history. That isn't progressive. I agree with most of this but I can’t see pdfs vanishing anytime soon. Museums and libraries are digitising their collections like mad. And I’m sure they preserve their digital collections as diligently as their physical collection. Digitising improves accessibility. I’m interested in fashion magazines and there are amazing French and Spanish collections available at the click of a button. This also helps preserve the physical collection because, once digitised, they don’t need to be handled as often.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Nov 27, 2023 14:48:56 GMT
Taken to looking for groups of 4 seats and then buying the one on the end. This leaves them with 3 - and means a group of 2 can not buy these seat but another single can. Its the small victories that count. I like this. And you can buy two ticket. Reserve a single ticket using a different browser. Then you can buy the two that are left. Then abandon the single ticket. At least I’ve been told it works.
|
|