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Post by schuttep on Mar 30, 2020 10:17:16 GMT
When I was working, I made regular payments to several charities directly out of my salary or by Direct Debit. When I retired, I decided it was time for others who were working to step up to the plate.
As the Government has shut the theatres down, I'm assuming any relevant insurance they have will kick in and help them out. The larger theatres will have it, so I'm requesting a refund. As I think I've said elsewhere, if I had to keep track of all the vouchers I would receive I may well end up losing track and missing out altogether. But not all theatres will have insurance, probably the smaller ones operating on a wing and a prayer.
So I've decided to make a Gift Aid gift of part of my refunds coming from the smaller theatres. That way, I hope we all win a little.
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Post by schuttep on Mar 20, 2020 9:21:38 GMT
Here's one of my happiest and oldest memories - from 1974:
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in a local professional production at the Crucible in Sheffield.
At the end, when Joseph enters in his "chariot of gold" he entered in a gold Aston Martin car! Perfect!
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Post by schuttep on Mar 20, 2020 9:15:14 GMT
Not play related but from the novel "Sunset Song" by Lewis Grassic Gibbon - at the point of the wedding in the story (Chris is the bride):
But then Chae cried "Fill up your glasses, folk, the best man has a toast". And the red Highlander, McIvor, got up to his feet and bowed his red head to Chris, and began to speak; he spoke fine, though funny with that Highland twist, he said he'd never seen a sweeter quean than the bride or known a better friend than the groom; and he wished them long and lovely days, a marriage in the winter had the best of it. For was not the Spring to come and the seed-time springing of their love, and the bonny days of the summer, flowering it, and the autumn with the harvest of days? And when they passed to their other winter together they would know that was not the end of it, it was but a sleep that in another life would burgeon fresh from another earth. He could never believe but that two so young and fair as his friend and his friend's wife, once made one flesh would be one in the spirit as well; and have their days built of happiness and their nights of the music of the stars.
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Post by schuttep on Mar 20, 2020 9:00:58 GMT
As I'm retired, I'm doing "something else".
I know some people won't agree with this, but - as well as visiting the supermarket every day to try to fit in the gaps in my fridge/larder - I'm still visiting my local restaurants and bars. I'd go stir crazy if my partner and I had to stay home day in, day out. And, after all, the Government hasn't closed shops, bars and restaurants - many assume this is a sop to the insurance industry who may well have to pay out if they are forcibly closed. So restaurants and bars have fewer customers and are expected to stay open. So I'll be going for as long as I can. In the end, I'll only be mixing with people who are doing the same thing, for whatever reason, so I'm not hurting anyone else.
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Post by schuttep on Mar 20, 2020 8:53:53 GMT
Legally, ticket holders are entitled to a FULL refund including the booking fee. I've pulled ATG up on this before and got a full refund. Since then I've had annual memberships (especially since discounts at the bar - now 20% - have been reintroduced) so I don't pay booking fees.
I can understand theatres sending credit vouchers but no-one has to accept them. The National are also sending vouchers which I've refused. If I accepted all the vouchers I can expect over the next few months, I'd lose track of them and possibly miss out.
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Post by schuttep on Mar 16, 2020 8:29:25 GMT
Theatres are going to go bust very quickly, what with being legally obliged to pay refunds and being dark for - possibly - months.
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Post by schuttep on Mar 5, 2020 11:50:30 GMT
Bet Boxer will remain on stage, chewing hay thoughtfully, throughout the interval. Autograph opportunity!
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Post by schuttep on Mar 5, 2020 11:48:39 GMT
I'm seeing this tomorrow. And just noticed the Royal Court photo on its website and e-mail advertising it was taken on my local high Street!
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Post by schuttep on Feb 14, 2020 10:31:32 GMT
The child 2 seats along from me at the Mary Poppins matinee today was wearing those trainers that have flashing lights in them when you walk - and kept putting her feet on the back of the seat in front of her, making them light up. 😕 Oh dear, that would really annoy me. Now, I'm not one for repeating myself, but I've said it before and I'll say it again, I blame the parents. Obviously.
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Post by schuttep on Jan 30, 2020 10:32:22 GMT
Godspell is one of my favourite musicals. I've seen it 16 times.
In the 1980s I was on a train from Leicester to Birmingham and was sat in a carriage with a rather loud American talking to some people at the other end of the carriage. I couldn't help but hear what he was saying. When they started talking about musicals, my ears pricked. For some reason I got the impression that the man was connected to Godspell so I stood up and craned my neck to see. It was indeed John-Michael Tebelak.
He also got off at Birmingham so - not prepared to miss the opportunity of a lifetime - I dashed up to him. "Are you John-Michael Tebelak?" Well, the guy was so shocked to be recognised, especially in Birmingham! We talked about how much I loved Godspell; "Me too" he said! Then he said how he was in Brum to see his friends The Krankies!!!
The lovely guy then gave me his business card, which I still have.
God bless him; he died too young.
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Post by schuttep on Jan 30, 2020 10:15:16 GMT
On Your Toes?
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Post by schuttep on Jan 30, 2020 10:07:26 GMT
Tickets now on sale for Bath dates.
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Post by schuttep on Jan 30, 2020 10:04:28 GMT
I know they did Kiss Me Kate in the 80's Have the RSC ever done a revial of a classic musical that isn't Shakespeare related such as My Fair Lady or Oklahoma? As well as Showboat, they did Poppy 1982 (the Opium Wars), The Wizard of Oz 1988 (with Imelda Staunton as Dorothy), The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe 1999, as well as the infamous Carrie 1988.
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Post by schuttep on Jan 29, 2020 9:15:40 GMT
One of my favourite lines from the show is when Margot finds Barbara looking through some brown envelopes.
Margot: Bills?
Barbara: These are big enough to be Williams!
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Post by schuttep on Jan 29, 2020 9:11:21 GMT
As long as the 2020 season avoids Shakespeare and Sondheim, I'm happy to wait and see what it does offer, rather than having a wish-list. As this year is Sondheim's 90th birthday, a Sondheim is a good bet all over the country. There are already a couple of West Side Storys announced as well as Sunday in the Park with Jake and a major production of Into the Woods mooted later this year.
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Post by schuttep on Jan 16, 2020 11:08:26 GMT
The Royal Court now has a Samuel French bookshop and small coffee shop upstairs but I think it might only open just before and after performances. Lots of choice of play texts and theatre-related books, though. I even got a signed copy of Antony Sher's "The Year of the Fat Knight" there late last year.
I recently bought 4 out of the 7 hardback Methuen Drama Modern Plays 1959-2019 there, and I couldn't find those on Amazon to buy individually (in hardback, that is):
Shelagh Delaney's "A Taste of Honey" (bought) Edward Bond's "Saved" (bought) John McGrath's "The Cheviot, The Stag and the Black, Black Oil" Caryl Churchill's "Top Girls" (bought) Sarah Kane's "Blasted" Kwame Kwei-Armah's "Elmina's Kitchen" James Graham's "This House" (bought).
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Post by schuttep on Jan 16, 2020 11:02:39 GMT
Today I'm at a matinee of Stephen Schwartz's Rags at Park 200 and on Saturday I'm seeing Kander and Ebb's Curtains at the Wimbledon Theatre.
I've seen them both before and am looking forward to seeing them again, despite trying to avoid duplicates...that's one of my two New Year's resolutions up in flames!
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Post by schuttep on Jan 6, 2020 10:48:02 GMT
I appreciate her theatrical career (in the UK at least) has been dormant for the best part of 15 years - and that the UK honours system is bizarre to say the least - but it seems a real shame Elaine Paige hasn't been recognised for her services to charity and arts education. She supports nine UK charities including one - for brain damaged children and their families - for which she's been an active ambassador for four decades. She's also supported Arts Educational, Chicken Shed, the Theatre Royal Haymarket's Masterclass Programme, and LIPA amongst many others. She has an OBE. But it can't be long before she's Dame Elaine...
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Post by schuttep on Jan 3, 2020 12:05:17 GMT
I saw 82 shows last year (about average for me) but only went to 12 new theatres.
I aim to avoid duplicate shows, see more new ones and visit more new theatres.
If I can save money too that will be a bonus, but I suspect any missed duplicates will be substituted by new shows!
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Post by schuttep on Dec 18, 2019 10:50:39 GMT
I saw this last night. Excellent play and great performances. Two out of three of the Oxford actors: Elliot Levey and Ellen Robertson as the father and daughter with newbie Amber James as Natalie. Perfect for Christmas.
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Post by schuttep on Dec 12, 2019 13:29:44 GMT
Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George at Savoy and Gypsy at Manchester Rex Schwartz' Prince of Egypt at Dominion and Rags at Park200 Caryl Churchill's Far Away at Donmar and A Number at Bridge The Boyfriend at Menier Brigadoon at Barn, Cirencester Beckett's Krapp's Last Tape, Eh Joe, and The Old Tune at Jermyn Street Mike Bartlett's Snowflake at Kiln and Love, Love, Love at Hammersmith Lyric.
Also repeat viewings but different cities of: Six at London Arts Curtains at Wimbledon Theatre Blithe Spirit at Richmond Theatre Shirley Valentine at Salisbury Playhouse Everybody's Talking About Jamie at Newcastle Theatre Royal.
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Post by schuttep on Nov 29, 2019 10:03:33 GMT
I read this morning that the RSC had a £2.45 m profit last year, thanks to transfers such as Matilda. That could be put to good use by other theatres around the country.
Or am I being blasphemous if I suggest ticket prices could be reduced slightly - or even kept at the same level for a while?
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Post by schuttep on Nov 29, 2019 9:53:42 GMT
Nah it’s doable. If it finishes at 5,20 you could get either the 5.38 or the 6.18 to Sheffield. The 6.18 is into Sheff at 7.08 so is still doable although doesn’t allow much time for delays. Or for getting from REX to Manchester Piccadilly or Sheffield station to the Crucible. If you're in a taxi you're at the mercy of traffic and if you walk it's around 10-15 mins either end if you know the shortest routes.
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Post by schuttep on Nov 27, 2019 11:21:09 GMT
I don't normally see pantos but did see the nearest thing last Sunday at the Theatre Royal in Brighton: Peter Pan Goes Wrong. Superb! (Oh yes it was!)
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Post by schuttep on Nov 27, 2019 11:19:37 GMT
I liked it but it as slightly awkward to get to, not being particularly near a tube. There are a whole bunch or fringe theatres round there that I suspect struggle (though I think the Oval House is moving nearer Brixton which will probably help it) The new Oval House theatre is currently being built at the back of Brixton Village Market on Coldharbour Lane.
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Post by schuttep on Nov 27, 2019 11:14:14 GMT
When you get to my age it would be a surprise if there were theatres I HADN'T been to! All those mentioned I've been to (inc the Royalty - no longer there, I believe), as well as numerous theatres around the country:
Crucible, Sheffield Coventry Theatre (now defunct) Belgrade, Coventry Belgrade Venue, Coventry Apollo, Coventry Alexandra, Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham Old Rep, Birmingham Crescent, Birmingham Birmingham Repertory Theatre Brum Studio @ Birmingham Rep Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham NIA, Birmingham Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford Swan, Stratford The Other Place, Stratford Courtyard, Stratford (temporary theatre) Forum, Billingham Haymarket, Leicester Curve, Leicester Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Royal, Nottingham Gatehouse, Stafford Grand, Wolverhampton Opera House, Blackpool Theatre Royal, Plymouth Theatre Royal, Bath Ustinov Studio, Bath Empire, Liverpool Theatre Royal, York Greenwich Theatre Chichester Festival Theatre Minerva, Chichester Richmond Theatre Orange Tree, Richmond Wimbledon Theatre New Victoria, Woking Theatre Royal, Brighton Marlborough Little Theatre, Brighton New Theatre, Oxford Watermill, Newbury (Bagnor, actually) Lyceum, Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh Derby Playhouse Swan, High Wycombe Harrogate Theatre Everyman Studio, Cheltenham Orchard, Dartford Mayflower, Southampton West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds Leeds Grand Hippodrome, Bristol Marlowe, Canterbury Royal and Derngate, Northampton Churchill, Bromley Opera House, Manchester Royal Exchange, Manchester Lowry Lyric, Manchester Hope Mill, Manchester Salisbury Playhouse Theatre Royal, Windsor Rose, Kingston Jack Studio, Brockley Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford Watford Palace Millenium Cetre, Cardiff Kings, Portsmouth Theatre Royal, Winchester Theatre Royal, Stratford East Aylesbury Waterside Barn, Cirencester
and abroad:
Her Majesty's, Melbourne, Australia Universal, Melbourne, Australia Last Laugh, Melbourne, Australia Arts Centre Playhouse, Melbourne, Australia Opera House, Sydney, Australia Festival Theatre, Adelaide, Australia Manoel, Valletta, Malta St James Cavalier Centre, Valletta, Malta Koopermoolen, Amsterdam, Netherlands Mariinsky, St Petersburg, Russia Gershwin, New York Eugene O'Neill, New York Palace, New York St James, New York Orpheum, New York Broadway, New York Majestic, New York Golden, New York Winter Garden, New York Music Box, New York Shubert, New York Neil Simon, New York Imperial, New York Richard Rodgers, New York Marquis, New York Minskoff, New York Nederlander, New York Actors' Playhouse, New York Plymouth, New York Madison Square Garden, New York Lunt-Fontaine, New York Ford Center, New York Studio 54, New York Union Square, New York Circle in the Square, New York Martin Beck, New York Booth, New York Belasco, New York Sullivan Street Playhouse, New York Helen Hayes, New York Jane Street, New York Broadhurst, New York Henry Miller, New York State Theater Lincoln Centre, New York Paper Mill, Millburn, New Jersey Steppenwolf, Chicago James N Nederlander, Chicago Shakespeare, Chicago Lyric Opera, Chicago Writers' Theatre, Glencoe (Chicago) Opera House, Budapest, Hungary Theater an der Wein, Vienna, Austria Gate, Dublin Mogador, Paris Chatelet, Paris Starlighthalle, Bochum, Germany Neue Flora, Hamburg, Germany Reithalle, Munich, Germany
Whew!!!
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Post by schuttep on Nov 27, 2019 10:16:44 GMT
Tix on general sale. Top 4 prices are £150, £135, £95 and £82.50 so having seen several Dollies including: Dora Bryan, Danny La Rue (!), and Janie Dee, I'll give this one a miss.
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Post by schuttep on Nov 20, 2019 9:51:10 GMT
I did no pre-reading and didn't understand it at all. Some of the songs were great as songs and the performances were wonderful.
But, IMHO, if it doesn't work as presented then it's not doing its job.
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Post by schuttep on Oct 24, 2019 16:05:50 GMT
21 (maybe even 23) for me: A Kind of People at R Court Candida at Orange Tree The Boy Friend at Menier (the space is in the title!) Rags at Park 200 Curtains at Wimbledon Gypsy at Manchester R Ex Krapp's Last Tape, Eh Joe and The Old Tune at Jermyn St Endgame at Old Vic Blithe Spirit at Richmond Far Away at Donmar Pretty Woman at Piccadilly The Prince of Egypt at Dominion Love, Love, Love at Hammersmith Lyric Everybody's Talking about Jamie at Theatre Royal, Newcastle Leopoldstadt at Wyndhams 101 Dalmatians at Open Air The Glee Club at Kiln Sunday in the Park with George at Savoy Carousel at Open Air The Winter's Tale at RSC, Stratford Pericles at RSC, Stratford.
I don't have a free weekend from now until 1 February 2010, but that's not unusual at this stage.
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Post by schuttep on Oct 14, 2019 9:17:09 GMT
I saw this yesterday and thought it was hilarious. I can see how some thought it wasn't as good as it thought it was but I loved the meta approach.
And it's sold out for the whole run so no surprise they want to transfer it; Ambassadors or Trafalgar 1 would be fine. It's a large cast - 19 and there are times when they're all on stage together.
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