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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 4, 2017 22:11:58 GMT
Booked! It is £25 plus a booking fee of £5 so £30 in total but at least not £55 which I refused to pay for a fringe venue!
Yes, the promo code is put in on the page after the credit card details.
I am convinced some productions are priced so they can then offer a "half price" deal! BUT I do feel to the casual booker that seeing £50 for a fringe venue puts people off booking (me) and simply then do not bother, not realising deals are around.
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Post by singularsensation10 on Oct 5, 2017 7:25:10 GMT
Went to the first preview last night - didn't actually know that it was the first preview until I got there!
Some thoughts - the wigs and costumes are of really good quality, they didn't blindingly try to save money on production or costumes etc which is good. I think it's clear the budget was big.
Cast are very talented - I adore the voice of Natalie Green who seemed to do all the singing. Shekinah Mcfarlane was a fabulously sassy Dionne who I couldn't take my eyes off. Jessie May as Jeannie was just wonderful, lovely voice and charming characterisation. I liked Andy Coxon but he was a little too light and campy for me, I prefer a messy, more manly Berger but Andy did a great job steering the show.
For me the only real criticism lie in the fact that they didn't abridge ANY of it - unlike the 2009 Bway revival which took a lot out - some of the references don't land with a 2017 audience (even when half of them knew ALL the words and were singing along..very cute). I liked how they made the piece relevant with audio clips of Trump etc, but specific parts could have done with being chopped.
Finally, it would have been SO nice to just see them enjoy it. They were definitely 'acting' and it would have been very nice just to see them think less about the complex choreographed dance routines (not my favourite thing in a show like this....) and just feel the music more. The music is ENERGETIC and infectious - and whilst they certainly had energy, it felt a tad disconnected and forced. These are harsh words from me for a first preview so I look forward to going back in a few weeks and seeing how they've settled into the space.
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Post by wickedgrin on Oct 6, 2017 22:55:45 GMT
First the bad news. The venue is quite difficult to find - I walked passed it and ended up trying to get into The Vaults which is some sort of club!? But re-routed in the right direction by a friendly bouncer on the door.
The booking and seating system is shambolic! You book online for various areas blue, green, yellow and red but the seating is unreserved in those sections (unless you are Mark Shenton of course who had a reserved seat for him and his husband even though I don't think it was press night - no scramble for a seat for him!) You print your ticket off online which has a bar code but this does not gain you entry to the show - you have to queue while one young girl finds your name on a list - crosses it off and then issues you with a piece of paper with the relevant colour highlighted on. The colours are then called in turn from the bar seating from the back to the front but of course no-one takes any notice and corridor is blocked with people just trying to get in with the wrong colour - chaos.
The "souvenir" programmes are £6! I passed! This isn't exactly the West End!!!
The best seats are by far in the red zone which are on either side of the traverse stage - they are close (and if you sit on the front row a bit of minor interaction with the cast) but at least you get a good view. I was sat in the main green section and the rake is poor and I could not see a thing as I had a large guy sat in front of me. The house was busy though and I can only assume everyone got deals or free seats - no-one should pay £55 to sit here!!!!! Plus of course the theatre was stiflingly hot!
But to the show itself! A great bar area which had been turned into a hippy commune with wigwams and lights and mattresses! You could make out in a tent if you wanted to....I thought they could have done the show promenade style in the bar!
The theatre was decked out with hundreds of ribbons hung from the ceiling and gave it a very hippy vibe. The show is well staged and lit, a great band and the young cast commit themselves fully to the show which has huge energy. It is very well sung with some great voices. However, at this early preview, I just thought it reminded me of an end of term college production or a drama school showcase at times though. The cast "performing" a little too much rather then just being part of the tribe! Hopefully they will relax a little more as the run progresses and loosen up a little.
I love the show though, and of course it contains language that is not PC at all now, and I loved the gasps from the audience who presumably were not familiar with the material!
For those interested (and I know there are - mentioning no names Ryan) the nudity is brief, backlit with the cast huddled in a tight group at the far end of the stage. Again the best seats have to be in the red zone which are either side of the stage. Blink and you will miss it!!
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Post by singularsensation10 on Oct 7, 2017 8:10:25 GMT
However, at this early preview, I just thought it reminded me of an end of term college production or a drama school showcase at times though. The cast "performing" a little too much rather then just being part of the tribe! Hopefully they will relax a little more as the run progresses and loosen up a little. I’m so glad it wasn’t *just me that thought this! the nudity is brief, backlit with the cast huddled in a tight group at the far end of the stage. Again the best seats have to be in the red zone which are either side of the stage. Blink and you will miss it!! I think they handled this really well, it’s still a beautiful part of the show (it actually had me in tears) - the vulnerable honesty of the tribe was definitely portrayed, it wasn’t just a bunch of people getting their kit off. |
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Post by stevej678 on Oct 7, 2017 17:25:51 GMT
According to the programme, Hair is a show that "demands to be performed on a stage that is affordably and accessibly priced" unlike the "eye watering" cost of seeing a show in the West End.
Did no one tell The Vaults?
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Post by stevej678 on Oct 8, 2017 7:56:31 GMT
I thoroughly enjoyed this last night.
The venue has been themed well but it's still far from ideal - the show went up 30 minutes late due to technical issues while the theatre itself was oppressively hot. The cast probably couldn't wait for the final scene in act 1 just to cool down a little in the sweltering heat!
As for the show, this was my first experience of Hair and I loved it. Such a great score performed with huge energy and commitment, complemented by stunning choreography.
Perhaps it felt a bit like High School Musical does Hair at times but I put that down to the youthful exuberance of the cast as much as anything else. While the acting might feel a little forced as if the cast are trying a little too earnestly to impress at times, overall I still found much to like about the performances. Special mention must go to Laura Johnson as Sheila who I thought was terrific and completely natural and at ease with the role.
Despite the lack of impetus to the narrative, it really hits home how the themes of the show still have resonance and relevance today. That's not a bad achievement for a production that feels unashamedly feel-good for much of the evening, never less so than in the uplifting finale with Hippie Life followed by the reprise of Let The Sun Shine In with the audience invited to join the cast on stage.
Fifty years on from the original Broadway production, this anniversary revival of Hair certainly signals a bright new dawn for the age of Aquarius and this iconic 60s musical.
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Post by Peroni on Oct 12, 2017 12:23:08 GMT
I went on Monday the 9th and enjoyed the experience. The best part was being immersed in the hippie sub-culture and experiencing its ideologies embodied with emotion and thrill. The show is excessive - too many songs and lots of visual stimuli, but I think it's supposed to be part of the concept of the show showing all the inspiration that made possible this community. However, overpriced tickets - not because of the production itself, which is very attentive to details and full of talents, but because the venue has lots of bad seats and was too warm inside...
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Post by couldileaveyou on Oct 13, 2017 15:16:06 GMT
I tried to use the promo for tomorrow matinee but it says it's not valid... I thought it didn't work only for Saturday evenings ugh
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Post by QueerTheatre on Oct 31, 2017 13:02:26 GMT
Does anyone know of any valid discounts for this?
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Post by southstreet on Nov 7, 2017 17:39:38 GMT
Bump! Also looking for discounts if any are floating around?
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Post by jamb0r on Nov 8, 2017 12:49:26 GMT
It doesn't look like there's any discounts around at the moment - in fact tickets have been removed from sale completely from a lot of places that were advertising them previously (TodayTix for example)
One thing that is annoying me about this production is that they've posted competitions to win tickets on their Facebook and Twitter pages on numerous occasions, and every time they don't post any terms and conditions, no closing date, and they never announce a winner (this is dating back as far as August). I messaged them on Facebook, DMd and tweeted them - I can see they're reading the messages (and responding to other people) but just ignoring me when I'm calling them out on it - at one point they tweeted saying they would announce a winner the following day, but they never did then deleted the tweet saying they were going to do an announcement.
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Post by wickedgrin on Nov 8, 2017 17:23:23 GMT
This seems to be selling very well - despite the high prices!
According to the website originally it was playing until 3rd December but now extended from 4th December to 13th January with cast, times and prices subject to change. So are there cast changes from 4th December - who is leaving? I thought the present cast were very good.
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Post by nick on Nov 9, 2017 17:56:08 GMT
Well the two cheapest tiers are almost sold out but the top two have plenty of spaces. Bizarrely the yellow row (one above the cheapest) are actually the best seats IMO.
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Post by theatre-turtle on Nov 9, 2017 20:52:54 GMT
I saw this from the £25 seats and absolutely loved it. Me and my partner were quite emotional at the end, it's a very life affirming musical that takes you on an emotional roller coaster.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2017 13:12:29 GMT
Anyone going to the "clothing optional" performance tonight? 😂😂
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Post by anita on Nov 11, 2017 13:36:40 GMT
Anyone going to the "clothing optional" performance tonight? 😂😂 Ryan? |
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Post by distantcousin on Nov 14, 2017 9:06:13 GMT
Anyone going to the "clothing optional" performance tonight? 😂😂
I had friends that did. They're far from regular theatregoers, but are naturists, and they LOVED it!
One said in particular that the piece really moved her too - bonus!
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Post by robertb213 on Nov 19, 2017 21:56:26 GMT
Saw the matinee of this today - while I can't say I fully understood what was going on for some of it, the energy of the cast was amazing and the vocals were outstanding. Possibly overpriced in terms of it's staging and production values (the red section, certainly), but you can't fault it for spirit.
Joanna Francis was on amazing vocal form. And Andy Coxon might be single-handedly responsible for global warming 🔥🔥 for those who are so inclined, the end of the front row of red seating nearest the entrance gives the best, erm, view of him 😉
Oh but avoid the front row of red seating if the thought of interacting with the cast terrifies you. You may well get sat on/stroked/flirted with/pulled up to dance 😁
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Post by Dr Tom on Nov 20, 2017 12:27:14 GMT
I saw the Saturday matinee. The yellow seats are definitely the best ones, close to the action but slightly less audience interaction than the red seats.
I haven't seen this since Manchester. Much tighter, with the whole hall really decorated to set the scene. Think the ensemble was bigger as well.
Fairly full, but there were empty seats in the expensive section. Had a nice chat with the lady next to me (who goes regularly and I suspect posts/lurks here), who said they often take the cheaper seats off sale to fill out the expensive version. Also discovered they are very short of covers, so cut the show as needed based on who is available.
There is also much more nudity than at Manchester. At Manchester, I remember the cast reluctantly stripping, then being in a huddle behind the fence where the band were. Here, they seemed much more into it, the posed in front of the fence with the lights on and everything on show for a few seconds (with enough time to tell that the male cast are unlikely to be American). Best seats for nudity are at the fence end of the red section, although not the best view for the main show.
When you arrive, you give your name and get given a ticket with your section colour. The hall entrance is near the ticket desk. Then, people get called in by group colours. I notice some people ignored the colour and just walked in anyway. It is frustrating waiting at the front of the queue and seeing several seats in the section already taken up (the person who did this is quite well known, will almost certainly read this and probably believes "if you can't beat them, join them" - he also had a great time, as opposed to the group on the other side of me who seemed to hate every second). A little pet peeve. Unallocated seating is always problematic to me.
A great show and works really well in the space.
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Post by nick on Nov 21, 2017 8:17:00 GMT
In the spirit of spreading the word for people with disability, we went to see Hair last week and asked if we could go in first as my wife is unsteady on her feet (she's a part time wheelchair user) and didn't want to get caught up in a crowd.
Also in the spirit of disclosure my daughter brought her boyfriend who hated the show.
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Post by jamb0r on Nov 25, 2017 10:50:24 GMT
I know a few people were asking about offers for this, and they’ve just posted an offer on Facebook:
Save 40% off of Band A (Green) & B (Red) for performances Tue – Thu (including Thu matinee) from 28 Nov – 7 Dec. Just quote BLACKFRIDAY when booking and book by Monday 27 Nov.
This means the top price tickets (including the booking fee) are now £35 and £31.50. Just booked for Tuesday - can’t wait!
(You put the offer code in on the page AFTER you enter your credit card details)
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2017 10:10:23 GMT
Saw this yesterday afternoon, and for me Dr Tom ‘s assessment is fairly accurate to my own - it must be the name! Firstly, out with the negatives. The venue was decorated very aptly inside, however that’s where the praise ends. The ‘print your own’ tickets do make me vom a little, as I never keep them and get tatty very easily. This jars with me as I do love a good keepsake. Although you do get a decent, generic ticket once inside it still doesn’t quite satisfy. The unallocated seating is a worry as people were ignoring the colour band calls to enter the performance space and there was no guarantee of a decent view. We had booked to go two weeks ago with Yellow tickets but all of the trains were cancelled so I called up to rearrange and the venue happily did so, for yesterday, but it was only when I arrived at the theatre I saw we were price band Green. Considering these are more expensive seats, at £50 each, I would have been disappointed to have paid it when the yellow tickets are clearly the best in terms of view. I enjoyed the show itself, particularly Mr Coxon and Mr. Metson. They are very easy on the eye. The energy was high at all times, and the atmosphere created by the venue was ideal. Watching the tribe gathered under a railway arch seemed genuinely authentic. I much preferred the second act to the first, especially Claude’s trip. Loved it. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 2, 2017 17:23:13 GMT
Went back again for the Thursday matinee. A bit over half full.
I got a Red seat this time (from the Black Friday sale). The Yellow seats are the best for first viewing, but this was good for a second viewing to pick out different bits of the staging.
No problem with choosing a good seat or rushing in for the matinee either.
Not much to add to the previous review. All of the main cast were on.
For the Saturday show, the case were already sat meditating when the audience came in. For the Thursday matinee, they entered from the back once everyone was seated.
There was some extended kissing going on during the trip scene. Not going to mention which two people, but one was clearly keen to come up for air.
Quite funny watching one of the single guys go through a choice of seats on arrival, slowly moving himself round until he got the prime end seat with the best view of the nudity (if you're reading this - hope you enjoyed it!).
On for another month and I'm told it's busy at the weekends (like most shows), but the Thursday matinee is good too if the schedule works and you want more of a choice of seats.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2017 10:59:24 GMT
Quite funny watching one of the single guys go through a choice of seats on arrival, slowly moving himself round until he got the prime end seat with the best view of the nudity (if you're reading this - hope you enjoyed it!). It wasn't me I swear! I haven't been yet! What seat did he pick in the end? Asking for a friend . . . Ahem. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 3, 2017 17:12:20 GMT
It wasn't me I swear! I haven't been yet! What seat did he pick in the end? Asking for a friend . . . To help your friend - for male nudity, far side of the stage area after entering, front row, extreme end, next to the band area. The cast strip in two rows and that seat will let you see the second row (who are more concealed behind the front row). That also lets you glimpse around the back to where the cast change between scenes. All the first three seats in that row are good. Three seats in is worth a try too as it might give you a slightly better angle (and you're much more likely to have the cast sit on your knee during the show). |
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