Theatre Programmes - is it time to stop?

[londonmzfitz]

www.frontstalls.co.uk/shop

These are a very good price! Wish there was a search function though (unless I'm missing something).

[hannechalk]

Most of the programmes I have acquired so far this year are A4-size.

Dear producers, please use a standard A5.

It fits in my handbag and my display at home then.

[moorhunhe]

I never used to get any of these because I never really saw a point in them, as in, why would I keep this and why would I browse through it more then once?
But for the past 3-4 years I've started to do this.
I think now it's just a nice momento kind of thing, and it's nice to get an autograph in them too in the right spot from the performers.
And I find myself going through them once in a while and be all like "ooh, and this person signed too!".

Got a growing collection now of concert/show/musical programmes.

[lt]

I never buy them for myself, but if I am treating someone to a night out for a birthday etc then I do.

[parsley1]

Waste of paper
Waste of money
Usually filled with adverts
Provide no information you can’t get online

[mkb]

Apr 27, 2024 14:25:04 GMT parsley1 said:

Waste of paper
Waste of money
Usually filled with adverts
Provide no information you can’t get online

Often you can find the CV of an actor online through their agency, but many times you can't. I've been to quite a few regional shows that haven't produced a programme, and trying to find full cast and creatives info is not always easy.

[mkb]

Apr 27, 2024 10:42:04 GMT hannechalk said:

Most of the programmes I have acquired so far this year are A4-size.

Dear producers, please use a standard A5.

It fits in my handbag and my display at home then.

Don't forget the Menier ones. Taller than A4 but quite narrow. Still only £4.00, but there's not much in them.

[mmmbop]

I almost always get a programme because I like having a physical memento of going to save and store, but some of these concerts in particular have tested my limits of value - the Made in Dagenham one was £10 for a flimsy A4 cast list and adverts. If I didn’t know someone in the ensemble I wouldn’t have bought it.

[galinda]

Some of the recent ATG ones from touring productions have been a complete rip off. £6 and just the cast/creative info and a load of adverts. No articles etc. I’m still a mug and buy them though!

[max]

Emma Rice's 'Wise Children' company is at Battersea Arts Centre with 'Blue Beard' at the moment. No programmes, but a postcard size card placed on every seat with a QR Code to get the online programme.

"Our ambition at Wise Children to be a net zero organisation, and so our programme for this show is online only. It's completely free. All we ask in return is that you join or mailing list. we'd love to stay in touch".

Turns out you can see all the content even without joining the mailing list. I just wish it was downloadable as a PDF, but it's a website really.

[aingidh]

Apr 27, 2024 22:13:20 GMT max said:

Emma Rice's 'Wise Children' company is at Battersea Arts Centre with 'Blue Beard' at the moment. No programmes, but a postcard size card placed on every seat with a QR Code to get the online programme.

"Our ambition at Wise Children to be a net zero organisation, and so our programme for this show is online only. It's completely free. All we ask in return is that you join or mailing list. we'd love to stay in touch".

Turns out you can see all the content even without joining the mailing list. I just wish it was downloadable as a PDF, but it's a website really.

I work FOH for one of the theatres this toured to and the lack of "proper" programmes received very negative feedback from audiences, especially given our last season show before that didn't have paper programmes either (freesheets & scripts). I thought it was a nice gesture having the postcards though, for those who wanted a souvenir.

[adamkinsey]

The last time I bought a programme was Follies at the NT. The last time previous to that was Candide at the NT almost 20 years earlier.

[kallyloo]

Personally it depends on the show. I bought a £10 Macbeth programme (Fiennes not Tennant)I barely looked at.
Going forward I’m only buying if I intend to grab some autographs afterwards or it’s a favourite play.
The National has free, very basic playbills and I’d be happy with those for some plays.

[nash16]

I wonder what the priciest programmes have been?

Apparently Spirited Away programmes are £15, advertised as a “souvenir brochure”, but no keepsake alternative available, unless you photograph the digital cast board for the mems. .

[viserys]

May 17, 2024 9:29:52 GMT nash16 said:

Apparently Spirited Away programmes are £15, advertised as a “souvenir brochure”, but no keepsake alternative available, unless you photograph the digital cast board for the mems. .

Everything in Japan is exorbitantly expensive, so they are probably importing the price scale. On the other hand, Japanese programmes can be amazing, very large and thick as a small book. So if it's one of those, the price is fair. If it's a typical London programme, it's a rip-off.

[max]

Apr 28, 2024 23:29:34 GMT adamkinsey said:

The last time I bought a programme was Follies at the NT. The last time previous to that was Candide at the NT almost 20 years earlier.

I've got that Candide programme too!  Well, scanned to digital now.  NT programmes really are worth buying - but I don't think there are many that are.  Early in a run it's pretty disappointing when the only pics are (understandably) rehearsal pics.

Recently I've started saving some material from show websites - homemade digital programme. It's easy but does involve some faff, so if a digital programme was available I'd probably buy one.  At some point they'll need to compute whether lots of people buying a £3 digi programme, is better for them than few buying a paper programme. [But maybe paper programmes sales are at a healthy level - I just don't know]

[anthony40]

See, I wouldn't necessarily disagree with the notion of not buying a programme (personally, I have) however if today was anything to go by, there is clearly still a demand!

Despite two attempts to do so, I couldn't fight my way into the stall with programmes.

[cartoonman]

For shows that the Guildhall School of Music and Drama perform you are e-mailed the programme before the performance. You just print it off or read it on your smart phone. Only a few pages but well written and with all the vital facts. No stocks of unsold programmes left over. I understand that theatres do quite well from selling programmes so can't see this catching on but I think it's a great idea.

[mkb]

May 21, 2024 20:19:50 GMT cartoonman said:

For shows that the Guildhall School of Music and Drama perform you are e-mailed the programme before the performance. You just print it off or read it on your smart phone. Only a few pages but well written and with all the vital facts. No stocks of unsold programmes left over. I understand that theatres do quite well from selling programmes so can't see this catching on but I think it's a great idea.

If Broadway can give everyone a free Playbill, I don't see why we can't all get an included digital programme. Just stick 50p on the ticket price to fund it. Great for the environment too.

[marob]

Was surprised the other night to find that the Coliseum had sold out of programmes for Spirited Away, as it has another three months to run yet. Signs with QR codes to order online. Expensive at £15 but from the couple I saw dotted around it looks really substantial, more like a book, so don’t mind paying that. Bit miffed to see there’s a £4 shipping fee on top though.

[greenandbrownandblue]

The Young Vic seems to have done away with programmes altogether. Last couple of things I've seen there just had a QR code for digital cast list. A shame, as I do like a programme - I have a collection of well over 1000.

Does anyone know if the programmes have returned for Passing Strange?

[Rory]

May 25, 2024 18:46:42 GMT greenandbrownandblue said:

The Young Vic seems to have done away with programmes altogether. Last couple of things I've seen there just had a QR code for digital cast list. A shame, as I do like a programme - I have a collection of well over 1000.

Does anyone know if the programmes have returned for Passing Strange?

I'm not a fan of this sort of thing. I like a physical programme.

[Dave B]

May 25, 2024 18:46:42 GMT greenandbrownandblue said:

Does anyone know if the programmes have returned for Passing Strange?

Not during previews at least.

[stagebyte]

So have we decided these are essentially worthless now or is there anywhere to sell? I have ones going back to the 80s and stopped buying after Covid.
My family will not be interested browsing through them when I pop my clogs.

[max]

May 27, 2024 8:20:53 GMT stagebyte said:

So have we decided these are essentially worthless now or is there anywhere to sell? I have ones going back to the 80s and stopped buying after Covid.
My family will not be interested browsing through them when I pop my clogs.

I recently bought one on Ebay for the NT's 'Tales From Hollywood' as I'd loaned mine to somebody and never got it back - I remembered it had good articles on Jewish artist emigrees to the USA, and that's something I'm really interested in. I'll be digitising it, and may resell it!  But apart from the very motivated buyer I don't think there's a huge call for them - just because it's listed on ebay doesn't mean it will necessarily sell. Is it worth the admin time to sell them individually; and in bulk the postage costs get high because paper's heavy?  Any special ones, or Souvenir Brochures might sell, and so be worth the time and effort to list them.

However - if you choose to part with them, and don't want the hassle of selling, there are people on this board who'd like them. 
I made the mistake of not checking that before digitising and recycling mine; then I was contacted by a board member who would have liked to have them.