Theatre Programmes - is it time to stop?

[nick]

Dec 1, 2023 21:51:30 GMT marob said:

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.

[mrbarnaby]

Very much enjoying this thread.

I threw loads of mine away and only kept ones for shows I really loved., but I had thousands before that and no room to store them.

Every now and again I’ll have a flick though them and it’s lovely to reminisce (spelling?!)

I won’t ever throw away my souvenir brochures though and I love looking at the old show pictures within

Sadly on Broadway they seem to rarely do Souvenir Brochures (or Programs as they call them) anymore.

[nick]

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.

[hannechalk]

I love my programmes!

I have a net of fairy lights on the wall behind my bed, and I put them on there for the current year.

In January I clear all but December's to start a new collection.

I love looking at them.

[crabtree]

As I lurch in to, if not the final curtain but certainly the last act, what the heck am I going to do with nearly two thousand programmes dating back to the early 70's. How rich I would be in one respect if I'd never discovered theatre, but how poor in otheer respects.

[alece10]

Feb 5, 2024 14:01:51 GMT crabtree said:

As I lurch in to, if not the final curtain but certainly the last act, what the heck am I going to do with nearly two thousand programmes dating back to the early 70's. How rich I would be in one respect if I'd never discovered theatre, but how poor in otheer respects.

I feel exactly the same. I've got programmes stashed away allover the place. Lord knows what I'm going to do with them. Maybe make a papier mache coffin?

[viserys]

Donate them somewhere?

I still haven't had a chance to visit the West End Flea Market and thus don't know if it's any good, but the Broadway Flea Market always has tons of old playbills, souvenir brochures (and indeed London programmes) that are very popular with fans and collectors. The proceeds go to Broadway Cares.

[Fleance]

I love programmes. I put them in order of the venue (after sorting for unusual sizes). A recent problem is when theater names change. Should I put my Comedy programmes in the new Harold Pinter section; and the Albery programmes in a new Noel Coward section; etc.? 

[anthony40]

(I am currently in Australia 🇦🇺- returning on 16th March) but I’d be happy to take any bold, unwanted theatre programmes.

Just DM me 🙏

[seasider]

Feb 5, 2024 18:29:49 GMT Fleance said:

I love programmes. I put them in order of the venue (after sorting for unusual sizes). A recent problem is when theater names change. Should I put my Comedy programmes in the new Harold Pinter section; and the Albery programmes in a new Noel Coward section; etc.? 

I put mine in order of producer

[Jan]

Dec 1, 2023 7:09:58 GMT nick said:

Dec 1, 2023 0:36:42 GMT oxfordsimon said:

Museums and libraries are digitising their collections like mad. And I’m sure they preserve their digital collections as diligently as their physical collection.

The British Library has only just partially opened again after a massive cyber attack in October which took their website down, wiped out all their catalogues, encrypted and deleted parts of their on-line data, denied them access to email, released all their staff data onto the dark web, and much more. Even now you can only access their physical collection and only by filling in paper forms manually. 


 blogs.bl.uk/living-knowledge/2023/12/knowledge-under-attack.html

As for preserving their physical collections diligently the record is similarly mixed: over 2000 items (they are not sure exactly how many as they hadn't catalogued them all) were stolen from the British Museum over several years by a staff member and sold on eBay. 

[anthony40]

😱

[threeletteracronym]

Feb 5, 2024 15:17:14 GMT alece10 said:

Feb 5, 2024 14:01:51 GMT crabtree said:

As I lurch in to, if not the final curtain but certainly the last act, what the heck am I going to do with nearly two thousand programmes dating back to the early 70's. How rich I would be in one respect if I'd never discovered theatre, but how poor in otheer respects.

I feel exactly the same. I've got programmes stashed away allover the place. Lord knows what I'm going to do with them. Maybe make a papier mache coffin?

I rather like that idea!

[theatrelover97]

I still buy a programme for every single show (I recently found the programme for the first ever west end show I went to.)
but I never seen many others buy them now. I have noticed through people going to the theatre alone tend buy one ' probably because they more likely to a theatre fan and a collector of programmes.

I also wonder if some sales are lost by theatres going card only when many people don't like using card.

[monsieurmarshall]

I love a good programme - and still buy them for most shows I see. Always enjoy reading them on the tube ride home.

I keep a few beloved ones out, but most get stored (in chronological order) in boxes.

I spend one or two glorious rainy Sundays every year on the floor going through them all - love spotting actors in supporting roles who later blew up. The trends/ patterns and cycles of revivals are always interesting (but sometimes sad) to see again.

For economy (space and finance) I am a big fan of Playbills for accurate performance cast lists and the BFI screening flyers for bios, history, essays and reviews etc.

[Deleted]

I buy a programme every visit to the theatre and still have most of them, really gutted during a move a few years back a box went missing with all my programmes from my first programme (Summer Holiday, signed by Clare Buckfield, Darren Day and Ross King) to around 2015 had some real great memories in there from lesser revived shows like From a Jack to a King and Doctor Dolittle signed by Phillip Schofield (don't think that one would be worth much these days though).

[ThereWillBeSun]

I have a bit of a theatre addiction but programmes are my happy place.

Would be great if they were :

1) free
2) a reliable size like Playbills

My mission this summer is to proper organise!

[londonmzfitz]

Feb 20, 2024 18:02:33 GMT @manchestertheatrefan said:

I buy a programme every visit to the theatre and still have most of them, really gutted during a move a few years back a box went missing with all my programmes from my first programme (Summer Holiday, signed by Clare Buckfield, Darren Day and Ross King) to around 2015 had some real great memories in there from lesser revived shows like From a Jack to a King and Doctor Dolittle signed by Phillip Schofield (don't think that one would be worth much these days though).

I was thinking about From A Jack To A King only yesterday - that was a lot of fun.  20 years ago I knew someone who knew Jack Carlton and said he'd get my programme signed for me.  Dunno where that is now ... I do still have the Rolf Harris panto at Wimbledon programme though, goddammit.  

[Deleted]

Feb 21, 2024 10:00:54 GMT londonmzfitz said:

Feb 20, 2024 18:02:33 GMT @manchestertheatrefan said:

I buy a programme every visit to the theatre and still have most of them, really gutted during a move a few years back a box went missing with all my programmes from my first programme (Summer Holiday, signed by Clare Buckfield, Darren Day and Ross King) to around 2015 had some real great memories in there from lesser revived shows like From a Jack to a King and Doctor Dolittle signed by Phillip Schofield (don't think that one would be worth much these days though).

I was thinking about From A Jack To A King only yesterday - that was a lot of fun.  20 years ago I knew someone who knew Jack Carlton and said he'd get my programme signed for me.  Dunno where that is now ... I do still have the Rolf Harris panto at Wimbledon programme though, goddammit.  

From a Jack to a King was fun show, but was always poorly compared to Carlton's other work Return to the Forbidden Planet - both need to come back soon.

[galinda]

Feb 21, 2024 0:56:33 GMT ThereWillBeSun said:

I have a bit of a theatre addiction but programmes are my happy place.

Would be great if they were :

1) free
2) a reliable size like Playbills

My mission this summer is to proper organise!

How amazing would it be if they were all the same size? Playbill sized would be perfect! Hate the massive ones that don’t fit in my bag!!

I’m another who has to get a programme for every show I see. I hate it when venues run out of progs. It has happened quite a few times at ATG venues on the last day of touring shows.

[distantcousin]

I used to love them, but I've gone off them. Ones that just have the credits, the same old headshots and credits, then a bunch of adverts are lazy in the extreme.

I want production shots, articles on the show/production itself/directors notes, or I'm just not wasting my money anymore.

[distantcousin]

Dec 1, 2023 9:43:33 GMT Dr Tom said:

I can see the appeal of programmes, but I just end up with too much clutter. Back in the days when I used to promote events, we always had programmes (although with nowhere near the production values of today). Lots of people would buy them, you could have signed copies for prizes, and they would make a big different towards whether an event was profitable or not.

They are largely worthless afterwards, unfortunately. I do sometimes buy collections of old programmes purely for interest value and they're fascinating to look through, especially for shows I attended and didn't buy a programme first time around. I still have nowhere really to put them!

agree that they are mostly worthless. When I've glanced on ebay, most sell for less than original face value.

[eatbigsea]

Was at Plaza Suite tonight, they had run out of programmes, people were annoyed and the staff were very apologetic. I think it depends on the production and the clientele.

[VodkaStinger]

Never bought one (although I've taken a few left behind when it's clear no one would come back for them).

Sometimes I regret not getting them as souvenirs but then I think that the ££ saved is better spent on seeing more shows. I do love (free) Playbills though!

[Peter]

Feb 21, 2024 20:29:31 GMT galinda said:

Feb 21, 2024 0:56:33 GMT ThereWillBeSun said:

I have a bit of a theatre addiction but programmes are my happy place.

Would be great if they were :

1) free
2) a reliable size like Playbills

My mission this summer is to proper organise!

How amazing would it be if they were all the same size? Playbill sized would be perfect! Hate the massive ones that don’t fit in my bag!!

I’m another who has to get a programme for every show I see. I hate it when venues run out of progs. It has happened quite a few times at ATG venues on the last day of touring shows.

Case in point - Wicked at the Bristol Hippodrome tonight, even though it has another three days to go… At least they have a digital board with the cast, orchestra and production team on in the foyer