Alma Mater - Almeida

[Rory]

Was press night not last night? Where are all the reviews?!

[Dave B]

Cancelled last night just before 6pm and now just cancelled until Monday due to illness. Good notification, we were due tonight and having heard about last night I was going to ring them to check before heading out but email and text within the past few minutes.

[parsley1]

Over the last few years

“Cancelled due to cast sickness”
“Cast illness”
“Cast personal issues”

Has become ubiquitous particularly in short runs of plays I have noticed

I wonder if everyone has become weaker and it reflects approaches to work ethic

Or if people are more prone to illness and issues in wider society are to blame

Certainly Almeida and Donmar are BY FAR the worst offenders in my experience

I had a spell of 5 shows at Donmar having had a cancelled performance or moved my date

Almeida is around 4

It makes me annoyed for those who don’t live in London and arrange hotels and travel costs

10 years ago I would have been distressed

Usually now given the low standards in theatre they are often doing me a favour and it’s a blessing in disguise

And not so bothered 😊

[Jon]

Jun 19, 2024 13:33:32 GMT parsley1 said:

Over the last few years

“Cancelled due to cast sickness”
“Cast illness”
“Cast personal issues”

Has become ubiquitous particularly in short runs of plays I have noticed

I wonder if everyone has become weaker and it reflects approaches to work ethic

Or if people are more prone to illness and issues in wider society are to blame

Certainly Almeida and Donmar are BY FAR the worst offenders in my experience

I had a spell of 5 shows at Donmar having had a cancelled performance or moved my date

Almeida is around 4

It makes me annoyed for those who don’t live in London and arrange hotels and travel costs

10 years ago I would have been distressed

Usually now given the low standards in theatre they are often doing me a favour and it’s a blessing in disguise

And not so bothered 😊

People do get ill, that's life.

[Rory]

I had been due to see it tomorrow night but I don't think I'll be able to reschedule now before it ends.

[parsley1]

Jun 19, 2024 13:48:15 GMT Jon said:

Jun 19, 2024 13:33:32 GMT parsley1 said:

Over the last few years

“Cancelled due to cast sickness”
“Cast illness”
“Cast personal issues”

Has become ubiquitous particularly in short runs of plays I have noticed

I wonder if everyone has become weaker and it reflects approaches to work ethic

Or if people are more prone to illness and issues in wider society are to blame

Certainly Almeida and Donmar are BY FAR the worst offenders in my experience

I had a spell of 5 shows at Donmar having had a cancelled performance or moved my date

Almeida is around 4

It makes me annoyed for those who don’t live in London and arrange hotels and travel costs

10 years ago I would have been distressed

Usually now given the low standards in theatre they are often doing me a favour and it’s a blessing in disguise

And not so bothered 😊

People do get ill, that's life.

I think people become ill more easily now

[Dave B]

Jun 19, 2024 13:33:32 GMT parsley1 said:

Over the last few years

I wonder if there was any sort of significant illness going around over the last few years...

Anyways within an hour of emailing we were been rebooked by BO on our second choice date

[prefab]

I know that illnesses happen, but still I'm pretty annoyed by this one, as I scheduled my 8 hour flight to London a day earlier specifically to see this (and I won't be able to catch it again because the run is so short).

[showgirl]

I'd booked for this Saturday's matinee & was looking forward to it; had also already booked my train ticket and a film for the morning so now I don't know what to do. I'm very short of alternative matinee slots & of course there are few tickets left throughout the remainder of the run & either very poor or too expensive. Still, I'm better off than you, prefab, as I am/was only going by train, not flying.

[greenandbrownandblue]

Firstly I'm sorry to hear this has been cancelled til Monday, and sorry that some of you won't get the chance to see it.

I saw it on Saturday and really liked it. Lots to think about, with a terrific lead performance from Lia Williams - though it's extremely well acted by the whole ensemble. I was, unusually for many new plays, very invested in the plot, and sided with different characters at various points. It's not perfect, but it's one of the better things I've seen this year.

If you are able to rebook, I definitely would.

[Dave B]

Seemingly a cast change announcement coming…

[Dave B]

And there we go

We're contacting you as someone who has booked for an upcoming performance of our production Alma Mater.

Lia Williams has withdrawn from the production, due to ill health. The role will now be played by Justine Mitchell.

We're really looking forward to welcoming you soon.

[drmaplewood]

Hope she's OK

[pws]

E-mail just in:
Lia Williams has withdrawn from the production, due to ill health. The role will now be played by Justine Mitchell.

[n1david]

Very sorry not to be seeing Lia Williams but it must be significant if she has been replaced this quickly. I wish her all the best.

[Rory]

I hope Lia Williams is ok. She also had to withdraw from the New York run of the Almeida's Oresteia a few years ago.

[MrBunbury]

Jun 20, 2024 11:22:47 GMT Rory said:

I hope Lia Williams is ok. She also had to withdraw from the New York run of the Almeida's Oresteia a few years ago.

How sad! She had withdrawn from the Oresteia because she had fallen off the stage in New York. Hopefully it is nothing too serious this time.

[jr]

I didn't book because of Lia Williams, not into her acting style. I might book now. Of course, I wish her the best.

[ruperto]

I hope Lia Williams is OK.

This whole thing is all a little intriguing. Does anyone else think that Almeida statement looks a little curt?

I went to the first preview on Tuesday 11th June and posted a mini-review on the "Almeida Theatre - rest of 2024" thread. I really enjoyed it, and I thought Lia Williams was brilliant.

But did anyone see that that website Monstagigz has posted a review - their reviewer went on Saturday (15th) and the director apparently came out and said the play was evolving and this was its first performance in its current incarnation: monstagigz.com/2024/06/16/theatre-review-alma-mater-starring-lia-williams-phoebe-campbell-at-the-almeida/#more-29904

That sounds like quite a big rejig, and I was surprised to read that, TBH - I thought the show was in great shape for a first preview, with some really classy writing, though the subject matter is clearly at the more provocative end.

Maybe I need to compare and contrast with someone who has seen it post-Saturday, or after it restarts!

[Steve]

Justine Mitchell is a marvellous actor, so the production is fortunate to have such a good replacement.

Poor Lia Williams. I wish her the speediest possible recovery.

[Dave B]

Almeida of course have quite recent - and hugely successful - experience at a last minute cast change so fingers crossed that everyone is well and that everything goes well for the show too.

[jaggy]

Gutted Lia has left. I was really looking forward to seeing her again. Really hoping it’s nothing too serious.

[greenandbrownandblue]

Jun 20, 2024 13:32:13 GMT ruperto said:

I hope Lia Williams is OK.

This whole thing is all a little intriguing. Does anyone else think that Almeida statement looks a little curt?

I went to the first preview on Tuesday 11th June and posted a mini-review on the "Almeida Theatre - rest of 2024" thread. I really enjoyed it, and I thought Lia Williams was brilliant.

But did anyone see that that website Monstagigz has posted a review - their reviewer went on Saturday (15th) and the director apparently came out and said the play was evolving and this was its first performance in its current incarnation: monstagigz.com/2024/06/16/theatre-review-alma-mater-starring-lia-williams-phoebe-campbell-at-the-almeida/#more-29904

That sounds like quite a big rejig, and I was surprised to read that, TBH - I thought the show was in great shape for a first preview, with some really classy writing, though the subject matter is clearly at the more provocative end.

Maybe I need to compare and contrast with someone who has seen it post-Saturday, or after it restarts!

Yes, Polly Findlay came out at the start of the performance to say they were still finding changing things. You wouldn't have known, watching it - it was was very slick. I know, from overhearing a conversation between front of house, that the interval had been moved, so the first act was 1hr15 and the second act 50mins or so. 

I'm really sad Lia Williams has had to withdraw - I sincerely hope she's ok. Her performance was terrific and incredibly multi-layered, and I feel lucky to have seen it. 

I do love Justine Mitchell though - I imagine she'll play it quite differently though. If I lived closer, I'd be back to see what she does with it. 

[tommy]

Williams was also the reason why I booked, next to the high reputation of this theatre. I hope for her that she may feel better soon.

The theatre seemed to have quickly come up with a solution to resume performances next week and reschedule seating.

[vickyg]

A shame that Lia Williams has had to pull out, I hope she’s okay. I was due to go on Monday and have had an email to say that that performance is also cancelled. I did wonder how they would rehearse a new actor in so quickly and was probably going to return my ticket.