Open House London Festival
Sept 15, 2024 19:45:41 GMT
londonmzfitz, Someone in a tree, and 1 more like this
Post by raiseitup on Sept 15, 2024 19:45:41 GMT
Has anyone else been enjoying the Open House Festival this weekend?
Had an absolutely incredible guided tour of the Shaftesbury Theatre earlier today. By chance the guide for our slot was the Chief Exec and what was advertised as a 30 minute tour, ended up taking over 90 and was one of the most fascinating and comprehensive tours I've ever taken. We went to all of the front of house areas, on to the stage, down into the substage, props, wigs, quick change booths, through the dressing rooms, up to the costume department and even up on to the roof to see the mechanism for opening up the central dome and the bonkers fly tower mechanisms. Lots of info on the challenges of modernising both the FOH and backstage areas in a grade listed building. He also said his favourite production at the Shaftesbury was Memphis, so the man has taste!
Also had brilliant tours of the St Pancras Hotel and Chambers and the Royal Chelsea Hospital by one of the actual Chelsea Pensioners today.
Unfortunately the Shaftesbury tours were only happening today, but there are some stagey tours still to come, including Theatre Royal Stratford East, Bush Theatre, English National Ballet as well as loads of other cool buildings across London happening until next Sunday. Highly recommend checking out the programme and I've found that although a lot says 'fully booked' slots do open up if you keep doing the occasional refresh.
Had an absolutely incredible guided tour of the Shaftesbury Theatre earlier today. By chance the guide for our slot was the Chief Exec and what was advertised as a 30 minute tour, ended up taking over 90 and was one of the most fascinating and comprehensive tours I've ever taken. We went to all of the front of house areas, on to the stage, down into the substage, props, wigs, quick change booths, through the dressing rooms, up to the costume department and even up on to the roof to see the mechanism for opening up the central dome and the bonkers fly tower mechanisms. Lots of info on the challenges of modernising both the FOH and backstage areas in a grade listed building. He also said his favourite production at the Shaftesbury was Memphis, so the man has taste!
Also had brilliant tours of the St Pancras Hotel and Chambers and the Royal Chelsea Hospital by one of the actual Chelsea Pensioners today.
Unfortunately the Shaftesbury tours were only happening today, but there are some stagey tours still to come, including Theatre Royal Stratford East, Bush Theatre, English National Ballet as well as loads of other cool buildings across London happening until next Sunday. Highly recommend checking out the programme and I've found that although a lot says 'fully booked' slots do open up if you keep doing the occasional refresh.
