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Post by Someone in a tree on Dec 2, 2024 6:36:19 GMT
aspieandy im loving the idea of a dry January
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Post by kate8 on Dec 2, 2024 7:09:19 GMT
Similar to aspieandy, I take a couple of weeks off from theatre 4 times a year. Otherwise it can get a bit relentless, not so much the theatre itself, but the late nights and not having time for other things. |
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Post by marob on Dec 2, 2024 10:51:02 GMT
With local theatres I’ll try and see as many as take my fancy and if I’m planning a trip to London I’ll try and cram as many two shore days in as possible.
For me it’s the theatres that are a little further afield that I end up being put off by. Trains are mostly only hourly and not very reliable. It puts me right off, especially this time of year. Coming home from Manchester last week should have taken about an hour and a half to get back to my hometown. Instead was 2 and a half hours to get partway and ended up getting a lift the rest of the way.
I think I’ve reached a point where I generally enjoy most things but am rarely wowed by anything anymore, so end up feeling that it’s not worth the hassle just for two hours of theatre, especially with the cold and damp this time of year, and the constant worry at the back of my mind about whether the trains are going to be running by its time to come home. Which is a shame as it means I probably am missing a lot of good stuff. I’d like to see Little Shop of Horrors in Sheffield, but just don’t think I can be bothered spending an entire day getting there and back to do so.
Oh, and also ATG making the front row at the Empire premium seats for most things also puts me off. I want to see a show, not guzzle down a bottle of Prosecco or a cheese board or whatever.
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Post by blamerobots on Dec 2, 2024 10:59:11 GMT
I’d like to see Little Shop of Horrors in Sheffield, but just don’t think I can be bothered spending an entire day getting there and back to do so. This, for me. All of the interesting productions I want to see are OUTSIDE of London because the West End feels so stale to me right now. But I can't justify the journey so it becomes a large expense to find a place to stay, buy the tickets, pay for food, transport etc. All to see a show or two!
All of the shows that I'd like to see right now sit solely in the 'rumours' or unannounced category  |
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Post by nick on Dec 2, 2024 11:37:08 GMT
I’d like to see Little Shop of Horrors in Sheffield, but just don’t think I can be bothered spending an entire day getting there and back to do so. This, for me. All of the interesting productions I want to see are OUTSIDE of London because the West End feels so stale to me right now. But I can't justify the journey so it becomes a large expense to find a place to stay, buy the tickets, pay for food, transport etc. All to see a show or two!
All of the shows that I'd like to see right now sit solely in the 'rumours' or unannounced category I was going to say something similar. There aren't enough shows that I WANT to see and that I can actually get to, to mean that I get saturated. Keeping it on topic, it seems fairly obvious that if you go very frequently then at some stage you're bound to become a bit jaded about it. But then I'm a bit of a flibbertygibbert bouncing from one hobby to the next. I've taken up sewing, I've just learnt how to use lime mortar to plaster and I want to return to making reproductions of historical packaging etc etc So maybe I'm the outlier. |
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Post by solotheatregoer on Dec 2, 2024 13:03:29 GMT
I know this sounds a ridiculous post to make on a theatre forum, but does anyone get to saturation point with theatre visits? Apart from Dec and any overseas holidays (although I try to find theatre when I’m away) I’m at the theatre at least twice per week, if not more throughout the year. I’m just feeling really exhausted and started to resent trekking up and down to London at weekends. I’ve cancelled a few shows this month through being tired and awful rail schedules and I’m relieved to not be going to a show (due to trains) until 15th Jan. Does anyone else feel this way? Yep, I know how you feel. I felt the same way really for the first time this year. I have seen 32 shows in total this year and there were definitely a few that I could have done without (Dear Octopus, Romeo & Juliet, Juno and the Paycock come immediately to mind). I typically get to London once a month for a solo theatre trip (hence my username) and I try to pack in as many shows as possible in each visit due to ridiculous hotel costs. Some poor shows and increasing prices have really dampened the experience on more than one occasion. The challenge is, there are some outstanding shows I packed in as 'fillers' that ended up being my highlights (e.g. Sunset Boulevard last year, The Motive and the Cue this year) that I wouldn't have paid to see otherwise. This year, one of my resolutions was to see a show at the ROH. I saw Swan Lake for the first time in April which subsequently triggered a dangerous passion for ballet and my bank balance suffered even more  I have 11 shows booked already for 2025 with a few more planned but I am definitely going to be more selective about what I choose in future (if only to make room for more ballet!). I have been let down by so many productions at the National recently that I feel those will be the first to go. I definitely suffer from theatre fatigue every now again, but honestly it has also been my saving grace after a really difficult few years for me personally. I still get excited completely switching off from work / family, getting the train to London for a couple of days every month and immersing myself into the arts. Pure escapism. |
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Post by lt on Dec 2, 2024 14:09:57 GMT
I’d like to see Little Shop of Horrors in Sheffield, but just don’t think I can be bothered spending an entire day getting there and back to do so. This, for me. All of the interesting productions I want to see are OUTSIDE of London because the West End feels so stale to me right now. But I can't justify the journey so it becomes a large expense to find a place to stay, buy the tickets, pay for food, transport etc. All to see a show or two!
All of the shows that I'd like to see right now sit solely in the 'rumours' or unannounced category I'd recommend trying more off west end shows, that's the majority of my theatre going in London. |
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Post by theatremiss on Dec 2, 2024 22:34:23 GMT
Fwiw, I mostly have a complete break for January* and also August, though the latter has recently expanded (I now spend less time in London between May and August). It's very important imo; you return refreshed and eager to engage
I do like the January break - it's like a firewall on my spreadsheet. And you won't miss anything, unless it only runs for that specific 5-weeks. i find I do go out but to other things as suits, like the Uber/River bus, or Tate, or Kew Gardens or British Museum.
* 'dry January'
I avoid Dec and due to train engineering works I have nothing until 15 Jan, but I’ve just looked at my diary and I have 17 shows and the WoS Awards between 15 Jan - 15 Feb. I already think I won’t make some of them. |
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Dec 2, 2024 23:06:16 GMT
I see a musical in London or beyond (I live in mid Kent) most days and rarely go more than 2 days without one. Keeps my body and brain active. Only missed 6 days in November and with some double show days saw 28 different shows and enjoyed 27 of them.
That particular mojo very much still alive and kicking.
Plus the more I spend while I'm alive and able to, the less the taxman will grab when I go.
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Post by aspieandy on Dec 3, 2024 1:09:07 GMT
Fwiw, I mostly have a complete break for January* and also August, though the latter has recently expanded (I now spend less time in London between May and August). It's very important imo; you return refreshed and eager to engage
I do like the January break - it's like a firewall on my spreadsheet. And you won't miss anything, unless it only runs for that specific 5-weeks. i find I do go out but to other things as suits, like the Uber/River bus, or Tate, or Kew Gardens or British Museum.
* 'dry January'
I avoid Dec and due to train engineering works I have nothing until 15 Jan, but I’ve just looked at my diary and I have 17 shows and the WoS Awards between 15 Jan - 15 Feb. I already think I won’t make some of them.
The first year I did this, I also found the period after got congested - catching up, I guess - though I have managed it better subsequently.
I still book the absolute bangers early (as usual) but leave the ones that look *interesting* until reviews and feedback come in. Then it's a question of do I want to squeeze it in.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Dec 3, 2024 6:47:00 GMT
I see a musical in London or beyond (I live in mid Kent) most days and rarely go more than 2 days without one. Keeps my body and brain active. Only missed 6 days in November and with some double show days saw 28 different shows and enjoyed 27 of them. That particular mojo very much still alive and kicking. Plus the more I spend while I'm alive and able to, the less the taxman will grab when I go. I'm impressed by your stamina Do you ever do theatre trips abroad? |
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Dec 3, 2024 8:39:27 GMT
No. I have been to New York but that was almost 50 years ago. Only flown four times in my life. Long day trips by train and coach with an occasional night in a travelodge is enough for me.
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Post by TallPaul on Dec 3, 2024 10:05:37 GMT
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Post by jake on Dec 3, 2024 10:22:09 GMT
I’d like to see Little Shop of Horrors in Sheffield, but just don’t think I can be bothered spending an entire day getting there and back to do so. This, for me. All of the interesting productions I want to see are OUTSIDE of London because the West End feels so stale to me right now. But I can't justify the journey so it becomes a large expense to find a place to stay, buy the tickets, pay for food, transport etc. All to see a show or two!
I empathise with much of this. It might be coincidence but I think covid has a lot to answer for here. Many of us were prevented from travelling and physical attendance because for some time it was literally, or almost literally, forbidden. And when we were allowed to resume we found the railways had gone into severe decline and hotels cost getting on for double what they used to. If I didn't have friends to put me up in London my current level of theatre attendance would be unaffordable whereas less than a decade ago I'd have thought nothing of booking a Travelodge (other basic hotels are available) in zone 6 for £30 a night or even less. Visiting other cities (and I did like to visit the cities, not just the theatres) is now seldom a practical proposition as hotel costs mean I'm restricted to matinees in places amenable to a day trip and the unreliability of trains means I often can't plan a full day but just get to town a couple of hours before the show and head home straight after. There are other factors, of course - I'm getting older and slowing down a bit - but the contrast between pre- and post- pandemic is too stark to be ignored. |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Dec 3, 2024 12:08:46 GMT
Anywhere that is not the glorious East Riding is a disappointment |
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Post by lt on Dec 3, 2024 12:11:20 GMT
No. I have been to New York but that was almost 50 years ago. Only flown four times in my life. Long day trips by train and coach with an occasional night in a travelodge is enough for me. Wow, do those four flights mean just two trips (ie there and back) or four separate trips? |
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Post by ceebee on Dec 3, 2024 12:14:45 GMT
Anywhere that is not the glorious East Riding is a disappointment None of you have lived unless you've ventured as far as the Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone. |
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Post by lt on Dec 3, 2024 12:19:20 GMT
Anywhere that is not the glorious East Riding is a disappointment None of you have lived unless you've ventured as far as the Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone. In that case I have lived! I went there several times as a child when we lived in Kent. |
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Post by Cleo on Dec 3, 2024 14:12:47 GMT
I too am finding apathy towards going to the theatre, and agree that since the Pandemic things have changed for me. I am fortunate to live close to Stratford-upon-Avon but this year have only been to 3 productions at the RSC - all excellent (Merchant of Venice, The School for Scandal & Pericles) plus Wicked on tour at Birmingham Hippodrome. I am also conscious about the price of tickets, and feel that I would rather pay for a good seat for something I hope will be worthwhile. As for London theatre, nothing since 2019 and no desire to go.
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Dec 3, 2024 21:08:27 GMT
No. I have been to New York but that was almost 50 years ago. Only flown four times in my life. Long day trips by train and coach with an occasional night in a travelodge is enough for me. Wow, do those four flights mean just two trips (ie there and back) or four separate trips? As you asked. Flew to LA for a 21 day coast to coast package tour ending in and returning from NYC. That was on my own in 1977. About 10 years later did a Golden West package tour with partner flying to LA and back from San Francisco. Neither trip included any theatre and all travel in the USA was by coach. No great urge to fly again or even leave the UK now. |
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Post by lt on Dec 3, 2024 22:12:01 GMT
Wow, do those four flights mean just two trips (ie there and back) or four separate trips? As you asked. Flew to LA for a 21 day coast to coast package tour ending in and returning from NYC. That was on my own in 1977. About 10 years later did a Golden West package tour with partner flying to LA and back from San Francisco. Neither trip included any theatre and all travel in the USA was by coach. No great urge to fly again or even leave the UK now. Both sound great trips! |
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