2,711 posts
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Post by viserys on Mar 16, 2016 14:52:11 GMT
People, you should all go and see the French "spectacles" in Paris or on tour. Programmes for those, admittedly quite large and fancy like souvenir brochures, sell for 20 or 25 Euro! It annoys me very much that they don't offer separate programmes for cheap for those who only want to know the cast names and perhaps an article on how the show came about (or in most cases "What the heck were they thinking?!"). I've gone on to check out the cast bios etc on their websites ahead of a show as I can't justify 20-25 Euro for something gathering dust soon enough.
Interesting observation from the two tours in Amsterdam in recent months: When the UK Tour of Priscilla came to town, they sold souvenir brochures that didn't even contain a cast list of the tour. Had to pull that up online on my phone (and was very annoyed that I had forked out for the brochure). Now with the US Tour of Pippin they are handing out free "playbills" (that don't look like the American playbills with their yellow cover) that contain a synopsis and a cast list, but no cast bios. Would it have broken the bank to add another page? Also, the ushers didn't hand the freebies to everyone coming in, you had to ask for one. It was all a bit odd.
All this said, I think the programmes in London are usually okay, only the Menier programmes are a rip off. I also just can't not buy them as I have amassed this big collection now and I do always want to know who I'm seeing and I love the background articles and everything.
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2,041 posts
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Post by 49thand8th on Mar 16, 2016 15:12:58 GMT
Now with the US Tour of Pippin they are handing out free "playbills" (that don't look like the American playbills with their yellow cover) that contain a synopsis and a cast list, but no cast bios. Would it have broken the bank to add another page? Also, the ushers didn't hand the freebies to everyone coming in, you had to ask for one. It was all a bit odd. Wow. Really? The Pippin tour is still Equity, right? You have to have headshots and bios of everyone in the cast. (Some tour venues don't use the actual Playbill design or content, based on their contract.) |
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172 posts
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Post by musicalfloozie on Mar 16, 2016 16:52:46 GMT
I love my programmes and pay anything for them but have an ever growing collection to keep storing somewhere and as you say come in all shapes and sizes.Me and other half play spot who's been in The Bill. No doubt will have to knock this game on the head as been off air for ages haha.
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Post by d'James on Mar 16, 2016 18:03:09 GMT
I love my programmes and pay anything for them but have an ever growing collection to keep storing somewhere and as you say come in all shapes and sizes.Me and other half play spot who's been in The Bill. No doubt will have to knock this game on the head as been off air for ages haha. Play spot who's been in Doctors instead. |
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209 posts
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Post by Flim Flam on Mar 16, 2016 18:35:36 GMT
Before they sign up for the Coronation Street/Eastenders 'retirement plan'.
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19,858 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 16, 2016 19:32:04 GMT
I never buy one. "Muck gatherers" as Granny Burly would have said. If there's someone in the show who's particularly sexy talented I look up the cast on the production's website after the show and get their name, then I spend hours stalking researching them. There were a couple in Footloose* on Monday who've been keeping me aroused busy this week. Hardly had time for the day job!  *not Gareth! |
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4,046 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Mar 16, 2016 19:38:57 GMT
I love my programmes and pay anything for them but have an ever growing collection to keep storing somewhere and as you say come in all shapes and sizes.Me and other half play spot who's been in The Bill. No doubt will have to knock this game on the head as been off air for ages haha. Play spot who's been in Doctors instead. I do spot who's been in Midsomer Murders for plays & spot who's been in Les Mis for musicals. |
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4,164 posts
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Post by kathryn on Mar 16, 2016 21:00:58 GMT
I love my programmes and pay anything for them but have an ever growing collection to keep storing somewhere and as you say come in all shapes and sizes.Me and other half play spot who's been in The Bill. No doubt will have to knock this game on the head as been off air for ages haha. Play spot who's been in Doctors instead. I play spot who's been in Doctor Who! |
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682 posts
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Post by westendcub on Mar 17, 2016 13:12:21 GMT
'Doctors' is definitely common these days to have on TV credits
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209 posts
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Post by Flim Flam on Mar 17, 2016 13:58:17 GMT
I play spot who's been in Doctor Who! I have, on occasion, played the same game... and not just while watching people on the stage... the night tube is an interesting place... I said hello in passing to Tom Baker once when I was strolling through theatreland. Thought he was someone I knew, until about 2 seconds later, when I realised that I knew him only from the telly. Does that count? |
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209 posts
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Post by Flim Flam on Mar 17, 2016 18:28:28 GMT
Doh, the jelly babies obviously...
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5,121 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 17, 2016 21:26:46 GMT
£10 for one at War of the Worlds.
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1,532 posts
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Post by Steve on Mar 17, 2016 23:49:17 GMT
A bargain £20 for an Adele programme at the O2 Arena.
Comes with listings for all the memorable songs, such as "Never mind, I'll find a programme like you" and "Hello from the class divide."
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19,858 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 18, 2016 14:57:32 GMT
A bargain £20 for an Adele programme at the O2 Arena. Comes with listings for all the memorable songs, such as "Never mind, I'll find a programme like you" and "Hello from the class divide." Last Friday I saw Lady Bunny perform her tribute to Adele which consisted of her turning her back to the audience, sticking the microphone in her bum while a track played "Hello from my backside" in a chipmunk style voice. We we get all the best stuff in Manc. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2016 15:08:41 GMT
A bargain £20 for an Adele programme at the O2 Arena. Comes with listings for all the memorable songs, such as "Never mind, I'll find a programme like you" and "Hello from the class divide." Last Friday I saw Lady Bunny perform her tribute to Adele which consisted of her turning her back to the audience, sticking the microphone in her bum while a track played "Hello from my backside" in a chipmunk style voice. We we get all the best stuff in Manc. But did you buy the programme?  |
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19,858 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 18, 2016 15:26:47 GMT
Last Friday I saw Lady Bunny perform her tribute to Adele which consisted of her turning her back to the audience, sticking the microphone in her bum while a track played "Hello from my backside" in a chipmunk style voice. We we get all the best stuff in Manc. But did you buy the programme? And drop even more GBP into Bianca Del Rio's handbag? Not on your nellie! |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2016 17:46:02 GMT
I say, Burly, you've had a full week already haven't you? Bianca Del Rio AND Footloose in the space of a few days... You certainly live life to the full, you cheeky bear!  |
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19,858 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 18, 2016 18:11:26 GMT
I say, Burly, you've had a full week already haven't you? Bianca Del Rio AND Footloose in the space of a few days... You certainly live life to the full, you cheeky bear! Living the dream, Babe. Living the dream. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2016 18:20:33 GMT
I've a confession to make, Burly. I've succombed and bought myself a ticket for... Sunset Boulevard. (There seemed to be rather a lot still to sell. And I know, I know... after everything I've ribbed you for.) Fingers crossed Ria's on. You never know, we might be sitting next to eachother! If that's the case, I'll treat you to a programme if you buy me a bottle of water!  |
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19,858 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 18, 2016 19:50:29 GMT
I've a confession to make, Burly. I've succombed and bought myself a ticket for... Sunset Boulevard. (There seemed to be rather a lot still to sell. And I know, I know... after everything I've ribbed you for.) Fingers crossed Ria's on. You never know, we might be sitting next to eachother! If that's the case, I'll treat you to a programme if you buy me a bottle of water! Doubt it! |
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724 posts
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Post by basdfg on Apr 23, 2016 19:17:35 GMT
I always buy a programme. I have only ever watched a paid performance once and not brought one and that was a dance school performance where the ticket holders only arrived just on time and they were none left at the end.
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330 posts
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Post by RedRose on Apr 26, 2016 9:13:20 GMT
I went to my first Swedish theatre recently. The programme they sold was very basic but with good quality of the paper: actors and director's biographies (only concerning their theatrework) with photos and mentioning of the rest of the crew. It costs 20 Swedish crones, about 1,70 Pounds. As I don't understand much Swedish I didn't miss more infos about the play or the production.
They don't have any stage door culture in Sweden so I was happy we managed to get our programmes signed after the play.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 9:21:43 GMT
I always buy a programme. They're all in a box in the corner of the room.
It's comforting to know that I'm sitting on top of a gigantic fire hazard. At least the fire brigade will be able to pinpoint the exact cause should my house go off like a roman candle. Which is good.
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410 posts
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Post by maggiem on Apr 27, 2016 10:42:18 GMT
I always buy a programme. They're all in a box in the corner of the room. It's comforting to know that I'm sitting on top of a gigantic fire hazard. At least the fire brigade will be able to pinpoint the exact cause should my house go off like a roman candle. Which is good. Same here! I still have my RSC and other West End programmes from 1990-94 when I lived near London. |
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1,016 posts
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Post by talkstageytome on Aug 4, 2016 0:04:03 GMT
Just got back from the seeing the RSC's Hamlet (which I really enjoyed!). Always forget how great the programmes are at the RSC. £4 gets you an A4 full colour programme / brochure on nice feeling paper, with tons of photos and articles inside as well as the cast list. AND they're always really on it with their understudy slips too. Excellent value for money in my opinion! Especially compared to the book of adverts with a few pages of cast bios which most West End shows supply you with nowadays!
Speaking of understudy slips, I'm STILL annoyed that shows with regular alternates don't always supply you with an understudy slip. I remember seeing Wicked in 2012 and finding an A4 colour photo of the understudy Elphaba (it was Hayley Gallivan) along with her bio, tucked into the programme. Totally brilliant. Always wanted Memphis to do the same (I know loads of shows have alternates, but Memphis was the last one I saw as far as I can remember). Especially when both lead roles were regularly played each week by the alternates, and particularly when Rachel John took over as lead at the end of the run. It would've been nice to have a photo to remember the performance by, but maybe I'm just a bit too obsessed with documenting the casts I see.
Anyway, rant over, I appreciate I'm reviving a long dead thread. Just wanted to moon over the lovely RSC programmes. Other theatres should take note, I wouldn't have minded paying a bit more for it given how nice it was, while often I begrudge paying the £4 in London, based on the (lack of) content inside.
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