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Post by Jan on Oct 18, 2023 19:28:11 GMT
I think it's an interesting thing to try, They're doing it for a selection of performances, and not every Tues/Thurs performance, so they'll be able to compare audience levels, bar sales, any post-theatre restaurant bounce, etc. When I worked latterly in Central London 6.30 would have been perfect for me, as I don't like eating before a show, so normally ended up in the pub which wasn't great either (at other parts of my career I often couldn't even make 7.30). Time will tell how they work out - if successful, we could well see other theatres having a go at this too. I think it fits into the whole "working out what the working week now looks like" post-pandemic. They used to have staggered starting times at their three theatres, 7:15, 7:30 and 7:45. Of course for the 7:15 start there was a often a big influx of latecomers at 7:30, a potential problem for the 6:30 start. The Almeida always used to have an 8:00 start. |
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Post by Jon on Oct 18, 2023 20:15:16 GMT
People who are interested in the background to 'Nye' might be interested in a 2015 documentary with Michael Sheen looking at the political radicalism of the Welsh Valleys, which was repeated earlier this week. Nye Bevan gets a few mentions. On iPlayer for about a month: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0547tsj/michael-sheens-valleys-rebellion(Warning: contains Owen Jones. And David TC Davies. And Neil Kinnock. And James Dean Bradfield) Contains Owen Jones is a good content warning!! |
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Post by showgirl on Oct 19, 2023 4:02:06 GMT
I'm definitely keen on earlier evening starts and said so in the survey. However, running time is also important so if the NT then programmes what turn out to be longer productions in the earlier slots, the result for me will be the same: too late even to stay awake for the duration, never mind to travel home. Glad to hear they have added (or restored) the much-missed "matinee" option to the booking system but running time is key info which is never available at the booking stage when a new season first goes live. I appreciate that they won't have a better idea until previews and that things can change - eg an interval may be added or removed - but directors must have some idea merely from the script length, whether it's likely to be 90 mins or 3 hours and could surely give an estimate. If it's an existing play or musical, previous versions can help but not if it's a new work.
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Post by cartoonman on Oct 19, 2023 11:10:13 GMT
I get free parking at Woodford Station after 5.00 PM but I think I could just make it for 6.30 but I'll stick to the 7.30 starts rather than rush.
No sign of West Side Story so I'll hope it comes up in future.
Dear Octopus sounds interesting has anyone seen it and is it any good? You tube and BBC Sounds have a Radio Play available.
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Post by Jon on Oct 19, 2023 11:13:22 GMT
I think 6.30pm is a tad early, I think 7pm would be my preferred option.
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Post by anthony40 on Oct 19, 2023 11:33:33 GMT
Please correct me if I'm wrong but didn't traditionally didn't all shows start at 8pm? And then that all changed when Les Miz came along?
The thing was so friggin' long they had to move the start time back and then from that point shows started stated at 7:30pm.
When I purchased my ticket for The Witches at the box office the start time of 7pm was clearly explained to me.
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Post by cavocado on Oct 19, 2023 11:36:36 GMT
The Globe has a range of start times (1pm and 2pm matinees, occasional 6.30 evenings). I wonder if they get many people turning up at the wrong time? I can see how it's easy to book 7.15/7.30/7.45 as 'evening' without giving much though to the actual time. I've been late before at Stratford, where I think it's 7.15 in the RST and 7.30 in the Swan, but maybe 6.30pm is a more conscious choice?
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Post by Jon on Oct 19, 2023 11:38:53 GMT
The Globe has a range of start times (1pm and 2pm matinees, occasional 6.30 evenings). I wonder if they get many people turning up at the wrong time? I can see how it's easy to book 7.15/7.30/7.45 as 'evening' without giving much though to the actual time. I've been late before at Stratford, where I think it's 7.15 in the RST and 7.30 in the Swan, but maybe 6.30pm is a more conscious choice? You'd be surprised how tardy people's timekeeping is. |
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Post by anthony40 on Oct 19, 2023 12:32:28 GMT
The Globe has a range of start times (1pm and 2pm matinees, occasional 6.30 evenings). I wonder if they get many people turning up at the wrong time? I can see how it's easy to book 7.15/7.30/7.45 as 'evening' without giving much though to the actual time. I've been late before at Stratford, where I think it's 7.15 in the RST and 7.30 in the Swan, but maybe 6.30pm is a more conscious choice? You'd be surprised how tardy people's timekeeping is. Oh, I have no doubt. Look at how many people enter the theatre when it is the appropriate time to do so. I hate being late. So much so that I count backwards from the start time to try and guestimate what time to leave in order to arrive on time. |
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Post by mkb on Oct 19, 2023 16:29:55 GMT
I'm sure most latecomers are not late by design or negligence.
The unreliability of travel has a lot to answer for.
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Post by Jon on Oct 19, 2023 16:33:23 GMT
I'm sure most latecomers are not late by design or negligence. The unreliability of travel has a lot to answer for. Again, I think some people are just terrible in terms of timekeeping. Obviously delays can't be controlled by one person but knowing something starts at x time means you can plan for any inevitable problems. |
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Post by mkb on Oct 19, 2023 16:38:05 GMT
I'm sure most latecomers are not late by design or negligence. The unreliability of travel has a lot to answer for. Again, I think some people are just terrible in terms of timekeeping. Obviously delays can't be controlled by one person but knowing something starts at x time means you can plan for any inevitable problems. I'm currently stuck on a stationary train into Euston for a show tonight. What plans should I be making? Maybe Tom Cruise to smash a window and winch me up in a helicopter? Please be realistic. People often can't help being late despite the best laid plans. |
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Post by Dave B on Oct 19, 2023 16:55:20 GMT
Anyone been to Vanya recently? The 7.00pm start and the sheer number of people let in during an allegedly suitable moment at 7.30... sheesh.
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Post by mkb on Oct 19, 2023 17:12:59 GMT
The National will fare better than most with early midweek starts, because of the size of the building and the many points of entry, but my experience elsewhere has been that early starts tend to lead to the majority of the audience arriving five minutes before the start and delays while everyone queues to get in.
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Post by cartoonman on Oct 19, 2023 19:17:29 GMT
I have just listened to Dear Octopus on YouTube. It strikes me as a very dated play (written just before the war)about a middle class family all telling their own stories. I wonder if the NT will update it or keep it with the cook and chauffeur and muffins for tea as written. It hasn't been performed for years. If I can get a cheap ticket I'll go but the other plays look more attractive.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Oct 20, 2023 0:49:10 GMT
Dear Octopus is an unusual choice but sometimes these plays can come alive with the right cast.
There is talk of a Somerset Maugham play going out on tour next year. Not sure which. But he is a writer who used to be frequently revived but hardly sees the light of day now.
Giving lost gems a fresh airing is certainly the sort of thing the National should be doing. Just a matter of finding them.
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Post by Jan on Oct 20, 2023 6:48:11 GMT
There is talk of a Somerset Maugham play going out on tour next year. Not sure which. But he is a writer who used to be frequently revived but hardly sees the light of day now. The Orange Tree are touring their production of The Circle (the intention is with the original cast) which as I said at the time was very good if you like that sort of thing. It is being restaged for a proscenium stage - I forget where the venues are going to be, it is the Bath/Cambridge type of circuit - someone here aptly called it the Waitrose circuit. |
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Post by Jan on Oct 20, 2023 6:51:31 GMT
The National will fare better than most with early midweek starts, because of the size of the building and the many points of entry, but my experience elsewhere has been that early starts tend to lead to the majority of the audience arriving five minutes before the start and delays while everyone queues to get in. Oh ... that's what really annoys me ... theatres where the show doesn't actually start at the scheduled time. The Almeida are terrible for that and it's nothing to do with latecomers - they will sometimes wait till close to 7:45 before starting even when the place is already full. |
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Post by oxfordsimon on Oct 20, 2023 7:35:40 GMT
There is talk of a Somerset Maugham play going out on tour next year. Not sure which. But he is a writer who used to be frequently revived but hardly sees the light of day now. The Orange Tree are touring their production of The Circle (the intention is with the original cast) which as I said at the time was very good if you like that sort of thing. It is being restaged for a proscenium stage - I forget where the venues are going to be, it is the Bath/Cambridge type of circuit - someone here aptly called it the Waitrose circuit. I believe the Oxford Playhouse is on the list (hence why I had heard some talk) |
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Post by Jan on Oct 20, 2023 7:39:24 GMT
The Orange Tree are touring their production of The Circle (the intention is with the original cast) which as I said at the time was very good if you like that sort of thing. It is being restaged for a proscenium stage - I forget where the venues are going to be, it is the Bath/Cambridge type of circuit - someone here aptly called it the Waitrose circuit. I believe the Oxford Playhouse is on the list (hence why I had heard some talk) Yes I'm pretty sure it was. I think possibly Malvern too, and a couple of others. I wasn't really listening as I'd already seen it. |
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Post by theatremiss on Oct 20, 2023 14:10:01 GMT
I wish they had an early Fri or Sat start and not just a couple of days mid-week
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Post by lynette on Oct 20, 2023 20:44:35 GMT
I wish they kept the FOH cafe/bar open after an evening show. Do they think people will be eating at the places in the NT? Hmm….
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Post by paplazaroo on Dec 12, 2023 11:11:00 GMT
A bit of twitter sleuthing is indicating Indhu could be announced as the next AD soon.
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Post by zahidf on Dec 12, 2023 22:47:32 GMT
A bit of twitter sleuthing is indicating Indhu could be announced as the next AD soon. Confirmed. Great news |
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Post by theatrelover97 on Dec 13, 2023 0:16:39 GMT
Interesting choice.
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