The National Theatre General Thread

[Jon]

The Hot Wing King is one I will book for. It got great reviews back in 2020.

[aspieandy]

A James Graham adaptation that will likely transfer and become a proper earner for the NT, a Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy, a Tony Award-winning adaptation and a Complicité revival. Not the end of the world.

Good writing all round, I imagine. Seems to continue a possible recent trend towards the firm middle brow.

[lynette]

Not the end of the world but not the beginning of a new one either. I’ve never understood this new director thing. If you are appointed to such a prestigious job and I’m not just saying this about the new one to come but the one about to leave, why haven’t you got a list of what you want to do, what would be your dream shows and all the phone numbers in the business you have treasured for years. The old regime shouldn’t be running out of ideas and bringing in shows from America or getting just regional hits for only two weeks. They should be shoving out those massive shows they always wanted to put on, getting the business rockin and rollin and queuing at the door to get on the NT stages.

[Jan]

Jan 23, 2024 14:20:34 GMT aspieandy said:

A James Graham adaptation that will likely transfer and become a proper earner for the NT, 

I wonder how popular it will be, it may be a bit of a museum piece. The TV series was 1982 so not many will remember it, and at the time unemployment was at a historic high of almost 12%, it was dealing with the single biggest social issue of the day. Today mass unemployment just isn't a big issue, it's near a historic low at 4%. I'm not surprised it did well in Liverpool which is where it was set but will be interesting to see if it makes much headway in London. 

[adamkinsey]

Distinctly underwhelmed with the announcements. Nowt there that appeals even a little. Shame, I used to go to the NT 4 or 5 times a year pre-Covid; post-Covid I've been once and doesn't look like I'll be going this year either.

[Jon]

I don't get the anti American mindset from some people. Are we suggesting that no new American plays can debut at the National or banning American classics?

[theglenbucklaird]

Jan 23, 2024 15:51:46 GMT Jan said:

Jan 23, 2024 14:20:34 GMT aspieandy said:

A James Graham adaptation that will likely transfer and become a proper earner for the NT, 

I wonder how popular it will be, it may be a bit of a museum piece. The TV series was 1982 so not many will remember it, and at the time unemployment was at a historic high of almost 12%, it was dealing with the single biggest social issue of the day. Today mass unemployment just isn't a big issue, it's near a historic low at 4%. I'm not surprised it did well in Liverpool which is where it was set but will be interesting to see if it makes much headway in London. 

Yeah back again at the Royal Court in April. Bleasdale, programme and the characters adored in Liverpool. Really interesting to see how it is received in London. I will have to declare an interest that the programme is at least in my top five tv programmes ever so not everyone will share my excitement.

Doesn't look like Andrew Schofield is in the transfer, he was really good as George. Barry Sloane was outstanding as Yosser. Must be a great part to play.

[aspieandy]

Big market for this, imo. Tory's running amok, country falling apart .. election coming. Mental health + workers haven't been this disempowered since universal suffrage. Plenty know someone who is/has suffered at the modern coalface.

[Someone in a tree]

Jan 23, 2024 16:40:11 GMT Jon said:

I don't get the anti American mindset from some people. Are we suggesting that no new American plays can debut at the National or banning American classics?

Im all for american plays, shame we dont get an equal share of other plays from the accross the globe.

The US leads with musicals but with other forms of theatre i think not

[lynette]

Can I just have a moan about the price of the tix? Moan, moan. Thank you

[cartoonman]

I think the NT offers good value compared to other theatres. My problem is that no matter how much I research shows you can never tell if most of them will be good until you see them at first hand.
Still no sign of West Side Story I love to see it at the NT.

[cavocado]

I'm not interested in Hot Wing King, very interested in Mnemonic. The other two I will probably see if I can get £20 tickets. It's not an exciting announcment, but I don't think it's as disappointing as some posters are suggesting - quite a good mix. I think Rufus Norris will be handing over the NT in very good shape, which is not something I'd have predicted after Covid, Manor and Hex. Hopefully Coriolanus will be coming after Mnemonic - I think when it was announced it was just for later in 2024, so still time to fit it in.

Re Lynette's comment on ticket prices, haven't the top prices come down slightly? It looks to be £89 for the Lyttelton and Olivier shows, but is £99 for Dear Octopus and The Witches. Even £89 is still unaffordable for most people, but I suppose it's much lower than WE top prices. The £20 tickets are still great value.

[cavocado]

Jan 23, 2024 22:17:21 GMT cartoonman said:

I think the NT offers good value compared to other theatres. My problem is that no matter how much I research shows you can never tell if most of them will be good until you see them at first hand.
Still no sign of West Side Story I love to see it at the NT.

West Side Story was a hypothetical show from a questionnaire. They mixed it in with some real shows, but would they really leak a big new production in that way? But maybe I'm wrong and it will be in the Oliver for Christmas. I am sure RN will want to go out on a high.

[zahidf]

Yeah, they have 2 transfers in the West End now ( 3 if you include Standing on the Skys Edge) and Witches and Bernada Alba big hits.

The new season has potential, but financially things seem good

[Rory]

Standing at the Sky's Edge is definitely counted as a transfer.

Wasn't Assassins supposed to transfer into the Olivier?

Is there a gap in the Dorfman before The Hot Wing King starts?

[Dave B]

Jan 24, 2024 10:58:54 GMT Rory said:

Is there a gap in the Dorfman before The Hot Wing King starts?

Yup

Till the Stars Come Down	Wednesday, 24 January 2024	Saturday, 16 March 2024
Underdog: The Other Other Brontë	Wednesday, 27 March 2024	Saturday, 25 May 2024
The Hot Wing King	Thursday, 11 July 2024	Saturday, 14 September 2024

[Rory]

Thanks! Not too much of a one then. Can't see anything else going in.

[lynette]

Just to say that £89 is just £1 off £90. Stating the obvious but it’s like when prices were 49/11 say for a pair of shoes ( don’t laugh ) yes 1penny of 50 shillings which was £2 and nearly half a pound so It is very cynical to say £89 like they have priced it down to the last pound. Let them say £90 cos that is what it is. Moreover this is the price for the even the sides of the Lyttleton where you can’t hear because they have still not addressed the wretched acoustic, not just the middle of the stalls as is usual and in the West End. I like a bit of leg room and those seats at the side with space in front are £89.

[shownut]

Jan 23, 2024 16:19:47 GMT adamkinsey said:

Distinctly underwhelmed with the announcements. Nowt there that appeals even a little. Shame, I used to go to the NT 4 or 5 times a year pre-Covid; post-Covid I've been once and doesn't look like I'll be going this year either.

Same here - I think the last thing I saw there was "Standing At The Sky's Edge" which was ages ago (though the stink of it still lingers) and as someone who was there, pre-covid, 3 or more times a year, there is nothing drawing me back any time soon. I thought about THE WITCHES but word of mouth and the overwhelming sense that it was yet one more underbaked British attempt at writing a halfway decent musical kept me away.

I love going there and hope something pops up soon that seems at least half interesting.

[mkb]

The queue on the Priority sale right now is moving very slowly. It's gone down just 150 places in 13 minutes. Those with 2,000+ queue numbers are going to have a long wait. This isn't normal. Wonder if they've got web issues.

[jek]

Yes mkb I went in at 600 and something and am now at just ove 400. It does feel much slower than usual.

[mkb]

All done now. The website was running at normal speed once in. They must have changed the configuration to allow far fewer concurrent users.

[partytentdown]

1906 in the queue! Please can you all hurry up?!

[jek]

Yes - very easy once I was in. Keep the faith partytentdown - at least it doesn't appear to be crashing just as you try to pay!

[mkb]

Each Olivier date had exactly the same seats available for £20 in the front three rows and it was only about a third of the total number. It seems there are a lot of £20 seats, including some more central ones, they don't make available to people who have paid at least £80 -- and possibly substantially more -- for the privilege of buying in this sale. Presumably these are drip-fed into the Advance, Amex and General sales. Nice to know that people with no memberships could get offered better seats. Not.