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Post by foxa on Apr 9, 2016 14:25:55 GMT
Has 2016 got off to a much better start than 2015 for anyone else?
I had a really dismal year of theatre-going last year - one of my theatre-buddies said she was beginning to go off theatre entirely after a few real stinkers but so far this year I've had:
Uncle Vanya
People Places Things
Bug
Sunset Boulevard
All fantastic theatre-affirming experiences.
How has it been for you?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2016 14:31:05 GMT
The highlight of my year thus far has been seeing In the Heights, which I thought was just incredible. It will be interesting to see how this year matches up to last considering I had two of my now favourite shows open in London (Kinky Boots and Gypsy) which I have now seen both three times each.
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Post by Steffi on Apr 9, 2016 14:57:15 GMT
I have started to cut back on my London theatre trips a bit since I've been flying to New York more often. So I see less of what's on in London but the shows I have watched (some repeatedly) this year I enjoyed: In the Heights, Secret Cinema (it's part immersive performance so I'm counting it as theatre), The Father, Jersey Boys, Last Night a DJ saved my life (so bad it was good), Miss Atomic Bomb, Kinky Boots, Gecko's Institute...
I'm booked to see King Lear at Birmingham Rep, Secret Cinema's Dirty Dancing, Groundhog Day, JCS at the Open Air Theatre and Jekyll & Hyde at the Old Vic amongst others. That plus shows on Broadway and quite a few visits to Sleep no more in New York make for a great theatre year for me at this point. Not better than 2015 though just with slightly shifted priorities.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2016 15:44:46 GMT
I had a really dismal year of theatre-going last year - one of my theatre-buddies said she was beginning to go off theatre entirely after a few real stinkers but so far this year I've had: Uncle Vanya People Places Things Bug Sunset Boulevard All fantastic theatre-affirming experiences. This is interesting! May I ask, have you actively revised your theatregoing parameters, to try to cut out duds like those you chose to see last year? Or is it that your regular theatre haunts are more to your taste this year? |
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Post by foxa on Apr 9, 2016 16:10:02 GMT
I don't know that I consciously have done anything differently though some of my regular haunts last year had a surprising number of duds so I suppose I did get pickier with (say) the Young Vic. I did book People Places Things based on the enthusiasm for it on here, but most things I book well before they open so am just taking a punt. Perhaps I'm choosing better or maybe there has been some unusually good stuff out there. Hard to think how Paul Rhys, Jessica Brown Findlay, Denise Gough, Kate Fleetwood, James Norton, Glenn Close could have been more powerful, raw, exciting....those performances are going to stick with me.
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Post by Michael on Apr 9, 2016 16:39:49 GMT
I've already seen a couple of great shows this year, however mostly on the other side of the pond (Newsies tour, Aladdin, School of Rock, Something Rotten) and more to come.
However, because of Memphis, nothing is ever going to beat last year. I'm incredibly grateful for having seen this show a, at all and b, that often and I'll always happily look back.
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Post by Phantom of London on Apr 9, 2016 17:11:25 GMT
Theatre can be painful, unbearable and exhilarating.
However you have to turn over a few works to find the later, but when you do it reaffirms your faith in the performing arts and confirms why you don't sit in your house with a box set
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Post by showgirl on Apr 9, 2016 17:43:29 GMT
Maybe I'm undiscriminating but all years seem the same to me in terms of quantity & quality: some great stuff, some duds, some things fine at the time but forgettable - and always too much to fit in, however much diary-juggling I do.
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Post by kirstylovesmusicals on Apr 9, 2016 19:40:06 GMT
I have been trying to see 1 new show a month and so far I'm succeeding. my stand out so far has to be Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty ballet. That's quite a big thing for me as I have always been a musicals lover and never thought I would ever enjoy ballet. And I have a couple more new shows booked this year which I am looking forward to! Thoroughly enjoying 2016!
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Post by DuchessConstance on Apr 9, 2016 20:01:42 GMT
For me, no. I saw some amazing memorable stuff last year. This has been a year of 4* for me. Things that are good but not spectacular.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Apr 9, 2016 20:42:26 GMT
I'm aiming to see more than I did last year. I pretty much have 2 shows a month planned. Last year was a lot of first time visits to shows for me but it's more of a mix this year, some first visits and some returns to show I've previously enjoyed.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2016 22:02:12 GMT
I've seen more shows this year than I did in the first months of last year!
So fair I've seen:
Kinky Boots, Miss Saigon, Guys and Dolls, Mrs Henderson Presents, Bend it like Beckham, Mamma Mia and Hairspray.
I've also got booked up:
Goodnight Mr Tom, Dreamgirls, The Bodyguard, Chitty with more to be booked up soon!!
I dont know why We've seen more this year!
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Post by showgirl on Apr 9, 2016 22:05:53 GMT
On reflection, one difference this year is that some of my favourite theatres have programmed frustratingly familiar, or even over-familiar work, e.g. the Orange Tree which, having scored several successes last year, has now returned them to the schedule for this year, thus depriving regulars of the opportunity to visit for some weeks. Maybe they think that having attracted some new audience members last year, those people might now try other plays at the venue which they didn't before, but what about those who have already seen them and would like something fresh?
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Post by cat6 on Apr 10, 2016 15:51:58 GMT
I only get to London once a year and try to squeeze in 3 shows during my week. In 2014 I saw "In the Vale of Health" and fell in love with the Hampstead Downstairs. Also saw "Wooster and Jeeves" and loved it. But the cherry and the cream was "Sunny Afternoon" when it first opened at the Hampstead. I'm a huge Kinks fan and I loved every minute of the show. Especially from the 3rd row, right next to the runway.
2015 was another great visit starting with "Hay Fever", then "It's A Mad World My Masters" where I got into a dialogue with the "waitress" at the very beginning of the show. Then on to "The Play that Goes Wrong" in which my native charm got me to 'help hold the shelf' at the very beginning of this show. Banner year for me :-)
This year I look forward to the final performance of "The Painkiller" (I will be very, very tired from travel and pray I don't konk out.), then "Lawrence After Arabia". Third show this year is going to be different! Donovan's 70th Birthday Party concert at the Palladium.
As I look back, I see I've enjoyed a very large bag of sugarplums over the years. And I know 2016 will only add to this delicious wealth.
Enjoy your theatre life!
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Post by foxa on Apr 22, 2016 17:27:52 GMT
Has 2016 got off to a much better start than 2015 for anyone else? I had a really dismal year of theatre-going last year - one of my theatre-buddies said she was beginning to go off theatre entirely after a few real stinkers but so far this year I've had: Uncle Vanya People Places Things Bug Sunset Boulevard All fantastic theatre-affirming experiences. How has it been for you? And now I'm adding 'The Flick' to my list. Definitely this year has been better. Hmmm...but I have some 'adventurous' choices coming up soon, so there may be a dip. |
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