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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2018 17:05:40 GMT
I'm considering taking the Royal Albert Hall tour, that looks very interesting. I will probably give the Drury Lane tour a miss because of the spooky element. Being in a theatre cellar with "ghosts" doesn't sound like a good time to me. Please correct me if I have gotten the wrong impression of that tour. 😅 Only briefly touched on some of the theatres guests, but in no way was it spooky or ghoulish. Not worth missing out on it for that, great tour. Especially if you time it right mid-week, off season and end up being the only personal on it, getting a very personal, intimate experience in a wonderful theatre. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2018 17:07:41 GMT
I booked the Royal Court tour, then when I arrived was told the tour guide was off, so they were going to refund our ticket money, but we could have a mini-tour anyway. It was pretty interesting, saw backstage areas, got explanations about various building aesthetics. It probaby would have been even better if the actual tour guide had been there.  |
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Post by biscuitrich on Mar 7, 2018 17:09:13 GMT
I wouldn't let the ghost thing put you off the Drury Lane tour - its a fantastic 90min-or-so tour of a beautiful and historic theatre
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Post by showoff on Mar 7, 2018 17:23:24 GMT
I signed up to the ENO access membership, and they've emailed me about the tour for the London Coliseum tour and I'm rather intrigued in going one day.
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Post by Elle on Mar 7, 2018 18:03:18 GMT
Thanks guys. I will consider it despite the 👻👻👻
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Post by TallPaul on Mar 7, 2018 19:09:26 GMT
If you don't take the Drury Lane tour on this trip Elle, you may not get another chance. When the theatre goes dark for its extensive refurbishment, all the very historical machinery under the stage is going to be removed and placed in storage. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2018 20:05:16 GMT
Is there a date for that? I should probably get my act together and book it...
EDIT: in fact, never mind, I've booked myself in for this weekend!
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Post by robertb213 on Mar 7, 2018 21:13:17 GMT
Thanks guys. I will consider it despite the 👻👻👻 Definitely do, there are only a couple of stories for information, no tricks or shocks or anything to frighten. The tour is very much worth it 😁 |
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Post by david on Mar 7, 2018 21:34:46 GMT
I did the Dury Lane tour last year and really enjoyed it. The team that do the tour really make it both fun and informative. A great way to spend an hour or so at a bargain price.
Does anyone know if the Palladium does anything similar? I’ve been on the Really Useful theatre website and can’t find anything.
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Post by Elle on Mar 8, 2018 9:07:20 GMT
If you don't take the Drury Lane tour on this trip Elle, you may not get another chance. When the theatre goes dark for its extensive refurbishment, all the very historical machinery under the stage is going to be removed and placed in storage. You make a very good point, thank you for the info. So it's pretty much decided then that 42nd Street will not last beyond this year? If that's the case, that's a real pity. Definitely do, there are only a couple of stories for information, no tricks or shocks or anything to frighten. The tour is very much worth it That's exactly what I was thinking, that they would try and scare us on purpose. Thank you for clearing that up. 👍 |
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Post by alece10 on Mar 8, 2018 10:43:14 GMT
I'm doing Drury Lane tour tomorrow and will try for day seat for the evening performance
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Post by david on Mar 8, 2018 12:42:39 GMT
Does anyone know if the Palladium does anything similar? It's in their FAQ's that the "don't, right now." Thanks for the info. Missed that when on the site! Im surprised they don’t offer tours of the Palladium as it’s such an iconic theatre and I’m sure there are plenty of people (myself included) who would love to have a behind the scenes look at the theatre itself. |
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Post by bellboard27 on Mar 9, 2018 16:08:21 GMT
If anyone is interested RADA are doing tours at 12 noon on 17 and 24 March: www.rada.ac.uk/whats-on/rada-toursTheir tours are intermittent, so not always easy to catch. I have done it and it is interesting - visiting all three theatres and other parts of the building and learning a bit about the place and its approach. When I went most of the others on the tour were people who might be interested in applying to attend RADA - they had some useful questions! Note that for the tour I went to the usual entrance for performances on Malet Sreet (as did several others). But we had to bang on the door to get someone to let us in as they said we should have entered on Gower Street. So, if you go I would check this as it is a bit of a walk between the two entrances! At least the Gower Street entrance is open so you can ask there. |
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Post by ptwest on Apr 6, 2018 6:55:00 GMT
Doing the Drury Lane tour this afternoon. Really looking forward to it!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2018 20:39:32 GMT
Doing the Drury Lane tour this afternoon. Really looking forward to it! Reports? |
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Post by ptwest on Apr 6, 2018 22:06:15 GMT
Really interesting tour, loved going under the stage and seeing all the workings. Also fascinating to see the tech crew testing all the sets and lights for the evenings performance. I think it helped seeing behind the scenes at a show I know well and love. An excellent guide as well. Struck lucky with having a small group as it meant we could go under the stage - apparently they don’t always do that if there are too many people.
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Post by ensembleswings on Apr 23, 2018 8:31:31 GMT
I know the website says the Drury Lane tour lasts for around an hour but is that correct? My friend and I are in London for the entire day next Monday so I'm considering booking this as a surprise. My friend keeps on about us doing the tour of Bristol Hippodrome (our local theatre), so I know they'll enjoy it and I'd love to do the tour before the refurb happens.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2018 9:07:14 GMT
I know the website says the Drury Lane tour lasts for around an hour but is that correct? My friend and I are in London for the entire day next Monday so I'm considering booking this as a surprise. My friend keeps on about us doing the tour of Bristol Hippodrome (our local theatre), so I know they'll enjoy it and I'd love to do the tour before the refurb happens. Its entirely dependant on the group your with and how long you want to spend taking photos. I've read reports of groups taking 1-1.5hrs, conversely I was on my own didn't stop to take photos and we got through it in 45mins. So worth doing though. |
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Post by ensembleswings on Apr 23, 2018 12:10:04 GMT
@remark Brilliant, thanks
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Post by robertb213 on Apr 23, 2018 12:47:40 GMT
It was an hour when I did it, it felt like it's planned and scripted to be done within the hour
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Post by ensembleswings on Apr 30, 2018 8:39:17 GMT
Booked to do/go on the tour of Theatre Royal, Drury Lane later today, may sound a stupid question but do we have to collect physical tickets for it or is it just a case of state your name and present id?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2018 9:03:04 GMT
Booked to do/go on the tour of Theatre Royal, Drury Lane later today, may sound a stupid question but do we have to collect physical tickets for it or is it just a case of state your name and present id? Yeah just head to the box office 5-10mins before the tour is due to start and they'll give you your printed RUG ticket. |
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Post by vabbian on May 2, 2018 10:42:40 GMT
Recommend the Royal Opera House tour.
You get taken up to the rehearsal rooms,
seeing the ballet dancers rehearse is worth every penny! magical
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Post by Mr Snow on May 2, 2018 13:50:18 GMT
Sort of related Someone in our extended family was Mrs Snows Secret Santa. Someone had thought about her interests and purchased a Walking Tour of West End Theatres for 2. www.musicaltheatrewalkingtour.com/ So while half of London punished the pavements a small group of 4 of us joined Neil Maxfield for a jaunt round Soho and Covent Garden. Neil is a genial host and a real enthusiast for his subject, but not in a heavy academic way. He likes to sing a song relevant at many stops and interacted with all of us. (Apparently without the London Marathon as competition, groups can be much larger). The pace was easy and we had a lovely time in the sunshine. Architecture isn’t really the point of it but I liked the history of each theatre and the reference to some of the shows presented before even I was born, through to the current shows. For the real aficionado many of the tales are well worn but I’m sure he’d vary the content depending on the interests of the group. I would recommend as a pleasant Sunday activity for someone who was introducing someone else to musicals and we found enough to make it worthwhile. |
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2018 15:09:12 GMT
Just realized I never got to post my thoughts about the Drury Lane tour.
Loved it, the guides provide lots of info without making it tiresome. You get to go under the stage and the view from the circle is amazing (you are not allowed to take pictures of the stage tho). When the female guide came in in costume I thought 'great, audience participation 😑 ', but it wasn't too painful.
Fun fact. Lighting crew were working when we took the tour, and just as the guide was talking about ghosts, the lights went down. Great timing.
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