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Post by NeilVHughes on Nov 18, 2020 8:47:18 GMT
Samuel Beckett’s world-renowned play Happy Days comes to the Riverside Studios in a landmark 60th anniversary production. Brought to you by a multi-award-winning creative team, with direction from Trevor Nunn and starring ‘Beckett interpreter of the first rank’ (Observer) Lisa Dwan as our heroine Winnie, this is a spirited and triumphant revival most pertinent for our unparalleled times.
Sadly no single seats, a must see for me so will be an expensive evening with my imaginary friend, the cost is not really the issue as with travel costs seeing Maxine Peake’s Happy Days in Manchester was much more expensive, it is the feeling of being excluded especially for the singletons who have greater financial pressures than me.
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Post by Dr Tom on Nov 18, 2020 10:11:16 GMT
Thanks for sharing. As there are £10 tickets, I have booked two of them but will only use one (total cost £22 with fees), mainly because I can walk to the venue. It isn't clear what the seats will be, but the back row is J (which would be considered Premium Seating in some other venues), so I presume it will be okay.
But yes, I object in principle to them not making single seats available as well.
Edit: I booked for the first preview. The first shows have the lowest ticket price at £10, but then this goes up to £17.50.
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Post by Jan on Nov 18, 2020 18:00:33 GMT
Why no single seats ? Is it the appalling ATG handling the booking ?
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Post by NeilVHughes on Nov 18, 2020 18:19:44 GMT
Ticketing is being organised by the Theatre itself, they must have calculated they would have more capacity in bundles of 2.
Dependant on how it sells would not be surprised if a few singles will be made available but I have bought a pair as for me this is a must see.
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Post by Jan on Nov 18, 2020 18:47:33 GMT
Ticketing is being organised by the Theatre itself, they must have calculated they would have more capacity in bundles of 2. Dependant on how it sells would not be surprised if a few singles will be made available but I have bought a pair as for me this is a must see. Doubt it will sell out. But I'd need a single ticket for it. Oddly, you wouldn't guess, but the Riverside Studios have prospered during lockdown more than most other fringe venues as they've had several TV productions in. |
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Post by rosie on Nov 26, 2020 11:42:47 GMT
Not one I'd want to see but the only single tickets available is infuriating.
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Post by lynette on Nov 26, 2020 13:10:02 GMT
Ticketing is being organised by the Theatre itself, they must have calculated they would have more capacity in bundles of 2. Dependant on how it sells would not be surprised if a few singles will be made available but I have bought a pair as for me this is a must see. I presume you know the play, Neil. One of the very few masterpieces I do not want to see again. If by any remote chance you don't know it, may I suggest a hip flask of something strong .... |
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Post by NeilVHughes on Nov 26, 2020 13:54:33 GMT
lynette seen it a few times, I just love Beckett and have decided to see it twice and without the aid of a hip flask. (A shame LD will be buried for the performance as I will own up to having a crush on her, beauty and brains personified)
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Post by lynette on Nov 26, 2020 14:01:27 GMT
lynette seen it a few times, I just love Beckett and have decided to see it twice and without the aid of a hip flask. (A shame LD will be buried for the performance as I will own up to having a crush on her, beauty and brains personified) You are very strong. |
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Post by partytentdown on Nov 26, 2020 15:07:26 GMT
For a moment I this was that terrible musical about the Fonz again
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Post by Jan on Nov 27, 2020 8:08:21 GMT
One of the very few masterpieces I do not want to see again ..... Oh there's plenty of tedious masterpieces .... Cyrano de Bergerac, King Lear, The Way of the World, A Moon for the Misbegotten, Mother Courage, Bartholomew Fair, Playboy of the Western World, Man and Superman, Don Carlos, Peer Gynt, anything from the Spanish Golden Age, Oedipus at Colonos, The House of Bernarda Alba, Knight of the Burning Pestle ... and many more. |
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Post by lynette on Nov 27, 2020 13:38:46 GMT
You’ve been taken up on a new thread, Jan.
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Post by Dr Tom on Jun 15, 2021 21:56:16 GMT
Experience tonight. My first time in the Riverside Studios. I presume the room we were in is mostly used for TV. It is a flat floor and freestanding seats (uncomfortable, no arm rests) mostly in 2s, but with the occasional 1.
When I originally booked, seating was allocated, but it looks like they now choose seats for you on arrival. I paid for 2, but was a 1, so was put in one of the single seats, at the end of the row. Possibly a better view than where I'd originally booked.
The stage is slightly raised, so the view should be reasonable throughout the room, but this is an intimate play.
A long stage, mostly dead grass effect, with the leads in the centre. I've managed to avoid seeing this before, so I think it was performed well but I don't really have a baseline. I also have no immediate desire to see this again. The uncomfortable seats didn't help, but the audience was well-behaved throughout.
The deafening surprise chimes didn't help with my enjoyment. Just too loud and enough to leave me on edge for most of the second half.
Today was meant to be sold out, but there were a few pairs of empty seats around, perhaps due to late cancellations and people who couldn't attend the revised date.
The whole Riverside Studios complex is quite nice, right by the river, bars around etc. I don't think it's used much as a theatre, but I notice it's where the upcoming Mischief Movie Night is broadcasting from. I would have been tempted to go, but now I've seen how the space works as a theatre I'm less sure.
Anyway, I suspect if you're reading this, you'll already know if you like Happy Days or not. I am glad I have seen it (once). Running time is about 2 hours, including the interval.
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Post by cavocado on Jun 16, 2021 7:35:15 GMT
Thanks for all the info. I am seeing this in a couple of weeks & managed to persuade another member of my family bubble to come with me because of the paired seats. I agree with all the comments about lack of singles - very disrespectful to a large group of theatregoers. Seating and comfort sounds like it might put my +1 off any future theatre trips, but I've never been to the Riverside or seen Happy Days before, so at least I'm looking forward to it.
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Post by zahidf on Jun 16, 2021 15:08:59 GMT
This was very well done and i enjoyed it overall. I got 2 10 pound seats and ended up centre front so cant complain on that regard
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Post by londonpostie on Jul 5, 2021 7:23:31 GMT
Goodness me, Lisa Dwan is a powerful presence. Terrific performance.
In terms of accessibility, the play beats Hammersmith riverside but it's close.
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Post by londonpostie on Jul 5, 2021 12:54:28 GMT
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Post by Dave B on Jul 5, 2021 14:28:27 GMT
Saw it yesterday afternoon. Striking stage and striking performance from Lisa Dwan.
Uncomfortable seats but with the layout and the stage setup, I suspect a good view from almost every seat. Very nice FOH staff and a reasonable price at the bar.
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Post by NeilVHughes on Jul 5, 2021 16:19:36 GMT
Having seen Juliet Stevenson and Maxine Peake in the role in recent years Lisa Dwan made it her own.
She inhabited the character completely, every gesture, every pause were natural in the way only a few can achieve, made even more difficult with the absurdity of the piece.
The play may not be to everyone’s taste but to see a Becket master class it is well worth a trip out to Hammersmith.
The only negative is the venue itself, a cavernous space with no rake reminiscent of a school assembly hall, the wide stage and narrow cinematic aspect tried its best to overcome these deficiencies but maybe would have been better suited to the Almeida or similar.
Despite this I am tempted to return, breaking my no returns rule as it was that special.
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Post by londonpostie on Jul 9, 2021 10:20:23 GMT
I went again. Wonderful again. At the interval I asked a 72-year old woman in the adjoining pair of seats if it had been accessible as she had been worried it wouldn't be her cup of tea. She said it was far too accessible, far too uncomfortable and on the bone. I didn't ask her how long she'd been married for ..
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Post by schuttep on Jul 10, 2021 13:02:44 GMT
This was my 4th HDs after Felicity Kendall, Fiona Shaw and Juliet Stephenson.
But I just knew Lisa Dwan would be amazing, and she was. Great set, but, like others, i was disappointed at the lack of a rake in the auditorium. Still the seats were spaced and the stage high enough for everyone to be able to see.
I'm assuming though, that the seating for HDs is just for COVID social distancing and that there will be flexible seating with rake(s) for future performances.
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Post by bee on Jul 11, 2021 12:11:55 GMT
I saw this on Saturday. It's a spellbinding performance by Lisa Dwan. I'm usually not overly effected by theatre performances, but I found the second part really quite distressing. Remarkable stuff.
This was my first trip to Riverside Studios and I'd agree with others about the uncomfortable seats, but other than that it seems like a nice venue with pleasant staff. I thought the flat floor might be a problem when I sat down and found myself behind a fairly tall bloke but the stage was high enough for it not to be an issue..
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Post by cavocado on Jul 12, 2021 9:23:38 GMT
I saw this yesterday. Lisa Dwan gave a very powerful and moving performance. I wished I'd re-read the play beforehand (haven't read it since university, many years ago, and have never seen it performed before). I'm sure I missed some detail and references, and would like to see it again.
The venue was much better than I'd expected. Seats were fine, only lacking arm rests, and I think the view would have been good from anywhere, despite the lack of a rake, as the stage was high and the set was sloped towards us. It was nice to go to a theatre with foyer and bar open - all large enough to sit apart from other groups.
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Post by londonpostie on Jul 14, 2021 14:26:07 GMT
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