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Post by Theatre Fan on Dec 27, 2020 15:34:17 GMT
National Youth Music Theatre have announced they will be staging The Hunchback of Notre Dame as part of their 2021 season.
Reportedly this production will feature over 20 musicians, a choir comprising of over 40 singers and featuring a company of 60+ performers.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is planned to be staged at Manchester Cathedral, playing from 11th – 14th August 2021, though this is to be confirmed.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Dec 27, 2020 16:06:04 GMT
Now that's exciting
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19,676 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Dec 27, 2020 17:05:12 GMT
Oooooh!
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19,676 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 31, 2021 16:50:07 GMT
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Post by david on Jul 31, 2021 18:35:05 GMT
Completely forgot about this. I haven't had a trip up to Manchester for a very long time and after listening to the 2016 cast recording just now, it's prompted me to get a RV ticket for the Saturday matinee. Should be a great afternoon's entertainment and a way of supporting up and coming MT talent.
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19,676 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 31, 2021 18:48:05 GMT
Did you get a seat allocation david or do you think it’s a “sit anywhere in the section “ situ? |
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Post by david on Jul 31, 2021 18:58:37 GMT
Did you get a seat allocation david or do you think it’s a “sit anywhere in the section “ situ? , just had a quick look at my ticket and it's just a "sit anywhere in that section" rather than a specific seat. I think it's going to be a case of get there early for a good seat. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jul 31, 2021 19:13:16 GMT
Did you get a seat allocation david or do you think it’s a “sit anywhere in the section “ situ? , just had a quick look at my ticket and it's just a "sit anywhere in that section" rather than a specific seat. I think it's going to be a case of get there early for a good seat. Fab. Thank you. |
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Post by robertb213 on Jul 31, 2021 19:26:50 GMT
I'd been keeping an eye on this one, wasn't sure if it would happen with everything going on but I'm glad it is. It's been on my wishlist for ages and surely this is the best version we're going to get until a fully staged version appears in London. The cathedral setting is going to be wonderful.
I've booked for the Friday matinee, one of the partial RV ones. I'll just get there early and elbow the slow folks out of the way 🤣
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236 posts
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Post by undeuxtrois on Aug 1, 2021 12:54:24 GMT
On the most restricted section it has feet instead of a chair. Is this a standing area or will there be seats does anyone know? I've never been inside the cathedral before so I have no idea what the seating layout will look like.
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19,676 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 1, 2021 12:57:18 GMT
On the most restricted section it has feet instead of a chair. Is this a standing area or will there be seats does anyone know? I've never been inside the cathedral before so I have no idea what the seating layout will look like. I suspect it’s standing given the footsteps and the fact that they’ve called it the Promenade. |
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Post by undeuxtrois on Aug 1, 2021 13:14:44 GMT
On the most restricted section it has feet instead of a chair. Is this a standing area or will there be seats does anyone know? I've never been inside the cathedral before so I have no idea what the seating layout will look like. I suspect it’s standing given the footsteps and the fact that they’ve called it the Promenade.
I'll get there early so I can squat at the front!
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5,142 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 1, 2021 13:15:34 GMT
"These seats have quite a restricted view due to the columns. However customers are welcome to sit and or walk around these 2 areas as if in promenade."
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Post by robertb213 on Aug 12, 2021 12:43:26 GMT
Did anyone see this yesterday or catching it today? I'm there for the matinee tomorrow so will report back then 😁
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236 posts
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Post by undeuxtrois on Aug 12, 2021 14:09:47 GMT
Did anyone see this yesterday or catching it today? I'm there for the matinee tomorrow so will report back then 😁
I'm there tonight! Never seen a production of this so I have nothing to compare it to, but I'm really looking forward to it. It'll be beautiful inside the cathedral.
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2,417 posts
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Post by robertb213 on Aug 12, 2021 17:32:39 GMT
Did anyone see this yesterday or catching it today? I'm there for the matinee tomorrow so will report back then 😁
I'm there tonight! Never seen a production of this so I have nothing to compare it to, but I'm really looking forward to it. It'll be beautiful inside the cathedral.
Enjoy tonight! If you wouldn't mind, could you post the running time when you get back later, I'm trying to plan my trains 😁 have a good evening! |
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Post by undeuxtrois on Aug 12, 2021 17:47:22 GMT
Will do! Online says 10pm so it’s looking like a 50 minute wait at Victoria, then a transfer at Piccadilly for me 😆 hoping it finishes a bit earlier.
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Post by robertb213 on Aug 12, 2021 19:01:35 GMT
Yeah the website said 3 hours which does seem long - bootlegs of the show online are about 2 hours 10 minutes so with interval I'm hoping for about 2 and a half hours all in 🤞
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Post by undeuxtrois on Aug 12, 2021 22:06:42 GMT
First of all thank you to Burly for giving me his seat for tonight (I went front row). And what a fantastic group of performers! The young lady playing Esmeralda was the stand out by far and has a crystal clear voice.
The entire show is very inclusive and has a designated BSL person on the stage, though other performers sign throughout.
At the beginning the stage director (I think?) came out onto the stage with both actors who play Quasimodo, one who is deaf, to sing Heavens Light, with the deaf lad signing it and the other singing. The lad who performed tonight has a gorgeous voice and can belt like crazy. He looked desperate and sometimes shouted like a child, and in other scenes seemed so sure of himself. The performers acting as the walls of stone complimented him perfectly.
Frollo was very talented and was always looking down on Quasi, who funnily enough didn’t hunch his back? You could really feel how swayed he was by Esmeralda. Phoebus was too brilliant and I loved his scenes, and the captain who played with him.
Another standout for me was the lady playing Klopin! She is so confident on that stage and she shone throughout. The ensemble and choir sounded so beautiful with the echo in the cathedral. Few mic issues here and there, but nothing too bad.
The cathedral setting was gorgeous and honestly felt scary at parts, what with the use of dark lighting and candles. Such a great atmosphere. My favourite part of the whole show was the song Esmeralda. The woman sat next to me took many photos and videos which was quite distracting, but I’m too shy to tell someone off. I think her daughter was in the show (no sure if that makes it okay).
Some of the costumes were a bit strange and almost gothy with Cheyonne looking like a punk. He also played the acoustic in one scene. In topsy turbulent one actor has two traffic cones with lights on the end acting as his breasts!
Came out of the cathedral at 22:07. No physical programmes available but there is a QR code you can scan as you enter. There are no toilets so you have to used the ones in The Mitre just outside.
Overall I enjoyed the show but I didn’t love it for some reason. I’d definitely recommend catching it if you can though, even just for the experience of seeing it in an actual cathedral.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Aug 13, 2021 6:26:23 GMT
Because the 'photographer' wanted to distract her daughter and her colleagues with endless rumblings with a camera / smart phone? ... Because her amateur pics, will be so much better than the professional pics?
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Post by robertb213 on Aug 13, 2021 7:57:29 GMT
Glad the read the positive review, really looking forward to this later today (even if I have just accidentally paid for 2 days of car parking... Great start to the day!) 🤣
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Post by robertb213 on Aug 14, 2021 9:56:28 GMT
I've finally ticked off Disney's darkest musical, and what a setting for it. The piece suits the cathedral surroundings like a glove, and when the choir gave their first 'ah AH ah, ah AH ah' from the Hellfire refrain at the start, I had goosebumps that rarely went away throughout the rest of the show.
I agree with pretty much everything said above, it's a really strong production of this rare musical and the cast did a great job. There are some real future stars here. The ensemble work incredibly hard and the leads all do a pretty fine job. It's not perfect, some of the acting is a little 'broad', a couple of fluffed lines, but these young people will only get better, and for them to be performing at this standard already is fantastic.
The score sounded so rich and atmospheric in that setting, with Hellfire and Made Of Stone being particularly powerful. I'd forgotten how good it feels to be near great music being sung so well.
The restricted seats really are quite restricted because of the enormous pillars, so get there early and choose wisely. I got as near to the central section as I could but still missed some of the action at the back of the staging area.
Now to watch the Disney animation and then a cheeky bootleg later 😀
Anyone attending today, I hope you really enjoy it.
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Post by benny20 on Aug 14, 2021 11:01:58 GMT
Saw it last night. Wonderful production in a fantastic setting. Frollo was the best for me but the two guys playing Quasimodo were excellent. Great use of sign language throughout by many if not all of the cast. Orchestra sounded superb and the overall sound a d balance was very good. So glad we got tickets.
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4,961 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Aug 14, 2021 12:26:19 GMT
This production sounds great. I hope the the big smoke theatre schools borrow the staging idea
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Post by david on Aug 14, 2021 15:23:55 GMT
It’s been over 18 months since my last trip to Manchester, but as my first trip back for live theatre that was worth the wait. An absolutely fantastic production set in the wonderful surroundings of Manchester Cathedral (it was my first time in the Cathedral and what a really stunning interior) performed by a brilliant cast and orchestra. After this afternoon’s viewing, it’s great to see that the future of UK theatre is in safe hands and it will be great to hopefully see them perform in theatres across the UK as their careers develop in the coming years
Thankfully I got to the Cathedral early on so managed to bag a front row RV seat which wasn’t too bad but did miss bits at the back with the balcony / choir, but I don’t think there would have been any great seats without any obstructions to be honest. Though it didn’t really impact me too much.
The cast for me across the board was sensational and vocals superb. I can easily see George Dennett who plays Frollo playing a wonderful Javert later on in his career he was that good. I forgot that some of these cast are still in their early 20’s or younger their performances were that good.
That 25 piece orchestra led by Jordan Li-Smith was just a joy to listen to bringing those songs to life. It was just great to sit back and listen to that music performed by a full orchestra accompanied by the choir as well.
Quite honestly, it is criminal that this show was only on for a week because after today I would have had no hesitation in booking a return visit if if had been on longer.
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