374 posts
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Post by theatrenerd on Apr 15, 2024 11:13:27 GMT
Hytner discusses in the Making Theatre podcast that they proposed to their investors that it would present 4 or 5 plays a year and within the first 2 to 3 years they’d do a long-running show, so it was always a part of the plan before the pandemic came along. It’s worth a listen to, a very interesting conversation!
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Post by Jan on Apr 15, 2024 12:27:16 GMT
It is a pity that a producing theatre like The Bridge has run a single show for 22 months even though it obviously makes commercial sense. When Hytner/Starr launched The Bridge they said there would be 4 or 5 new productions each year. Their new Kings Cross theatre will also now not open till late 2026 at the earliest (converting from the Lightroom). Giant with John Lithgow which Hytner is directing at the Royal Court was actually a Bridge commission which has now had to go elsewhere. It probably makes very good sense and means that they will be able to do more of other things they want to do in coming years whilst other theatres struggle. The brutal truth is that there aren't enough great new plays out there for them to put on four a year in an auditorium that size. Indeed, have they put on any great new plays? I've enjoyed two or three of them but the great productions they've put on have been the Shakespeares: the Midsummer Night's Dream and Julius Caesar. They said 4-5 new productions a year, not 4-5 new plays a year. |
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Post by capybara on Apr 15, 2024 12:32:25 GMT
Booked for closing night, but I’m sure I’ll make it back once or twice before then. Hope Celinde stays until the end.
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Post by tlppi on Apr 15, 2024 18:30:23 GMT
Trying to decide whether to hold out and see if they drop some £7.50 tickets again... otherwise looks like i could get half-price ones for closing night...
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3,426 posts
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Post by ceebee on Apr 15, 2024 21:38:02 GMT
Trying to decide whether to hold out and see if they drop some £7.50 tickets again... otherwise looks like i could get half-price ones for closing night... Can I ask where from? |
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Post by tlppi on Apr 16, 2024 17:01:01 GMT
Trying to decide whether to hold out and see if they drop some £7.50 tickets again... otherwise looks like i could get half-price ones for closing night... Can I ask where from? ah the young bridge discount. They have £19.50 (£15 for thurs. matinee) tickets, but sometimes send an email with a limited run of £7.50, which is how I saw it last time. Just wondering if they won't do that again given the closing announcement |
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Post by beachfan on Apr 16, 2024 19:39:31 GMT
It seems like the recommended seats are Gallery 1, first row, left of orchestra.
Is that left with the orchestra behind you (I.e. orchestra on your right when seated)?
Thanks in advance!
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1,561 posts
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Post by showtoones on Apr 16, 2024 20:43:12 GMT
It seems like the recommended seats are Gallery 1, first row, left of orchestra. Is that left with the orchestra behind you (I.e. orchestra on your right when seated)? Thanks in advance! I asked the same question and someone suggested sitting so the orchestra is on your right side when sitting. |
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3,426 posts
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Post by ceebee on Apr 16, 2024 21:46:35 GMT
ah the young bridge discount. They have £19.50 (£15 for thurs. matinee) tickets, but sometimes send an email with a limited run of £7.50, which is how I saw it last time. Just wondering if they won't do that again given the closing announcement I'm too old for that but good luck to you if you can get it! |
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3,426 posts
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Post by ceebee on Apr 16, 2024 21:50:07 GMT
It seems like the recommended seats are Gallery 1, first row, left of orchestra. Is that left with the orchestra behind you (I.e. orchestra on your right when seated)? Thanks in advance! Gallery 1 ideally on the bend with the band to your right hand side, all the way through to midway down the row is best for this show. Trust me, I've sat/stood on all levels for this show. If you can stand, go for immersive. If you prefer seats then the above are best if not on a budget. If on a budget aim for A42-44 Gallery 2 (above the band) or row B Gallery 1 or even Stalls row A restricted view behind wheelchair platform. Enjoy! |
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1,561 posts
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Post by showtoones on Apr 16, 2024 21:57:31 GMT
It seems like the recommended seats are Gallery 1, first row, left of orchestra. Is that left with the orchestra behind you (I.e. orchestra on your right when seated)? Thanks in advance! Gallery 1 ideally on the bend with the band to your right hand side, all the way through to midway down the row is best for this show. Trust me, I've sat/stood on all levels for this show. If you can stand, go for immersive. If you prefer seats then the above are best if not on a budget. If on a budget aim for A42-44 Gallery 2 (above the band) or row B Gallery 1 or even Stalls row A restricted view behind wheelchair platform. Enjoy! Is the bend better than the straight part in Gallery I with the orchestra to your right when you are sitting?? If you had to pick the 2 best seats, what would they be? |
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3,426 posts
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Post by ceebee on Apr 16, 2024 22:03:09 GMT
Gallery 1 ideally on the bend with the band to your right hand side, all the way through to midway down the row is best for this show. Trust me, I've sat/stood on all levels for this show. If you can stand, go for immersive. If you prefer seats then the above are best if not on a budget. If on a budget aim for A42-44 Gallery 2 (above the band) or row B Gallery 1 or even Stalls row A restricted view behind wheelchair platform. Enjoy! Is the bend better than the straight part in Gallery I with the orchestra to your right when you are sitting?? If you had to pick the 2 best seats, what would they be? The middle of the bend is better in my view as it is one of the few truly clear views of the entire stage (i.e. no lights, heads, set) and no need to crane your neck or turn your head. Plus you see the band up close. Added bonus is that the seats are typically 2/3 the price of seats in the straight part. Because of the blocking, the bend seats give you almost more of a panoramic view as opposed to a wide-screen view. Just aim for the centre of the bend as the side sections are narrower and legroom is compromised - A49/50 recommended. |
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Post by stepha on Apr 18, 2024 10:36:43 GMT
I'm thinking about seeing this on Sat eve - can anyone share experience on how easy is it to get the immersive rush tickets currently? (it's for 3 people, so would need 2 separate orders which might complicate things) I could bite the bullet and pay for the standing tickets now if we're likely to be left without tickets...
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3,325 posts
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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 18, 2024 10:40:00 GMT
I'm thinking about seeing this on Sat eve - can anyone share experience on how easy is it to get the immersive rush tickets currently? (it's for 3 people, so would need 2 separate orders which might complicate things) I could bite the bullet and pay for the standing tickets now if we're likely to be left without tickets... I'd suggest trying another day to see (you don't have to proceed with payment), but your odds will be close to 100% if you try at 10am. Failing that, you can usually get discounted standing tickets on TKTS, and if not, you can get them full priced ones on the website. This isn't a show you need to plan to book for well in advance any more. |
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Post by francistheatreboard on Apr 18, 2024 10:40:55 GMT
I'm thinking about seeing this on Sat eve - can anyone share experience on how easy is it to get the immersive rush tickets currently? (it's for 3 people, so would need 2 separate orders which might complicate things) I could bite the bullet and pay for the standing tickets now if we're likely to be left without tickets... It’s been relatively straightforward recently except the app usually crashes on weekends these days. They also do in-person dayseats at 1pm from the box office. |
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3,426 posts
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Post by ceebee on Apr 18, 2024 12:33:49 GMT
I'm thinking about seeing this on Sat eve - can anyone share experience on how easy is it to get the immersive rush tickets currently? (it's for 3 people, so would need 2 separate orders which might complicate things) I could bite the bullet and pay for the standing tickets now if we're likely to be left without tickets... Stagedoor had a £15 deal earlier in the week for standing tickets but the deal seems to have disappeared. |
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Post by cartoonman on Apr 19, 2024 9:13:54 GMT
Turned up at 12.50, very early for the 2.30 matinee. I found the theatre after a struggle, it's next to the Ivy restaurant. I had travelled quite a way so even though the sign on the door said Foyer and box office open at 1.00, asked if I could use the toilets. The security guy said no but advised me to go to another restaurant. I said I would wait. By 1.00 there was a crowd of perhaps 7 or 8 people waiting. The gent said he would let me in but the others would have to wait as the theatre was still not ready. The others said they wanted to go to the loos and walked in.
I was in row C stalls, in a comfortable but high seat. There is very little room for other people to get by you to their seats without a squeeze. I heard a neighbouring woman say "Now you will have to marry me". At the interval we all moved out so that there was no squeezing past.
I could not see the band but they were really good. The whole show was excellent all the players were good. The singing was good and so was the dancing. The use of the sections of stage that elevate was good for scene changes, a bit like the NT use their drum revolve but it worked without any problems. I think I saw that its closing Jan 2025? so I would recommend it as a good show to see. I saw it at the NT years ago and this was as good.
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3,426 posts
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Post by ceebee on Apr 21, 2024 14:41:51 GMT
In the immersive standing zone for this yesterday afternoon... Wow, what a great new cast this is! Very much as good and as fun as the previous cast, and I've noticed a little more audience interaction has started taking place with people being brought onstage at a couple of occasions which didn't happen before. Jonathan Andrew Hume is superb as Nicely-Nicely - loved his "Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat" which has more light and shade than previously, including a "hushed" line before the final line of each chorus. Great fun! Liek last time, I still don't really know where to look for the Hotbox scenes. I always feel I should look away or past the dancer directly in front of me out of respect, so suddenly feign interest in the lights and the band. I wouldn't make a very good punter in a real Hotbox!
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Post by danb on Apr 21, 2024 17:56:51 GMT
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Post by lt on Apr 23, 2024 11:48:42 GMT
Although I'm a keen theatre goer, I don't often go to musicals, but wanted to go to Guys and Dolls, because I heard such great things about it. And the staging of this musical is truly one of the most impressive and original I have seen and I also thought there were terrific strong performances from all the cast.
The only disadvantage of all the stage platforms moving up and down, is that it limits the choreography of big dance scenes, but it is incredibly impressive to watch and huge credit should go to the theatre's production and staging team for managing to pull this off every night.
I had been sightseeing in London all day and tramping the pavements, so I was extremely relieved to have a seat. I sat in the stalls under the orchestra, whcih gave me a excellent view of what was happening. But had I not been walking all day, I would have preferred an immersive standing ticket, because then you are really in the centre of the action, interacting with the cast and that looks amazing.
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3,325 posts
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Post by Dr Tom on May 12, 2024 18:16:45 GMT
I've seen this several times since cast change, as there are plenty of ticket deals about, but I was surprised how quiet the theatre was on Friday night. I was in Gallery 1 for the first time, which I'd say has a better viewing angle than the Stalls (although I do still prefer to be slightly closer, you're still really only at "premium seat" distance in many theatres). The Stalls had lots of gaps.
The show itself remains in great shape and the new cast have settled in well. There were lots of people missing last night, so it was odd having a show with only one interval singer (instead of three), and girls dancing in the gay nightclub scene. But it all held together.
Will have to venture back into the standing area again at some point.
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1,561 posts
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Post by showtoones on May 12, 2024 20:06:34 GMT
I've seen this several times since cast change, as there are plenty of ticket deals about, but I was surprised how quiet the theatre was on Friday night. I was in Gallery 1 for the first time, which I'd say has a better viewing angle than the Stalls (although I do still prefer to be slightly closer, you're still really only at "premium seat" distance in many theatres). The Stalls had lots of gaps. The show itself remains in great shape and the new cast have settled in well. There were lots of people missing last night, so it was odd having a show with only one interval singer (instead of three), and girls dancing in the gay nightclub scene. But it all held together. Will have to venture back into the standing area again at some point. Who was our last night out of the principals? |
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3,325 posts
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Post by Dr Tom on May 13, 2024 9:16:21 GMT
The four leads were all on. Listed covers for Harry the Horse, Big Jule, Lt Branningan, and Rusty Charlie.
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1,826 posts
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Post by Dave B on May 22, 2024 10:43:32 GMT
Lots of offers around so a final closing date seems about right. I've two more visits booked.
They've just got to 500 performances.
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Post by ladidah on May 22, 2024 14:45:05 GMT
A great achievement, will have to rebook soon.
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