Medea - @sohoplace

[teamyali]

Review round-up - so far we’re seeing 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Guardian
The Times
The Stage
The Telegraph
Evening Standard
WhatsOnStage


We probably need a poll for this

[londontg]

Feb 13, 2023 12:51:23 GMT jamb0r said:

Feb 12, 2023 19:28:53 GMT frauleinsallybowles said:

Can anyone who's seen this advice which row would be good to book? Am looking at either 3rd or 4th row in the stalls.

Also I've noticed that ticket prices seem to be higher for certain sides of the stage––anyone know why this might be? As the theatre's in the round, I expected that it wouldn't matter which side I booked for

This was well played to all 4 sides so I don't think there's really a bad view anywhere.  There is 1 set piece on the stage which consists of a wall which is a few feet tall.  This is in the corner of the stage which is nearest where seats A1 and A40 are (for anyone that saw As You Like It its the same place where the piano was).  I am not sure if this would block any of the action, but you might want to look at sitting the opposite side.  I was sat int he first balcony and the view from there was perfect.

Also a couple of points that might be worth considering if looking to sit in the stalls:

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler - click to view}
3 of the cast spend the majority of the show sat in regular seats amongst the audience, where they will have spotlights on them and stand and interact with the cast on stage. I personally was glad I wasn't sat next to them because they were projecting loudly and those sat around them were also in the spotlight. The seats that these 3 cast members sat in during the first performance were in the areas around: B5, A18 and E31.  Also there is a rain effect for the last 10 minutes or so - it was quite heavy and I don't think those in the front row of the stalls got wet but I am not 100% certain.

Oh and there were no programmes at the first performance.  If anyone goes sometime soon and can report back if they have any in I would appreciate it, as I'd like to pick one up

Free programmes were given out during press night last night. 

I thought it was a great production. Both Sophie and Ben gave strong performances throughout. It was also good to experience a production @sohoplace for the first time. Intrigued to see what will follow Medea. 

[TallPaul]

Poll added.

[dlevi]

I thought it was a terrific production. Sophie and Ben are both terrific and Sophie does achieve that rare thing of achieving empathy from the audience even though we know what she's going to do. And assuming it was Dominic Cooke's idea to have Ben play all the men in the play, it's a brilliant one and works wonderfully. I went to the box office at around 1:00 pm and got a rush ticket for £25.

[theoracle]

Pretty devastating watch last night. Sophie Okonedo is terrific and terrifying as Medea. I really enjoyed Marion Bailey’s nurse as well - she makes Robertson Jeffers’ words come alive and you could feel the silence in the audience as she exclaims the drama. Ben Daniels vivid performance(s) compliments this production very well too and I loved how the Corinth women are dotted in the audience too. I’d be curious to see this again but from the other side of auditorium but as mentioned before, no bad seats anywhere really. Despite everyone knowing what’s coming, it was great seeing the horror on people’s faces as we reached the finale as well. Dominic Cooke has achieved another success and has certainly cemented himself as one of my favourite directors working today. Go see this if you can!

[alessia]

Feb 20, 2023 22:37:31 GMT dlevi said:

I thought it was a terrific production. Sophie and Ben are both terrific and Sophie does achieve that rare thing of achieving empathy from the audience even though we know what she's going to do. And assuming it was Dominic Cooke's idea to have Ben play all the men in the play, it's a brilliant one and works wonderfully. I went to the box office at around 1:00 pm and got a rush ticket for £25.

Was the ticket the same rush/day seat Soho Place was advertising for the previews?  I don't see any info on their site although Theatre Monkey says they sell £20 tickets in person each day?

[dlevi]

Feb 21, 2023 13:30:36 GMT alessia said:

Feb 20, 2023 22:37:31 GMT dlevi said:

I thought it was a terrific production. Sophie and Ben are both terrific and Sophie does achieve that rare thing of achieving empathy from the audience even though we know what she's going to do. And assuming it was Dominic Cooke's idea to have Ben play all the men in the play, it's a brilliant one and works wonderfully. I went to the box office at around 1:00 pm and got a rush ticket for £25.

Was the ticket the same rush/day seat Soho Place was advertising for the previews?  I don't see any info on their site although Theatre Monkey says they sell £20 tickets in person each day?

They seemed to have stopped advertising the same day/rush policy. I happened to be in the area and walked up to the desk and asked.  The post-opening price is £25 . Totally worth it. 

[profquatermass]

I was in a pub in Soho the other day and at the next table were two staff members from the Soho Theatre bemoaning how many angry punters they have turning up there for Medea. I guess the same thing happens the other way round. It's a really stupid name

[NorthernAlien]

Feb 22, 2023 10:55:54 GMT profquatermass said:

I was in a pub in Soho the other day and at the next table were two staff members from the Soho Theatre bemoaning how many angry punters they have turning up there for Medea. I guess the same thing happens the other way round. It's a really stupid name

I have to say that SohoPlace isn't where I thought it was going to be - I only spotted it by chance coming out of TCR over the weekend. 

But aren't people terrible? It's all of a four minute walk between the two venues, according to google (which is generally accurate), so not too much of a tragedy for most people. 

[Mark]

Went tonight. Got a dayseat for £25 in row B stalls - no bad seats for this I’d say.
Amazingly, I didn’t know the story beforehand (purposely avoided) although clicked pretty early on what was to come.
It’s a really strong production and makes great use of the space. As always, Sophie is incredible.

[bordeaux]

Any news on what will be replacing this in eight or so weeks' time? We're surely due an announcement. What I'm hoping for is another excellent production of a classic with some top-notch casting and direction. We've had Shakespeare and a Greek.... I wonder if they'll move forward and give us some Chekhov or Ibsen or something from the second half of the 20th century? First revival of a major play of the past 30 years would also be good as long as you can get a director and cast as good as the first one (Pillowman would be an imminent example). My advice would be to stick to the classics: don't follow the Almeida and Donmar down the path of exposing young playwrights who are just not ready for it to the demands of a big-name stage.

[theoracle]

Very interesting interview I just came across with Marion Bailey too. Love the nods to Robertson Jeffers and she even talks about Meghan and Harry briefly. Also, I’m hoping for a musical next in Soho Place as they boasted of perfect acoustics which sadly isn’t in every west end theatre. Desperate for a revival of Nine

[teamyali]

Feb 24, 2023 14:34:25 GMT bordeaux said:

Any news on what will be replacing this in eight or so weeks' time? We're surely due an announcement. What I'm hoping for is another excellent production of a classic with some top-notch casting and direction. We've had Shakespeare and a Greek.... I wonder if they'll move forward and give us some Chekhov or Ibsen or something from the second half of the 20th century? First revival of a major play of the past 30 years would also be good as long as you can get a director and cast as good as the first one (Pillowman would be an imminent example). My advice would be to stick to the classics: don't follow the Almeida and Donmar down the path of exposing young playwrights who are just not ready for it to the demands of a big-name stage.

Brian Cox is due to return to the West End this year, right? It’s just announced that the upcoming season 4 of Succession will now be its last, I guess that speeds up the time needed for him to work on Long Day’s Journey Into Night. Headlong/Jeremy Herrin has not yet announced the venue and the dates.

I don’t know if there are potential transfers from Almeida/Donmar/Young Vic/Bridge this time…Guys and Dolls? (And Bridge Theatre is still NOT a SOLT member despite being an active venue for years now) Or anything from Chichester or the touring productions…

[bee]

This was excellent. A barnstorming performance by Sophie Okonedo ably supported by Ben Daniels. Really great stuff.
This was my first trip to Sohoplace. I rather liked it. Comfortable seats with a good clear view (I was in the stalls, row B). Staff were pleasant and helpful. Does anyone know, is the current central stage configuration fixed or adjusted depending on the production?

[thistimetomorrow]

do we know if they set aside tickets for 'day seats' every performance or if it's not guaranteed that they will have any?

[teamyali]

According to Ben Daniels from his latest Insta post, there are day tickets worth £20! I don’t know if it’s only applicable on weekdays. My friend watched last Saturday night and got rush tickets for £25.

http://instagram.com/p/CpdS73zIkIQ

[alessia]

I wish they did the rush tickets on the app, rather than in person - how many people are able to go and queue up during the week?

[david]

teamyali - I’ve just been picked up a £20 day seat (stalls C6) for todays matinee. No queues.

[david]

I was supposed to be attending today’s matinee of “Butetown” at the Donmar, however from reading member reports, I decided to return the ticket and with the free theatre slot now available, I took the opportunity to visit London’s newest theatre for the first time. Getting to the theatre early afforded me time to have a look around and I have to say Nica Burns and her NIMAX team have done a brilliant job with @sohoplace. It’s a great venue in my opinion. There is plenty of space in the foyer area to chill out pre and post show and the auditorium itself is impressive. Walking into the auditorium, the design of it I felt it was similar to the Manchester REX with an in the round design. I was sat next to a couple from Manchester who I was talking to pre show and had a similar impression. I don’t think you would get a bad view anywhere in the auditorium.

After the 90 minute viewing of the play, I have absolutely no qualms about ditching the Donmar ticket. My £20 day seat C6 stalls ticket was an absolute steal for this brilliant 5⭐️ production so thank you to those who highlighted their availability and to the Box Office staff for the fab seat (I even had the luxury of having one of Corinth women sat in front of me, which came as a bit of a shock when she got up). Sophie and Ben are just mesmerising and completely own the stage. It really was a real pleasure seeing these two on stage. Director Dominic Cooke really has done a great job bringing this play to the stage. Along with the folk I was talking to after the show, we all agreed that we had watched something special this afternoon, and despite it being an emotionally draining play as the tension and horror of that final scene plays out, it is one we were happy to have been part of.

[adamkinsey]

Fabulous. Two stonking performances and great direction by Cooke. And I LOVE this new theatre space.

[profquatermass]

Also, don't miss the light display on the other side of Charing Cross Road

[Deleted]

I'm intrigued by the number of spots labeled as "high seats with foot rests." Are these more like bar stools?

[starlight92]

Mar 16, 2023 12:09:25 GMT @stevea said:

I'm intrigued by the number of spots labeled as "high seats with foot rests." Are these more like bar stools?

Yeah, you have a bar below where you can rest your feet. I was a little uncomfortable after a while but the view was good. (I was in Stalls E47)

[londonpostie]

Picked up - what they said was - the last £20 day seat this morning at 11.45, though it was a strike day. A two-show day; a cheeky matinee for moi.

Front row, 90-minutes straight through: Sophie Okonedo and Ben Daniels may as well have been in my living room, standing in front of the tv with me in the armchair. Acting masterclass. Once they adjusted replacement hips, it was an impressive standing ovation from the afternoon massive, Sophie looked moved.

Agree with the general sentiment; very well staged, excellent cast. Powerful. It's a bit of a showcase for Sophie, everything kind of serves her Medea, from the cast to the direction to the theatre itself. And that's fine.

Nica Burns has done a brilliant job here: what a great addition this theatre is! It feels they could have gone another way and really maxed out the financial potential in the overall space but chose instead to serve the performance space, the art. Also feels like a personal legacy project, from a London girl steeped in London theatre.

I'll be watching keenly for future productions.

[Being Alive]

I had so many issues with this it's impossible to know where to start.

The entire thing is mechanical, and felt like a play and actors giving performances - there was no point where I believed any of the characters were real - because the adaptation is dreadful.
Seating the three women in the audience made me roll my eyes so hard I almost passed out - what a stupid device.

Sophie Okenedo is a fantastic actress, and Medea feels like it was made for her, but I felt she was fighting the text at every turn, and I didn't feel emotionally connected to any of her characters arc.

Ben Daniels again is terrific but the decision to have him as all the men was not a wise one for me. And his slo mo walking around changing costumes - Hun move I can't see just put a coat on and get on with it.

Marion Bailey for me was the only performance that I had very few criticisms of - she was good.

I love Dominic Cooke and Vicki Mortimer, but the golden rule of 'if there's rain it's not very good' once again applies. The staircase looked nice going down below the stage I guess. But I just came away really disappointed by how mechanical the entire thing felt.

I think I'd give it 3 stars because of what the role is and how Okenedo is living with that, but I really thought this was quite poor.

Oh, and Soho Place is the singular worst designed theatre around - one staircase to get everyone up and down, the seats were BEYOND uncomfortable and cramped.

(I'm not.ally very cheerful, but this annoyed me 😂)