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Post by mkb on Feb 9, 2024 17:45:27 GMT
During the check-out process for Peter Pan, LW Theatres tried to upsell all manner of add-ons. The theatre tour was an eye-watering £35.00 each, but this is one of the greatest architectural performance venues in the nation, and we love seeing behind the scenes, so I thought, let's treat ourselves.
There was no indication of start time, but we were promised a souvenir programme for the panto, which turned out to have a value of £12, but quite why a couple would want two, I don't know. We gave away our second one to a grateful American family. We were also promised first entrance to a bar at the end before the other punters were admitted.
I feared the worst having seen a critical posting in the Peter Pan thread, but we'd already booked, so how bad could it be?
The answer was: terrible. This was not a tour; it was a money-making scam, and theatre management should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.
The host, Liv, was perfectly affable, and gave us a history of panto, most of which we already knew. In terms of discussion of the history and architecture of the building itself, there was practically nothing.
The tour takes you up the main staircase, then through to the Legends Bar and the VIP Bar, and that's it. Unlike any other theatre tour, there is no backstage, no onstage, nor even a look into the auditorium where there are many architectural features that could be talked about.
From beginning to end, the tour lasted precisely 36 minutes. That's nearly £1/minute each, a nice little earner. We were decanted to a bar where queues had already formed, but we were given an amazingly generous 10% bar discount voucher, but it was made clear it was only one per party, not one each, and it could only be used the once, so we were advised to bulk buy all the evening's drinks in one transaction.
Clearly, we were not the only tour guests feeling like we had been taken for a ride. One old lady had the temerity to complain and was fobbed off with "I'll pass on your feedback".
The duty manager told me he was not empowered to deal with any complaints which must instead be made to a customer services email address.
The whole experience left a very sour taste.
One star.
18:01-18:37 (Saturday 13 January)
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5,716 posts
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Post by lynette on Feb 9, 2024 18:15:31 GMT
Thanks for the warning
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Post by danb on Feb 9, 2024 18:30:00 GMT
Yes, thank you. It was on my list; it isn’t now.
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Post by david on Feb 9, 2024 19:00:36 GMT
Having done the tour myself last month, I can't disagree with any of what mkb has posted. Compared to other theatre tours, this one really didn't offer value for money and as the Palladium doesn't do that many tours this was a really big missed opportunity by LWT to show off this fantastic venue and give those of us who bought a tour ticket a really great time to have a proper look around the building and learn about its great history. It took me longer to drink my drink at the end of the tour than the length of the tour itself. |
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Post by toomasj on Feb 9, 2024 19:17:08 GMT
That’s desperately poor - is there any recourse for a refund? I’d be complaining up the chain, £35 for 35 minutes and not even entering the auditorium is outrageous. You could’ve given yourself a better tour of the FOH spaces using Wikipedia for free.
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Post by max on Feb 10, 2024 10:57:24 GMT
The Palladium page of LW Theatres, for 'Theatre Tour' now says: "FINAL CURTAIN CALL This show is no longer running." lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/theatre-tour-the-london-palladium/Though there are two dates for September. I could only find the page via Google Search; you don't see it if you go through the front door of the LW Theatre website and click the Palldium tab. I don't know if this is in reaction to feedback, but I can't see why they'd knock off the tours so long for any other reason. By Contrast the Drury Lane Tour is half the price (£18.50) mentioned above, and appears to include actors bringing it to life. I think there's absolutely a case for 'money back' or some kind of voucher in compensation for what sounds like a complete rip off. Given the good value at another of their venues (The Lane) they must surely know this has gone badly wrong - and I don't think the customer should pay for LWT's mistake and self-damage to reputation. Keep escalating this, and get your money back! |
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1,591 posts
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Post by anita on Aug 29, 2024 9:23:37 GMT
Anyone been on the new tour? Ive just booked for tomorrow.
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Post by londonmzfitz on Aug 29, 2024 12:16:01 GMT
Yes, I did a brief post under the Hello Dolly thread.
Booked for Monday 19th August, 2.30 start at the front of the theatre. 28 of us in total, lead by the Tour Guide and flanked by a member of staff to ensure no-one did an early runner. Tour Guide was delightful! Toilet stops (!) and getting everyone in place took a bit of time .... Up to The Cinderella Bar for first stop. As above, the story of the theatre from first built, capacity (2,200 from memory, 2nd biggest theatre in London). Then led to The Hall of Fame for a brief of some of the shows and performers through the years. Tour Guide did a lovely range of accents ... Down to the Stalls for a bit more of a debrief - then led down under the stage where there are various props, dressing tables, mirrors (I missed the Hello Dolly train, apparently I should have looked *up*). Then through a corridor to the rear of the building (past Imelda's dressing room) and outside to the wall at the back with the portraits of stars through the years. Back around to the front, up to the Cinderella Bar again for tea/coffee with a selection of cakes, included in the £25 entry (was it £25, booked ages ago and think that's what it was). Note, coffee machine takes FOREVER so go for the tea option if you need to be elsewhere. Then a sit and chat. Think the tour was done in about an hour, I left around 4.30 after chatting with another solo attendee.
What was missing from the same tour I did in 2012 was being taken across the stage (where I dug my elbow in the ribs of my pal and we did a little jig on the stage - so I can say I've danced on the stage of the London Palladium) .... interesting to see just how visible all the audience are from that viewpoint. We also got a view from The Royal Box last time, didn't happen this time (sat there twice and it's a rubbish view, can see nothing of the back of the stage). There was a comment about how the stage is set differently to most theatres which I've forgotten (is it side-on to the front of the theatre?).
Des O'Conner ashes and Bruce Forsythe's ashes are interred under the stage, plaques can be viewed on the tour, if that's the sort of thing you want a photo of ......
Too much info? Spoilers? Sorry. It was worth it if it was £25 including the refreshments, in my opinion. Tour Guide added with his delivery of information.
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5,169 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 29, 2024 12:45:39 GMT
There was a comment about how the stage is set differently to most theatres which I've forgotten (is it side-on to the front of the theatre?). You haven't forgotten at all!  |
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2,422 posts
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Post by theatreian on Aug 29, 2024 14:05:39 GMT
The tours are £29.50 for adults which includes coffee /tea and cake.
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1,330 posts
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Post by londonmzfitz on Aug 29, 2024 21:48:30 GMT
Thanks TallPaul - see, I found that to be interesting and I meant to ask the Tour Guide last week but there was quite a lot of people to wrangle through the ups and downs and ins and outs.
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1,591 posts
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Post by anita on Aug 30, 2024 15:27:51 GMT
It was great & the slice of cake was massive . - I couldn't eat it all.
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1,330 posts
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Post by londonmzfitz on Aug 30, 2024 16:47:30 GMT
It was great & the slice of cake was massive . - I couldn't eat it all. I'm pleased to hear! Salted Caramel was lovely. As others might look at this thread, can you give an idea of how many on your tour, and your thoughts, please? In 2021, coming out of Covid lockdown, I had a backstage tour of the Shaftesbury Avenue theatre as part of the Annual Open House weekend that runs every September. Now, that was pretty awesome, right up into the flies, through the costume and wig department. I think it's fully booked this year but well worth looking at for next year. I won a backstage tour of The Palace Theatre which had The Commitments running at the time, I danced on that stage too .... |
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Post by Jan on Aug 30, 2024 17:26:04 GMT
By Contrast the Drury Lane Tour is half the price (£18.50) mentioned above, and appears to include actors bringing it to life. Yes it is a good one - best one I've been on by far. |
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Post by anita on Aug 31, 2024 9:24:48 GMT
It was great & the slice of cake was massive . - I couldn't eat it all. I'm pleased to hear! Salted Caramel was lovely. As others might look at this thread, can you give an idea of how many on your tour, and your thoughts, please? In 2021, coming out of Covid lockdown, I had a backstage tour of the Shaftesbury Avenue theatre as part of the Annual Open House weekend that runs every September. Now, that was pretty awesome, right up into the flies, through the costume and wig department. I think it's fully booked this year but well worth looking at for next year. I won a backstage tour of The Palace Theatre which had The Commitments running at the time, I danced on that stage too .... I had the "salted caramel" too. There were about 25 of us. Our guide was "Harry". He was great. |
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Post by max on Aug 31, 2024 10:00:34 GMT
By Contrast the Drury Lane Tour is half the price (£18.50) mentioned above, and appears to include actors bringing it to life. Yes it is a good one - best one I've been on by far. Good to hear it's strong Jan - I only came back to this thread because I saw your comment in notifications. I'd like a proper nose around the redone Drury Lane so I may now give this tour a try. Thanks for the recommend. |
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Poppy or Drood
Auditioning
What is your all time favourite musical they ask...?
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Post by Poppy or Drood on Sept 3, 2024 9:06:21 GMT
Did the RSC Backstage Tour in Stratford on Saturday and it was amazing...lots of stops all over the complex and even a visit across to the costume department...all for £13.50...and a really relaxed and hugely knowledgeable guide too.
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Post by kit66 on Sept 3, 2024 9:15:54 GMT
The Royal Opera House tour is also fantastic - if expensive - with stops in the costume and scenery dock and we were lucky enough to see some of the dancers rehearsing in the rehearsal room and then taken up to the balcony of the opera house to watch some of the dancers rehearing The Nutcracker on the stage!
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281 posts
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Post by unseaworthy on Sept 3, 2024 15:34:49 GMT
The backstage tour at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff is also superb
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