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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2019 10:36:49 GMT
Thought I'd bring this over from the "Do You Collect Anything" thread ... With "King Hedley II" and "Two Trains Running" this year I will be halfway through August Wilson's Pittsburgh Cycle of 10 plays. xanderl - where is Two Trains Running showing, please? I only have Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Fences, plus King Hedley II coming up at Theatre Royal Stratford East, and would love to collect more. It's an English Touring Theatre production - www.ett.org.uk/what.phpDates not announced on the ETT website yet, but it's at the Oxford Playhouse in the week of 24th Sept and the Royal and Derngate Northampton from 31 Aug to 14th September www.royalandderngate.co.uk/whats-on/two-trains-running/ |
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Post by TallPaul on May 4, 2019 13:50:39 GMT
What I assume is the full tour schedule is now on the ETT website - Northampton, Southampton, Oxford, Doncaster, Ipswich, Guildford & Derby. Some dates now on sale, others 'coming soon'.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2019 5:38:50 GMT
Saw this last night - it's excellent and I think better than King Hedley II. Although that may just be because I saw them in relatively quick succession so the inter-relations between the plays fell into place. Lots of stuff in this one about 300-year-old Aunt Ester (although she doesn't appear) which makes more sense of the references to her death in King Hedley.
It's very long - about 3 hours. Slightly annoying set design if you are sitting in the first few rows.
Hadn't sold well at all which probably isn't a good sign for this production having a further life.
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Post by showgirl on Sept 26, 2019 7:31:01 GMT
I'm seeing it at Guildford (won a pair of tix), where despite the good reviews so far, it has sold abysmally. Not really the sort of play for the standard Guildford audience but I'm looking forward to it; just hope the cast members don't outnumber the audience!
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Post by TallPaul on Sept 26, 2019 11:40:14 GMT
Sold terribly in Doncaster, too. I've been waiting for offers, and there is now one on Travelzoo, so good for me, but bad for Cast and ETT!
I was going to book the third row, but would appreciate your advice, @xanderl.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2019 14:48:57 GMT
Can't find a photo of the whole of the set, but basically in the middle of the stage is a serving counter. From where I was sitting this blocked the view of the door at the back of the stage - so when people came in, initially you just saw a hat until they walked forward! Not a massive issue as most of it was played towards the front of the stage, but a bit annoying. I think if you sat on the left hand side (as you face the stage) it would be better, although that might block the view of the people behind the counter! The photos here don't show the whole thing but should give you the idea - www.broadwayworld.com/uk-regional/article/Photo-Flash-Royal-Derngate-and-English-Touring-Theatre-Presents-TWO-TRAINS-RUNNING-20190904Also of course will vary between theatres - Oxford Playhouse has quite a high stage. |
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Post by TallPaul on Sept 27, 2019 12:58:27 GMT
Sincere thanks for your above and beyond help, @xanderl. Much appreciated. The left it is then, which will be no hardship. I'm 'right-sighted' so normally try to sit on the left anyway!
With a running time of three hours, I think it's going to be the Saturday matinee. Just 58 seats sold so far, out of 620. It's John Godber's Gym and Tonic this week, which has sold much better.
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Post by showgirl on Oct 18, 2019 3:50:11 GMT
OH and I saw the matinee in Guildford yesterday (running time 2 hours 55) and really enjoyed this. Though the attendance was still embarrassingly low - this was never going to appeal to the usual Guildford audience - the cast gave it their all and I was one of many who leapt to her/his feet at the end, which is also unusual at this venue and says something. It's hard to imagine a better production of this play which is one of those slow-burning works and repays your attention as the plot develops. I can only say "go" and hope people do, for multiple reasons: because it's so worthwhile in itself and to support the future of ETT, touring theatre generally and braver programming by regional theatres.
NB: Derby next week is the last venue of the tour; while the production is still in Guildford seniors can get the best available ticket for the Saturday matinee for £15; there are also other concessions for students and anyone can get a standby ticket for any performance one hour beforehand for £20.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2019 6:09:29 GMT
Glad you enjoyed it. As you say, a difficult sell to the audiences in many of the tour venues - a fairly obscure play (first UK production of it, I think) with no big names in the cast. The last touring production of an August Wilson play I'm aware of was "Fences" which had Lenny Henry in the lead and I guess sold fairly well on the basis of that.
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Post by bordeaux on Oct 18, 2019 6:50:44 GMT
Shame it's not coming to Bristol. We would have loved to see it.
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xanderl - where is Two Trains Running showing, please?
