Went to see Cabaret last night. Didn’t really know much about it beforehand, but it was excellent. Loved that the show really starts the moment you walk into the theatre.
Well worth getting the more expensive seats with a table as a one off extravagence.
A must see IMO.
We saw it from the rafters and loved it! Now saving our pennies for the extravagance.
Had great tickets for Stranger Things last Sunday but a bad week was capped off by the show being cancelled due to a ticketing problem while we were in the queue to go in. Will try to rebook but won’t get Row B tickets for £35 each like we did when we booked early. They are £100 each now. Very annoying.
Had great tickets for Stranger Things last Sunday but a bad week was capped off by the show being cancelled due to a ticketing problem while we were in the queue to go in. Will try to rebook but won’t get Row B tickets for £35 each like we did when we booked early. They are £100 each now. Very annoying.
Wow ! That sounds unfair!
It was their fault that you were unable to watch the performance you'd booked so surely they should ensure that you receive duplicates for another on a date that suits you.
In addition, you presumably had travelling expenses too which you'll incur a second time.
I'd send an email with all the relavant particulars to the theatre or to whoever you booked through.
Went to a few shows at the Edinburgh fringe last week. We realised we were too old for Rose Matefeo, a number of cultural references went over our heads and some of it we couldn't relate to at all (being old farts). Reginald D Hunter's show was work in progress, and he was surprisingly nervous - the gags were hit and miss, but for £14 a ticket we were not complaining. Paul Merton and Suki Webster did an improv thing, with the added bonus of Mike McShane, very much Whose line is it Anyway, and mostly very funny. Arthur Smith and Phil Nice did a play/stand up called "Oof!" in which two old men are reminiscing on a park bench. It turns into an autobiographical piece dealing with their real life relationship and is full of humour and pathos. If they ever tour it, go see... The pick of the bunch was Adam Hills - bloody hilarious, interacting with the audience on "disabled top-trumps" being the very non-PC highlight that only a person of disability themself could get away with...
I suppose musicals are part of theatre land and this week I’ve been to 3 shows in 3 days. My first show was at Zedel’s Crazy Coqs to see a friend in the Dirty Blues Show which are risqué blues songs from the US in the late 1920’s and 1930’s. An excellent night of fun and good music with a bit of a singalong. My second show was a Night with Janis Joplin at the Peacock Theatre. An absolute thunderbolt of a show with an excellent cast and band. My final show was at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre to see Fiddler on the Roof. Luckily enough the rain decided to hold back to let this wonderful production commence. All three are highly recommended although the Janis Joplin show finishes on Saturday.
Went to see The 39 Steps at The Trafalgar last night. Written by Patrick Barlow (from the John Buchan book, of course), it's a very funny comedy version of one of my favourite stories. Four people in the cast taking up multiple roles, very silly (in a good way) at times, but had us both laughing throughout. Sadly closes tonight, but when it comes back, worth seeing
I saw The Book of Mormon last night. I'm very surprised I'd not heard much about it considering the content. If Ricky Gervais and others have demonstrators I'm surprised how The Book of Mormon has gone unscathed (as far as I'm aware). Pretty funny and shockingly irreverent.
Smallest theatre I have ever been to last night. Capacity crowd of just over 30 for Past Tents at the Golden Goose in Camberwell.
Have wanted to see it for a while. Not what I was expecting. Badged up as a dark comedy with some underlying themes around loss and mental health issues.
Is actually a really powerful piece looking at the issue of male suicide. The run is sponsored by Andy's Mans Clubs, so I should have guessed it was a bit deeper than expected.
Despite the bleak subject matter there were some laughs and I really enjoyed it. Quite a few audience members were reduced to tears by the final moments.
I have 2 x tickets for Six at the Vauderville Theatre - Stalls Row K - seats together if anyone is interested. Face value approx £75 each. Saturday 26th October - 4pm. Would sell for £80 for the pair if anyone is keen?
Got tickets for the Seagull next March at the Barbican yesterday. Their system was down so I got them in person. Expecting a couple of tickets for the RSC Midsummer Nights Dream sometime soon (two freebies!) also at the Barbican. Got to say the walk from Barbican tube to the Theatre down that dark road tunnel is really dreary and unpleasant. I hadn’t been there for a while and had forgotten what a little drag that is.
Got tickets for the Seagull next March at the Barbican yesterday. Their system was down so I got them in person. Expecting a couple of tickets for the RSC Midsummer Nights Dream sometime soon (two freebies!) also at the Barbican. Got to say the walk from Barbican tube to the Theatre down that dark road tunnel is really dreary and unpleasant. I hadn’t been there for a while and had forgotten what a little drag that is.
Far nicer to walk through the City to Canon Street from the Barbican rather than use the tube.
Got tickets for the Seagull next March at the Barbican yesterday. Their system was down so I got them in person. Expecting a couple of tickets for the RSC Midsummer Nights Dream sometime soon (two freebies!) also at the Barbican. Got to say the walk from Barbican tube to the Theatre down that dark road tunnel is really dreary and unpleasant. I hadn’t been there for a while and had forgotten what a little drag that is.
Far nicer to walk through the City to Canon Street from the Barbican rather than use the tube.
Much closer than it may seem.
Also Moorgate to the Barbican centre is a better (and shorter) walk. The moorgate exit from liverpool street Elizabeth line is an alternative route to the northern line. I've also gone 'over the top' once through the gardens from Barbican tube, rather than walk through that tunnel.
On the subject of the Seagull; I best not give my views. It possibly went over my head. Will be interested in your thoughts.
Got tickets for the Seagull next March at the Barbican yesterday. Their system was down so I got them in person. Expecting a couple of tickets for the RSC Midsummer Nights Dream sometime soon (two freebies!) also at the Barbican. Got to say the walk from Barbican tube to the Theatre down that dark road tunnel is really dreary and unpleasant. I hadn’t been there for a while and had forgotten what a little drag that is.
Far nicer to walk through the City to Canon Street from the Barbican rather than use the tube.
Much closer than it may seem.
Also Moorgate to the Barbican centre is a better (and shorter) walk. The moorgate exit from liverpool street Elizabeth line is an alternative route to the northern line. I've also gone 'over the top' once through the gardens from Barbican tube, rather than walk through that tunnel.
On the subject of the Seagull; I best not give my views. It possibly went over myhead. Will be interested in your thoughts.
Got tickets for the Seagull next March at the Barbican yesterday. Their system was down so I got them in person. Expecting a couple of tickets for the RSC Midsummer Nights Dream sometime soon (two freebies!) also at the Barbican. Got to say the walk from Barbican tube to the Theatre down that dark road tunnel is really dreary and unpleasant. I hadn’t been there for a while and had forgotten what a little drag that is.
Far nicer to walk through the City to Canon Street from the Barbican rather than use the tube.
Much closer than it may seem.
Also Moorgate to the Barbican centre is a better (and shorter) walk. The moorgate exit from liverpool street Elizabeth line is an alternative route to the northern line. I've also gone 'over the top' once through the gardens from Barbican tube, rather than walk through that tunnel.
On the subject of the Seagull; I best not give my views. It possibly went over my head. Will be interested in your thoughts.
I am a Chekhov fan.
He was a doctor who had to make ends meet by writing stories and then some short plays, he basically supported his wider family though slowly dying from TB, which he would’ve known about being a doctor and all. However being a doctor at that time and having travelled throughout Russia, gave him a good insight into the human condition. Now the style of Theatre before Ibsen, Strindberg, Gorky and Checkov came along was melodramatic. Ibsen taught us to look at social issues in the theatre rather than pure escapism and excitement, and in Russia theatre director and Chekhov collaborator Stanislavsky was interested in getting closer to reality. Think Mike Leigh as opposed to a Superhero film. Anyway eventually Chekhov wrote four full length plays, starting with the Seagull, which in its early scene discusses the nature of Theatre itself. The aim of Chekhov it seems to me was to do away with the notion of the melodramatic trope of goodies and baddies, but to create characters who were both and more, people you wanted to hug and slap, judge yet accept, real people if you like. The four major plays Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and in my opinion the greatest one of all, the Cherry Orchard, try to resist the melodramatic tropes and explore people in other ways. They are all about loss yearning and change which reflected early twentieth century Russia, but also sit within the tradition of great Russian writers like Tolstoy, Pushkin, Dostoevesky and others. The criticism was usually that nothing really happened in a Chekhov play when looked at alongside melodrama. Not true in my view, but without Stanislavsky (himself influenced by the realistic style of Ira Aldridge) and Chekhov, and Gorky and others we may not have unearthed realism that we see so much of in the modern era.
The biggest criticism of the Chekhov great plays are that they deal a lot with middle and upper class concerns, but then again his written stories dealt with all classes. The structure of the Cherry Orchard is masterful, Chekhov described it as a ‘comedy’. The Seagull I am going to in March stars Cate Blanchett.
Got tickets for the Seagull next March at the Barbican yesterday. Their system was down so I got them in person. Expecting a couple of tickets for the RSC Midsummer Nights Dream sometime soon (two freebies!) also at the Barbican. Got to say the walk from Barbican tube to the Theatre down that dark road tunnel is really dreary and unpleasant. I hadn’t been there for a while and had forgotten what a little drag that is.
Far nicer to walk through the City to Canon Street from the Barbican rather than use the tube.
Much closer than it may seem.
Also Moorgate to the Barbican centre is a better (and shorter) walk. The moorgate exit from liverpool street Elizabeth line is an alternative route to the northern line. I've also gone 'over the top' once through the gardens from Barbican tube, rather than walk through that tunnel.
On the subject of the Seagull; I best not give my views. It possibly went over my head. Will be interested in your thoughts.
I am a Chekhov fan.
He was a doctor who had to make ends meet by writing stories and then some short plays, he basically supported his wider family though slowly dying from TB, which he would’ve known about being a doctor and all. However being a doctor at that time and having travelled throughout Russia, gave him a good insight into the human condition. Now the style of Theatre before Ibsen, Strindberg, Gorky and Checkov came along was melodramatic. Ibsen taught us to look at social issues in the theatre rather than pure escapism and excitement, and in Russia theatre director and Chekhov collaborator Stanislavsky was interested in getting closer to reality. Think Mike Leigh as opposed to a Superhero film. Anyway eventually Chekhov wrote four full length plays, starting with the Seagull, which in its early scene discusses the nature of Theatre itself. The aim of Chekhov it seems to me was to do away with the notion of the melodramatic trope of goodies and baddies, but to create characters who were both and more, people you wanted to hug and slap, judge yet accept, real people if you like. The four major plays Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and in my opinion the greatest one of all, the Cherry Orchard, try to resist the melodramatic tropes and explore people in other ways. They are all about loss yearning and change which reflected early twentieth century Russia, but also sit within the tradition of great Russian writers like Tolstoy, Pushkin, Dostoevesky and others. The criticism was usually that nothing really happened in a Chekhov play when looked at alongside melodrama. Not true in my view, but without Stanislavsky (himself influenced by the realistic style of Ira Aldridge) and Chekhov, and Gorky and others we may not have unearthed realism that we see so much of in the modern era.
The biggest criticism of the Chekhov great plays are that they deal a lot with middle and upper class concerns, but then again his written stories dealt with all classes. The structure of the Cherry Orchard is masterful, Chekhov described it as a ‘comedy’. The Seagull I am going to in March stars Cate Blanchett.
Have just got tickets to see Dr Strangelove with the missus tomorrow night. Have never seen the movie - which is shocking for a film love - so not sure what I am letting us in for other than know it as a satirical and dark comedy. Coogan is in it who has turned into a fantastic and sometimes brave actor.
Just to say Dr Strangelove was exceptionally well produced and staged. The set changes were great and having now seen the trailer for the movie, totally in keeping with Kubrick’s vision.
Coogan was exceptional. All four characters he played terrifically, the standout unsurprisingly being Dr Strangelove. A lot of laugh out loud moments for the audience and the story was easy to follow if not a bit bonkers, but black farcical comedy it was after all.
Will be surprised if Coogan does not win awards for his multi-character performances.
Have just got tickets to see Dr Strangelove with the missus tomorrow night. Have never seen the movie - which is shocking for a film love - so not sure what I am letting us in for other than know it as a satirical and dark comedy. Coogan is in it who has turned into a fantastic and sometimes brave actor.
I also went to see this on Saturday. It was much funnier in a laugh out loud way than i expected. Beautifully staged and I thought Coogan was excellent. Highly recommend.
Just to say Dr Strangelove was exceptionally well produced and staged. The set changes were great and having now seen the trailer for the movie, totally in keeping with Kubrick’s vision.
Coogan was exceptional. All four characters he played terrifically, the standout unsurprisingly being Dr Strangelove. A lot of laugh out loud moments for the audience and the story was easy to follow if not a bit bonkers, but black farcical comedy it was after all.
Will be surprised if Coogan does not win awards for his multi-character performances.
Had not read this before posting. Agree with it all.
Just booked to see John Lyndon's spoken word tour. He's appearing at The Greenwich Theatre. Thought to myself that will be pretty cool and something to look forward to next month. Tickets then arrived and I noticed they are for 2025 🙈😂
Just booked to see John Lyndon's spoken word tour. He's appearing at The Greenwich Theatre. Thought to myself that will be pretty cool and something to look forward to next month. Tickets then arrived and I noticed they are for 2025 🙈😂
Saw him a while back in Basingstoke. Interesting show. He led the audience in a sing song at the end 😀
Comments
Really enjoyed it 1st time round, but was fixated on the performance from the guy that played Basil, who was excellent.
2nd time round appreciated more the other actor’s performances, and would even consider going a 3rd time, enjoyed it that much.
It was their fault that you were unable to watch the performance you'd booked so surely they should ensure that you receive duplicates for another on a date that suits you.
In addition, you presumably had travelling expenses too which you'll incur a second time.
I'd send an email with all the relavant particulars to the theatre or to whoever you booked through.
My first show was at Zedel’s Crazy Coqs to see a friend in the Dirty Blues Show which are risqué blues songs from the US in the late 1920’s and 1930’s. An excellent night of fun and good music with a bit of a singalong.
My second show was a Night with Janis Joplin at the Peacock Theatre. An absolute thunderbolt of a show with an excellent cast and band.
My final show was at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre to see Fiddler on the Roof. Luckily enough the rain decided to hold back to let this wonderful production commence.
All three are highly recommended although the Janis Joplin show finishes on Saturday.
Like a hard-core Book of Mormon! Absolutely outrageous in parts, but bloody funny.
I'm very surprised I'd not heard much about it considering the content.
If Ricky Gervais and others have demonstrators I'm surprised how The Book of Mormon has gone unscathed (as far as I'm aware).
Pretty funny and shockingly irreverent.
Smallest theatre I have ever been to last night. Capacity crowd of just over 30 for Past Tents at the Golden Goose in Camberwell.
Have wanted to see it for a while. Not what I was expecting. Badged up as a dark comedy with some underlying themes around loss and mental health issues.
Is actually a really powerful piece looking at the issue of male suicide. The run is sponsored by Andy's Mans Clubs, so I should have guessed it was a bit deeper than expected.
Despite the bleak subject matter there were some laughs and I really enjoyed it. Quite a few audience members were reduced to tears by the final moments.
Well worth £15 of your money.
Their system was down so I got them in person.
Expecting a couple of tickets for the RSC Midsummer Nights Dream sometime soon (two freebies!) also at the Barbican.
Got to say the walk from Barbican tube to the Theatre down that dark road tunnel is really dreary and unpleasant. I hadn’t been there for a while and had forgotten what a little drag that is.
On the subject of the Seagull; I best not give my views. It possibly went over my head. Will be interested in your thoughts.
Now the style of Theatre before Ibsen, Strindberg, Gorky and Checkov came along was melodramatic. Ibsen taught us to look at social issues in the theatre rather than pure escapism and excitement, and in Russia theatre director and Chekhov collaborator Stanislavsky was interested in getting closer to reality.
Think Mike Leigh as opposed to a Superhero film.
Anyway eventually Chekhov wrote four full length plays, starting with the Seagull, which in its early scene discusses the nature of Theatre itself.
The aim of Chekhov it seems to me was to do away with the notion of the melodramatic trope of goodies and baddies, but to create characters who were both and more, people you wanted to hug and slap, judge yet accept, real people if you like.
The four major plays Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and in my opinion the greatest one of all, the Cherry Orchard, try to resist the melodramatic tropes and explore people in other ways. They are all about loss yearning and change which reflected early twentieth century Russia, but also sit within the tradition of great Russian writers like Tolstoy, Pushkin, Dostoevesky and others.
The criticism was usually that nothing really happened in a Chekhov play when looked at alongside melodrama. Not true in my view, but without Stanislavsky (himself influenced by the realistic style of Ira Aldridge) and Chekhov, and Gorky and others we may not have unearthed realism that we see so much of in the modern era.
The structure of the Cherry Orchard is masterful, Chekhov described it as a ‘comedy’.
The Seagull I am going to in March stars Cate Blanchett.
Have also just booked for the revival of Lehman, which is getting 5 star reviews.
Have you still got these mate?
Know my wife and daughter want to see it, if they're available I'll check if they are keen still & if they're busy/free on 26th.