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Post by jek on Aug 4, 2023 21:33:22 GMT
I am Stepney born and bred and no-one would mistake my accent for anything other than cockney. I have just listened to Ashford's version of 'By The Sea' and it is the best laugh I have had in some time! What on earth is that accent? It's even worse than Lin Manuel Miranda's attempt in Mary Poppins. It's a shame because the orchestra sounds very good indeed.
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Post by jek on Aug 1, 2023 11:53:29 GMT
showgirl Theater Camp looks fun. Previewing at Picturehouse Central on the 15th August, general release ten days later. But I know what you mean - everything looks a bit intense. Much as I love Ben Whishaw I feel like I've seen him looking sad - as he clearly does in Passages - once too often. Of the trailers I've been seeing in the cinema Past Lives is probably the one that appeals most.
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Post by jek on Jul 30, 2023 20:11:03 GMT
I was at the Barbican cinema this morning and one of the adverts they showed before the film was for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I go to the Barbican cinema a lot and can't remember seeing an advert for a theatre production before - only for screenings of theatre shows.
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Post by jek on Jul 19, 2023 8:30:13 GMT
A few years back I went to the National Theatre Christmas quiz hosted by Emma Freud with Carey Mulligan as guest scorer. Richard Curtis and the rest of the family were sitting near us. Now I'm sure some would say that they have a lot to congratulate themselves for, but I remember the whole evening as being smug and self indulgent. I hope that this new event is a little more self aware - just because you and your famous mates onstage are having a good time that doesn't necessarily mean that the audience is.
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Post by jek on Jul 10, 2023 12:01:49 GMT
I wonder if anyone on here had any success at the ENO Yard Sale at Charlton on Friday/Saturday. We went on Friday, by tube and bus, and queued for half an hour in boiling heat and no shade. We were then told that it was likely to be two hours before we got in so we gave up and went home. At 60 and with a gammy leg that wasn't feasible for me. I'm seeing lots of photos on social media of people who bought costumes and props. I bet the ENO were surprised at the crowds that turned up - from the queue I'd say it was a mix of people who run am dram companies/ cosplayers and vintage wearers/sellers. There were some complaints on social media that once you did get in there was only one till and so people were queueing another hour to pay for their items!
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Post by jek on Jul 9, 2023 17:54:42 GMT
The Australian version of The Traitors starts on BBC3 tonight at 8pm. From the Radio Times description it sounds a hoot with one of the contestants someone who 'claims to be a clairvoyant who manifested Pablo Escobar in her bedroom after she watched Narcos'. Further episodes are on tomorrow and Tuesday but, for the binge watchers among you, the whole series is on iPlayer from today.
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Post by jek on Jul 9, 2023 14:17:04 GMT
I have very happy memories of Luke Thallon and Lucie Fletcher performing in this at the Guildhall five years ago. Too busy being carried away by the joy of the performance (and the proud parents in the audience) to worry about the plot.
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Post by jek on Jul 8, 2023 16:11:53 GMT
thistimetomorrow I'm afraid that I am defeated by the convoluted way that is required to post a picture on this board (though I understand why that is necessary.) Cast members were as follows (cast A followed by Cast Z): Billy Bigelow: Ari Olafsson/ Job Greuter Julie Jordan: Reka Jonas/Joanna Adaran Carrie: Emily Botnen/ Chloe Saracco Enoch Snow: Thomas O'Kelly/Edward Conroy Mrs Mullins: Shamael Guy Nettie Fowler: Sarah Von Egypt Starkeeper etc.: Jack Lark Jigger Craigin: Patrick D'Arcy/ Joe Kelly Louise Bigelow: Rachel Chan/ Aiofe Dardis Carnival boy: El Haq Latief/ James Lim Enoch Snow Jr: Joao Almeida/ Adam Norton Millworker: Tamara Tare Fisherman/sailor: Niklas Brunner MD: Niall Casserly/ Jemma Starling Hope that helps.
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Post by jek on Jul 7, 2023 13:43:22 GMT
I went to see the Royal Academy of Music Carousel yesterday afternoon. It was inventively staged with some lovely singing. Some of the acting wasn't so good but they are very young. Also some very good dancing. As a bonus the lad playing Billy Bigelow, Ari Olaffson, (I saw Cast A) is Icelandic and represented Iceland in Eurovision 2018. Notable from a quick google how many of the cast are overseas students - Hungarian, American, German, Dutch.
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Post by jek on Jun 28, 2023 10:50:25 GMT
Tom Conti was at the National last night. I'm guessing for the Motive and the Cue rather than Dear England (especially given his much publicised run-in with his then neighbour Thierry Henry over planning permission!). Anyway it got me thinking about how he is known for different things among different generations. For me his is the Oscar nominated star in Reuben Reuben while for my kids he is the judge in Paddington.
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Post by jek on Jun 28, 2023 8:28:44 GMT
Went last night. I grew up in a working class football mad household but, despite being taken to lots of Arsenal games, failed to develop any interest. Even so I really enjoyed this and would draw parallels with how I also enjoy Ted Lasso, despite thinking that wasn't for me. When Dear England initially went on sale (I'm a priority member) I didn't book as there were other things I wanted to see more. But having changed my mind I got lucky in last Friday's Rush and got two ten pound tickets at the extreme left of the back row of the circle. It turned out to be a really good place to watch from - because so much of the beauty of the piece relies on the choreography, although I'm sure a more close up view would be worth the price of admission. Really nice too that there were so many young people at the performance - both in organised groups and as family members. A very good night out and very cheap with my newly acquired 60+ oyster card allowing me free travel!
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Post by jek on Jun 23, 2023 15:28:58 GMT
I got Friday Rush tickets for Dear England today. When 1 pm came I was number 252 in the queue. I only looked at two performances and nabbed tickets (back row of the circle) quickly as there were only 4 tickets on sale across the two days that I looked at.
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Post by jek on Jun 22, 2023 8:03:38 GMT
We went to see this last night and echo all the good things that people on here have said about it. Andrew Richardson was on as Sky, for those concerned about his health. For anyone unable to stand (that is certainly true of me) and looking for a reasonably priced ticket I can recommend the ones we had. They were in Gallery 1, CC18 and 19 and cost £55 each. The tickets state that you may need to lean forward but we didn't, except for the odd moment. They are the opposite end of the auditorium to the band so you get a view of them, if that's of interest. The seats immediately in front of ours are marked as £95 and the ones in front of those are £125. It's hard to see how they are worth so much more money. Leg room isn't brilliant but my partner who is 6ft 4" was still able to walk at the end of the evening which is always a bonus! We had some excitement on the way there as as we headed across Tower Bridge from Tower Hill station we had to stop, as the bridge was raised to let a boat through. The first time this has ever happened to me in my whole life of being born, raised and living in the East End. Fortunately we'd left plenty of time to get to the theatre. For those taking this route it is also possible at the moment to get a view of the magnificent Superbloom in the Tower of London moat. Colourful by daytime and quite spooky as we headed home at the end of the show.
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Post by jek on Jun 8, 2023 7:57:02 GMT
Luke Thallon in Crazy For You at the Guildhall. Also Toheeb Jimoh in Fiddler on the Roof at the Guildhall. Both were very impressive but, of course, no more so than some of their student colleagues who haven't had similar breaks. Such a hard business to go in to.
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Post by jek on Jun 2, 2023 13:57:33 GMT
The vouchers via this scheme run out tonight at midnight (or at least mine does). I've just redeemed mine this morning. This is just a reminder in case anyone still has one they haven't used.
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Post by jek on May 31, 2023 21:31:03 GMT
I went to the matinée of the RADA production of Company today. Some strong performances but I suspect the singing would have been better in a Guildhall production of which I've seen quite a few, including a very good version of Merrily We Roll Along. The only person I recognised in the audience was Mark Shenton.
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Post by jek on May 17, 2023 10:21:32 GMT
I have a Barbican membership which certainly pays for itself as I go to a lot of concerts, cinema and exhibitions there as well as theatre. Of course it helps that I can do door to door to the Barbican from my home in Stratford in half an hour. I also have NT membership which I probably don't get the value out of. I first got it years ago when getting cheap front row tickets was the aim, and it worked very well for that. However these days - due to ongoing problems from being hit by a car some years ago - I need more leg room than these tickets offer and so I no longer book those. I suspect that equivalent tickets to those I do buy would still be available after the initial pre booking period. I continue to be happy to support the National, however, as over the years my children have benefited from the education offer - design courses, writing courses all offered free of charge (and nothing to do with me being a member). So I feel like I owe them something and am also glad to support high quality theatre.
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Post by jek on May 15, 2023 11:06:36 GMT
Went to see this at a Picturehouse Members' free screening yesterday. I knew very little about it and have never read a Judy Blume book. It's an uncomplicatedly enjoyable coming of age movie with some very good performances - Kathy Bates is having a ball. For theatre fans there is also an atmospheric trip to see Pirates of Penzance at the Central Park Open Air theatre and a trip to see the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. The details of 1970s New York and New Jersey life have been lovingly rendered. For what it's worth the Guardian gave it a five star review.
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Post by jek on May 11, 2023 13:58:19 GMT
When I saw that I had been randomly allocated position 1,600 or so in the queue I thought there was no chance I'd get a voucher but I did. My daughter was allocated a position around about 3,800 and she got a voucher too. We used the two we previously got to buy tickets that we otherwise would not have booked for - and I hope to use my new one in the same spirit.
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Post by jek on May 7, 2023 14:37:09 GMT
I'm in the camp of people who didn't enjoy this very much (I saw it last week). I can see that there is much to admire in it but it just didn't engage me and neither did it my partner. The couple sitting next to us left at the interval, and while I'm glad we stayed the course I could certainly understand someone making the decision that it wasn't for them. It probably requires audience members to have more of an interest in Shakespeare that I do. I thought the Guardian review was pretty fair. But happy to have spent money on tickets for this as I know that something else will come along at the National soon that I will enjoy. And supporting quality productions has got to be a good thing.
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Post by jek on Apr 22, 2023 9:02:38 GMT
I loved this unreservedly as I had the 1991 production. Obviously seeing something in my late 20s and then again in my late 50s meant I dwelt on different things. For me, like for so many other people in the audience I guess, this is in part my story. In 1936 when the play is set my dad was a 10 year old growing up in Cork with two brothers and two sisters. Within three years the whole family had relocated to Dagenham, Essex to work in the Dagenham Fords plant (one of my aunts went on to play a significant part in the equal pay fight recorded in Made In Dagenham). So many Irish families faced dislocation by emigration. Just before I saw the original London production I spent a year working with the homeless in Melbourne, Australia. So many of them were Irish. My own grandparents, dad and uncles all died young (younger than I am now) - alcohol, smoking, poor diet all played their part. And I guess some homesickness and bad conditions at work played their part too.
I thought Wayne McGregor's choreography was brilliant, as was Hannah Peel's music. There is an interesting article by Mark Lawson in the Catholic weekly The Tablet in which Josie Rourke talks about how being raised Catholic and twice weekly attendance at mass formed her as a theatre director.
My partner, who came to the play with none of the baggage I carry (he'd not seen it before and isn't of Irish Catholic stock) loved it too. He said it reminded him of the best of Dennis Potter. He was joking that my religious interests had ensured two of the best nights out this week - this and the Icelandic/Danish film Godland. I'd encourage people to see both.
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Post by jek on Apr 20, 2023 12:41:48 GMT
Thank you FrontroverPaul I have just booked for Carousel. I haven't been to the Susie Sainsbury Theatre but I see that it won RIBA London Building of the Year in 2018. I remember that while it was being built the RAM staged their 2016 production of Sweeney Todd at Theatre Royal Stratford East and it was terrific. So I am hopeful of good things.
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Post by jek on Apr 18, 2023 12:35:33 GMT
I too experienced the page crashing after I put in all my details. But it did eventually show a confirmation page and my voucher has now arrived. The irony is that the voucher I got this time and the one I got last time are about the best financial return I have ever had from the lottery. I have had the same numbers in the draw on Saturdays and Wednesdays for 25 years (we took out the first ticket the day after our now 25 year old son was born). We've never won more than a tenner or a lucky dip! Not moaning about this as I like to think I've helped fund various things but it is nice to get a tangible reward!
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Post by jek on Apr 17, 2023 12:51:22 GMT
I used my one this morning to book at Sadler's Wells for a performance in September. As I was in Islington I did it in person and it was all very straightforward.
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Post by jek on Apr 17, 2023 9:41:24 GMT
We just booked for December (I'm a Barbican member). Tickets appear to be selling fast (various tiers of Barbican membership and RSC membership had access to sales last week). Prices range from £25 to £140. As a guide the tickets I bought for £72.50 last time are now £92.50. It's an expensive night out for a family but we, at least, know we loved it last time. There are various concessions, including £25 day seats and what are called TikTok tickets for £10 for those aged 14-25, but no sign of any previews. Hope that helps theatrelover123
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Post by jek on Apr 15, 2023 18:14:17 GMT
Murray Melvin has died aged 90. I used to see him around Stratford when the Theatre Workshop archives were still based at Theatre Royal Stratford East. A real outpouring of love for him on Twitter.
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Post by jek on Apr 14, 2023 8:47:06 GMT
I had a questionnaire sent to me the other day trying to ascertain whether I'd be interested in seeing Bliss A New Musical Comedy, which I'd never heard of. So I presume that is heading this way.
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Post by jek on Apr 12, 2023 7:43:33 GMT
I grew up in Stepney, East London and still have the accent. When I was a kid at a local comprehensive the school arranged for us to go and see a production of Pygmalion at Toynbee Hall, which was a local settlement organisation set up for Oxford graduates to come and do good in the East End. It continues to have a rather nice theatre. I think our teachers sold the trip to us via its connection to My Fair Lady. You can imagine how disappointed we were that there were no songs! I don't think any of us came out of it wanting to 'speak proper' but it still makes me smile to think of how the theatre company were playing to a room full of Elizas most of whom had never seen a play before. Now approaching 60 I hope I manage to get tickets for this production - which I think I will appreciate a bit more!
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Post by jek on Apr 10, 2023 19:01:09 GMT
I've just been booking some tickets for Ronnie Scott's. You have to sign terms and conditions under which you explicitly recognise that the venue is not a place for a group of people (large or small) to chat over the performance.
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Post by jek on Apr 3, 2023 7:52:38 GMT
That is good news. Chris Bush was interviewed on the Radio 4 Today programme this morning and I was hoping that she'd say something about a return. But presumably the details aren't finalised yet as she didn't say anything about a future life for the production. She got only a very short slot and spent some of that explaining that the project was already set up (a musical about Park Hill featuring the songs of Richard Hawley) when she was brought on board.
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