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Post by clarefh on Apr 15, 2024 18:00:11 GMT
Hello all
Apologies for the slightly odd question but I was just wondering if anyone had any recommends for meet up groups for theatre at all?
I’ve happily gone to the theatre on my own since I started going - but was thinking sometimes it would be nice to meet others to chat about a play, meet up at the interval etc in a low key way ( if that makes sense!). I guess meeting people who also love the theatre.
Appreciate this wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea(!) but was wondering if anyone is part of group they’d recommend at all? I’m not 100% sure what I’m envisioning tbh, so any ideas welcome.
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Post by ceebee on Apr 15, 2024 18:32:26 GMT
I don't think it's an odd question at all! I read about a guy who set up a group specifically for the purpose of bringing theatregoers together. If I remember rightly he was targetting a particular age group - I think he even won an award. Apologies for being so vague.
There are shows that obviously attract a loyal fan base who will then arrange to meet beforehand (Come From Away being a good example).
Might be a nice segue to the instigation of informal Theatreboard meet-ups before shows?
I'm sure others will have better suggestions and ideas. Like you, I'm happy going on my own (sometimes anonymity and peace is a blessing!) but it's always nice to meet others with mutual interests.
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Post by clarefh on Apr 15, 2024 19:45:00 GMT
Thanks for replying and not thinking it’s too odd!
Was definitely thinking along the lines of informal meet ups as opposed to the more ‘fans of a particular show’ type thing ( not that there is anything wrong with that at all.
Oddly ( or maybe not) I really don’t know that many people that go to the theatre even semi regularly. I enjoy reading all the thoughts on here and when another poster was describing being on the Olivier panel it made me think how it must have been interesting to chat with other enthusiastic theatre goers as part of that experience.
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Post by alece10 on Apr 15, 2024 20:20:20 GMT
There were a few pre covid meetups with board members, maybe time to start them up again?
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Post by ceebee on Apr 15, 2024 21:41:38 GMT
Thanks for replying and not thinking it’s too odd! Was definitely thinking along the lines of informal meet ups as opposed to the more ‘fans of a particular show’ type thing ( not that there is anything wrong with that at all. Oddly ( or maybe not) I really don’t know that many people that go to the theatre even semi regularly. I enjoy reading all the thoughts on here and when another poster was describing being on the Olivier panel it made me think how it must have been interesting to chat with other enthusiastic theatre goers as part of that experience. I thought exactly the same thing - to be able to discuss, perhaps slightly analytically, without the suffocating fandom that sometimes stifles objectivity.
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Post by Jan on Apr 16, 2024 7:03:30 GMT
If you join certain theatres as a member - Jermyn Street and the Orange Tree for example - they have quite a few members' events and performances specifically for members combined with receptions and talks beforehand where you can meet other theatre goers and of course it turns out those people have not just seen productions at those specific theatres but all the other things you've seen too.
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 16, 2024 14:59:25 GMT
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Post by clarefh on Apr 16, 2024 17:24:39 GMT
Thanks @jan- hadn’t thought of that but it’s a good idea. anthony40 - yea I’d thought of Meetup (I’m London). I tried this a few years ago but was trickier as meets usually seemed to be slightly awkward days for me but maybe I should revisit.
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Post by sfsusan on Apr 17, 2024 21:20:14 GMT
I'm in London also. Maybe someone could get the ball rolling by picking a theater Meetup in London and posting it here so other board members could also attend the same one. It might be less awkward meeting strangers if we know we'll meet another board person.
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 19, 2024 14:53:09 GMT
sfsusan, I'll tell you what I explained to clarefh
If you're looking to initially meet some theatre/stagey type people with the intention of an eventual theatre trip and are London based then can I make two suggestions?
Firstly, you may (or not) have seen my posts about the Theatre Quiz.
Cost £10. At it's core, it's a Musical Theatre Quiz- West End and Broadway. Occasionally, it's themed; last one was Disney. This one is the Oliviers. It doesn't matter when you come (unless you're incredibly competitive) but every person there has an interest in theatre.
Secondly there the Overtures Piano Bar.
Now, I've not actually been myself but my understanding is that there are guys & girls of all ages, all of whom are stagey, and singing musical theatre songs, with reckless abandon, at the top of their lungs.
Get some alcohol and let the inner stagey diva out!
I hope this helps!
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Post by hannechalk on Apr 19, 2024 15:04:58 GMT
If anyone is organising a board meet up in London ever, could it please be on a Saturday or Sunday, preferably daytime-ish/early evening.
Reasons: 1. I'm getting old - those late night coaches arriving home at 3am are taking it out of me. 😂 2. I can make it to London from either Liverpool or Weston-super-Mare.
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Post by clarefh on Apr 19, 2024 15:36:07 GMT
If anyone is organising a board meet up in London ever, could it please be on a Saturday or Sunday, preferably daytime-ish/early evening. Reasons: 1. I'm getting old - those late night coaches arriving home at 3am are taking it out of me. 😂 2. I can make it to London from either Liverpool or Weston-super-Mare. Mid week also trickier for me for other reasons - when I took a look at established meet ups on Meet Up most seem to be mid week ( which makes sense I guess as often easier to get tickets/cheaper etc).
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Post by sfsusan on Apr 19, 2024 16:11:08 GMT
Firstly, you may (or not) have seen my posts about the Theatre Quiz. Cost £10. At it's core, it's a Musical Theatre Quiz- West End and Broadway. Occasionally, it's themed; last one was Disney. This one is the Oliviers. It doesn't matter when you come (unless you're incredibly competitive) but every person there has an interest in theatre. Secondly there the Overtures Piano Bar. Now, I've not actually been myself but my understanding is that there are guys & girls of all ages, all of whom are stagey, and singing musical theatre songs, with reckless abandon, at the top of their lungs. Get some alcohol and let the inner stagey diva out! I hope this helps! Thanks, yes it does. I'll make notes about these. Is the quiz competition individual or teams? I have read something about the bar/restaurant below the Phoenix Theatre doing spontaneous MT performances, but wasn't sure how welcome a non-participant (but really good audience) would be. That's why the idea of going with a group appeals to me, so I won't stick out or make an idiot out of myself. (I've got no inner stagey diva to let out... I wouldn't even do karaoke at a friend's house recently, let alone in public!) Thanks again!
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 19, 2024 16:44:28 GMT
We’ve got enough stagey divas on this forum! 😉
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 19, 2024 21:11:52 GMT
Firstly, you may (or not) have seen my posts about the Theatre Quiz. Cost £10. At it's core, it's a Musical Theatre Quiz- West End and Broadway. Occasionally, it's themed; last one was Disney. This one is the Oliviers. It doesn't matter when you come (unless you're incredibly competitive) but every person there has an interest in theatre. Secondly there the Overtures Piano Bar. Now, I've not actually been myself but my understanding is that there are guys & girls of all ages, all of whom are stagey, and singing musical theatre songs, with reckless abandon, at the top of their lungs. Get some alcohol and let the inner stagey diva out! I hope this helps! Thanks, yes it does. I'll make notes about these. Is the quiz competition individual or teams? I have read something about the bar/restaurant below the Phoenix Theatre doing spontaneous MT performances, but wasn't sure how welcome a non-participant (but really good audience) would be. That's why the idea of going with a group appeals to me, so I won't stick out or make an idiot out of myself. (I've got no inner stagey diva to let out... I wouldn't even do karaoke at a friend's house recently, let alone in public!) Thanks again! The quiz is in teams
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Post by sfsusan on Apr 19, 2024 22:56:24 GMT
In that case, we need a Theatre Board team!
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Post by ceebee on Apr 20, 2024 0:15:18 GMT
We’ve got enough stagey divas on this forum! 😉 Theatreboard the Musical...
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Post by alece10 on Apr 20, 2024 1:17:33 GMT
We did enter as a team once didn't we? I remember being part of it at the old Theatre Cafe in Shaftsbury Avenue and we had some theatreboard badges.
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Post by tommy on Apr 20, 2024 8:25:30 GMT
Would also find it interesting to discuss, share thoughts after a show, I mostly also go to theatre on my own, mostly matinees.
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Post by hannechalk on Apr 20, 2024 14:55:40 GMT
Would also find it interesting to discuss, share thoughts after a show, I mostly also go to theatre on my own, mostly matinees. Same here - I used to prefer evening as it felt like a proper night out, but switched to matinées if it meant I don't have to splurge on a hotel and can be in my own bed at the end of the day.
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 20, 2024 17:57:15 GMT
In that case, we need a Theatre Board team! May I recommend that you first attend, gauge what it's like and determine how hard you deem the level of questions are before doing so? I am part of an existing team however as a solo person turning up, they will gladly find a team for you to sit with. It does appear to be growing in popularity. Last time there were 18 teams, with one team having actually downstairs as they had reached capacity (to be fair, they were a little drunk so probably for the best in hindsight).
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Post by sfsusan on Apr 20, 2024 19:07:31 GMT
May I recommend that you first attend, gauge what it's like and determine how hard you deem the level of questions are before doing so? That's a fair point, but I'm a little hesitant to go in on my own. (Especially, as you say, not knowing if I'll contribute to the team or not.) Do they allow people who just want to spectate and not participate?
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 20, 2024 19:13:19 GMT
May I recommend that you first attend, gauge what it's like and determine how hard you deem the level of questions are before doing so? That's a fair point, but I'm a little hesitant to go in on my own. (Especially, as you say, not knowing if I'll contribute to the team or not.) Do they allow people who just want to spectate and not participate? You can ask but not that I am aware of- again, it's reaching capacity. Just turn up, join a team and see how you do!
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Post by lotster on Apr 20, 2024 20:48:42 GMT
I've had this thought too. I am perfectly happy going to the theatre on my own (and enjoy it) and also often go with friends who like theatre (especially musicals) but it would be nice to meet other people with the shared interest. Not sure what the best format would be. Maybe drinks in a pub one evening? I guess it depends how many people might be interested.
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Post by clarefh on Apr 22, 2024 12:37:30 GMT
I guess it’s tricky as there are so many different things on at once so more difficult to find a general meet up ( compared to say ballet where I know forums do meet up in intervals but that’s much easier as fewer productions and fewer venues!). lotster I’d be very happy to have an initial meet in a pub.
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