National Theatre All Season Announcements

Well I’ve never seen her in anything and couldn’t name a single film or TV or play she’s been in.

Close enough ?

Nerd points (questionable) for McArdle being in two plays previously staged at the NT by Donnellan in two years (and that were done, if the other way around, within two years originally)

I’ll get me nerd coat.

Working for me OK (Firefox). Just tried a dummy booking and got the seat all the way to the basket. Map was fine.

Just got the Nov-April brochure through the post. Have been wondering about not bothering to renew my membership next year as I have seen so many things I haven't rated at the National recently. But there, in the upcoming productions bit in the back of the publication, comes the knowledge that they are putting on something that I didn't know - at least until I read this - was a big hole in my life that I needed to fill. Yes! In the Dorfman they are putting on Andy Stanton's Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear - The Musical. If you have offspring of a certain age (or are keen on Danny Baker's recommendations) then you will know that the Mr Gum books (published from 2006 onwards) are fantastic. The opportunity to visit the town of Lamonic Bibber and its residents is worth the price of National membership.

You are of course right Jan. But what I mean is that the fact that they are putting something on like this makes me more inclined to want to support them, just as some of their past productions, and also their educational activities (which my teenage daughter has directly benefited from) have in the past. Thank goodness you don't have to be a member to be able to book - that would be grossly unfair!

And it just shows you all

How accessible the arts really are

They are not a charity

They are a business

Pretend otherwise If you like

I shan't renew unless/until the NT do something about their wretched booking system, chiefly the ridiculously long queues and that fact that everyone has to join the same queue regardless of how many tix/productions they're trying to book for.

I've suggested:

They do booking by venue (would still mean quite a lot going live at once)

And/or limit the number of productions released for sale at the same time

And/or introduce the equivalent of the supermarkets' "5 items or fewer" - which would for instance help those trying to book a single ticket for a single production, as I have been several times in the last 18 months.

They are not interested in responding so I am giving up pro tem.

I think has been covered in other threads. I have recently upgraded my rsc membership but its has very little to do with the earlier booking dates. I love the rsc and what it does so i want to do my bit, i imagine thats the case with most who are above the basic membership.

I can't remember if it was this thread or another NT discussion this came up in but I'm whacking it in here for brevity. Confirmed this morning that the NT does not pay 'star salaries' just a 'top rate' salary on a pay scale not unlike their other staff scales. And they aren't allowed to go over that under their various funding agreements. It is somewhere between £900-£1000 per week, so not to be sniffed at but also not exactly A list or even West End pay grade (let alone Broadway).

Fun facts brought to you by researching a book that might kill me.

Another fun fact, there is however nothing to stop an NT donor 'Sponsoring' an actor's say, travel and accommodation or anything else they might need. So Development can, say approach supporters for individual contributions of that kind.

God I wish I wasn't such a nerd for fundraising regulations.

Let's just say at least one of them did.

Oh I meant research for my own book! (On Angels)

Which sadly won’t be a tell all on behind the scenes at the Nash, but should anyone want to publish that I will write it.

haha well, I did pitch a related book as a joke today....and now the idea seems to have legs. 
But go on go on...let's write this one as well.