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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2019 14:35:12 GMT
The Royal Opera House does digital programmes but they are a bit annoying - you get a web link with access to "exclusive content" which includes some of the stuff from the paper programme and also links to videos etc. But what I'd want is to be able to download the normal programme to my phone / kindle / whatever so I can read it offline while I'm at the theatre. I guess though if you could just download a PDF you could just share it around.
The Almeida had a digital programme in a dedicated app for American Psycho but not (I think) for any subsequent shows. Similarly the National seems to have abandoned the idea - their link to digital programmes takes you to the "national theatre backstage" app which no longer seems to exist.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2019 14:53:05 GMT
But what I'd want is to be able to download the normal programme to my phone / kindle / whatever so I can read it offline while I'm at the theatre. I guess though if you could just download a PDF you could just share it around. There's no technical reason why they couldn't offer programmes on Kindle or other eReaders the way any other paid-for content is offered, which gets around the problem of everyone getting it for free. Perhaps there are other commercial reasons why it doesn't work out. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2019 15:32:51 GMT
Possibly the demand just isn't there. I guess programmes are either an impulse purchase or something you want to keep as a souvenir or get signed. And it's only really a few theatres like the National or the ROH that have programmes that are worth buying for the written content. If you want the information electronically, generally you can get it on the theatre website (cast list and credits) or googling for more background (which is what I do now I've stopped buying programmes!)
I would have thought there is more of a market for them for cinema screenings though, where the programme won't be available to buy at the venue. The ROH sometimes gives a code for a free download of the electronic programme for their cinema screenings. Regarding price - the ROH ones used to be something like £3 for the digital version, compared to £7 for the paper version, which seemed reasonable to me.
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Post by lynette on Aug 5, 2019 17:33:09 GMT
Why couldn’t they recycle the wood? It is the easiest stuff to reuse.
I would ban stuff like those balloons our directors are so fond of with their need for warnings! Might make Aberg and her like think more and play about less.
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Post by kimbahorel on Aug 5, 2019 17:52:50 GMT
I hope that they don't start doing paperless tickets everywhere. It's bad enough I can't get to a few shows at the moment in places like Vaults etc that only have online or phone booking. I collect programmes so if it was digital for a charge the chances are I wouldn't be able to buy it.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2019 13:16:42 GMT
Slow handclap for the cafe bar at the Roundhouse- just saw someone being told that from an hour before a show, they have to serve teas and coffees in disposable cups. They are using compostable cups but still weird
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2019 13:47:55 GMT
Slow handclap for the cafe bar at the Roundhouse- just saw someone being told that from an hour before a show, they have to serve teas and coffees in disposable cups. They are using compostable cups but still weird A very necessary policy for a venue that principally operates as a live music venue. Hard, breakable objects of any description (pint glasses, beer bottles down to tea/coffee cups) are a no-go as they are a risk to public and performers. It's an established policy in nearly all live music venues as a safety precaution, because some mindless idiots in the past have taken liberties. Once cleared to open, the cafe bar and the main venue are connected and it's easy to get from one to another with drinks brought in either area. Having previously worked there I'd say this is completely justified. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2019 16:57:49 GMT
Ah ok, that does make sense and they are doing what they can with the compostable cups
Was in the National just now and they have switched to solid reusable plastic cups similar to the Bridge
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Post by joem on Aug 14, 2019 22:29:20 GMT
I would have thought the West End is already doing quite well in recycling old plays.
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Post by lynette on Aug 14, 2019 22:35:50 GMT
They sell water in glass bottles at RSC bars now. You can’t take them in to the auditoria so they give you a plastic cup. So no saving on plastic use, then. You could take in tap water in a plastic cup. I wonder if they recycle the glass bottles. They charge £2 a bottle. A confused rip off
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Post by Noel on Aug 15, 2019 10:22:40 GMT
I used to collect the plastic cups from the show I went but have stopped as I have tried to limit my plastic use.
I think it would be wonderful if Theatres sold re-usable cups and distinct pins could be purchased at shows.
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Post by Phantom of London on Aug 21, 2019 23:32:14 GMT
Including making theatre more substainable is getting to the theatre.
I reckon on this one I might be in the minority of just one, in thinking it is a terrible decision to jettison HS2.
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Post by Jon on Aug 22, 2019 0:54:19 GMT
I think more and more theatres will adopt paperless tickets, not just an eco-friendly method but in terms of cost as well.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2019 7:19:11 GMT
Including making theatre more substainable is getting to the theatre. I reckon on this one I might be in the minority of just one, in thinking it is a terrible decision to jettison HS2. HS2 has a huge potential for positive impact at an industry and consumer level. Unfortunately I think they're laying the groundwork there now for when a cash-strapped Brexit Britain can't afford to import the basics and projects with superfluous spendings will be have to be cut. Atleast (in their minds) they'll be able to justify it as a "spiralling costs in a report before we left the EU". It's just another victim being led to the gallows. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2019 7:23:08 GMT
I think more and more theatres will adopt paperless tickets, not just an eco-friendly method but in terms of cost as well. I agree with this and whilst I enjoy collecting tickets currently I'm not going to get my knickers in a twist when physical tickets cease to exists. For every ticket I get a cardholder receipt goes in the bin, it's not practical or sustainable. If the show isn't memorable enough to recall it without a token keepsake it probably wasn't worth remembering. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2019 11:09:43 GMT
HS2 has a huge potential for positive impact at an industry and consumer level. Unfortunately I think they're laying the groundwork there now for when a cash-strapped Brexit Britain can't afford to import the basics and projects with superfluous spendings will be have to be cut. Atleast (in their minds) they'll be able to justify it as a "spiralling costs in a report before we left the EU". It's just another victim being led to the gallows. I'd rather it was scrapped for two reasons 1) the costs are spiralling and will only get higher and 2) that cash should be used to improve existing services which really need it and produce the ones the midlands etc desperately need. Brexit or HS2?  |
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Post by Phantom of London on Aug 22, 2019 12:23:10 GMT
HS2 will serve the country for hundreds of years, you cannot easily upgrade the existing Victorian railway, they tried that with the West Coast Main Line Upgrade That went vastly over budget and under delievered what was promised.
Cost the government should bring in French style road tolls to pay for it.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2019 15:58:19 GMT
HS2 will serve the country for hundreds of years, you cannot easily upgrade the existing Victorian railway, they tried that with the West Coast Main Line Upgrade That went vastly over budget and under delievered what was promised. I think they'd do better to downgrade HS2 to a standard rail service. We desperately need the extra capacity, and with the ability of people today to do more than just gaze out the window time spent on a train isn't wasted time in the way it used to be. There might be a case for high speed rail if it was linking directly into the channel tunnel and we were talking about knocking several hours off a ten hour journey, but saving an hour or so on a short journey isn't worth the colossal cost. Personally I can't see them getting anything done at all. Consider something as simple as the plans to reopen the line between Bletchley and Bicester. That would create an important passenger route and a vital freight route. There's already a line there: it's too degraded to use right now but all the bridges are still in place and all the property is already in railway hands. They've been discussing reopening it for nearly ten times as long as it took to build the original line from scratch, spent nearly as much money in real terms, and we're still years away from seeing any actual trains. But hey, we've had a shedload of feasibility studies, so I guess that's progress, right? (Still on topic for the discussion. Farce is theatre.) |
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Post by Dawnstar on Aug 22, 2019 19:34:17 GMT
I think they'd do better to downgrade HS2 to a standard rail service. We desperately need the extra capacity, and with the ability of people today to do more than just gaze out the window time spent on a train isn't wasted time in the way it used to be. There might be a case for high speed rail if it was linking directly into the channel tunnel and we were talking about knocking several hours off a ten hour journey, but saving an hour or so on a short journey isn't worth the colossal cost. Personally I can't see them getting anything done at all. Consider something as simple as the plans to reopen the line between Bletchley and Bicester. That would create an important passenger route and a vital freight route. There's already a line there: it's too degraded to use right now but all the bridges are still in place and all the property is already in railway hands. They've been discussing reopening it for nearly ten times as long as it took to build the original line from scratch, spent nearly as much money in real terms, and we're still years away from seeing any actual trains. But hey, we've had a shedload of feasibility studies, so I guess that's progress, right? (Still on topic for the discussion. Farce is theatre.) As someone at the north easterly end of that line, I reckon I'll be dead before they get round to re-openng it as far as Cambridge & I'm still relatively young!
Rather than spend a fortune on speeding up an already quite quick London-Manchester service, I think they should be spening money on improving train travel when you want to go between two places neither of which is London. I wanted to go to Salford recently, for theatregoing purposes, but had to abandon it when I found it would take me over 4 hours each way as I'd either have to go down to London & back out or I'd have to change two or three times on various other routes. From London it's only 2 and a half hours, despite London being further away from Salford than Cambridge is. It's the same if I want to go pretty much anywhere else to the north/west/south that isn't London. With the exception of London-Cardiff, I'm struggling to think of any east-west train routes that aren't very slow & involve changes.
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Post by Phantom of London on Aug 23, 2019 11:57:20 GMT
Sadly a high speed needs to go to London, as that is where people want to go.
As I alluded to earlier they tried to upgrade the West Coast Main Line but failed, but failed miserably.
After sitting on the M25 the other week and noted 9/10 cars were singularly occupied, bring in road tolls like they do in France, this would entice people to travel by rail, by making single car journeys uncompetitive, get polluting lorries off the road, by getting freigh on the rails . Incidentally the West Coast mainline is full, so you cannot run anymore freight down it.
Road tolls will pay for a great railway infrastructure and also cut down on pollution by reducing car journeys.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Aug 23, 2019 12:14:46 GMT
Road tolls are a very blunt mechanism that takes no account of ability to pay. There are people who need to use a vehicle who cannot be easily transported via rail or other forms of public transport. Yes, you can argue that if you can afford the car and the fuel, you can afford the tolls - but that isn't always the case. There are those - particular those people living with a disability - who would not be able to get out and about without a car and thus any toll system must take this into account.
My experience of travelling through France on train and by car doesn't seem to tally up with the idea of tolls encouraging greater rail use. Rail is fine between major urban centres - but if you need to travel beyond that, it is far less use and there are many communities that are not served at all by a rail connection within easy access.
The cost of tolls will get swallowed up by freight companies and other businesses that currently rely on the road network - it will be the occasional user who gets hits the most, they have no-one to pass the cost onto and frequently no other option but to travel that way.
Tolls might be part of the solution - but they are not a magic bullet
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 23, 2019 12:16:47 GMT
One of the problems with the UK is infrastructure projects are always built in isolation. If HS2 does go ahead, then alongside the railway line should be a huge pipeline to transport water from the wet north west to the dry south east.
Likewise, there should be a new railway line built alongside every major new road.
And if the landscape is going to be blighted anyway by a major project, it's not going to be any less blighted by including wind turbines (though I personally don't consider wind turbines to be blight).
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Post by Dawnstar on Aug 23, 2019 14:20:28 GMT
Sadly a high speed needs to go to London, as that is where people want to go. I'm sure that there are also an awful lot of people who want to go to places other than London! One of the problems with the UK is infrastructure projects are always built in isolation. If HS2 does go ahead, then alongside the railway line should be a huge pipeline to transport water from the wet north west to the dry south east. That's a great idea. So of course will never happen! |
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Post by Jon on Aug 23, 2019 14:21:09 GMT
This has gone way off-topic!
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Post by Dawnstar on Aug 23, 2019 16:15:41 GMT
This has gone way off-topic!
I'd argue that ecologically-friendly transport to/from theatres is a part of making theatre more ecologically-friendly.
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