1,319 posts
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Post by londonmzfitz on Jul 24, 2018 16:26:28 GMT
I've got a week off next week and decided to "do" the Theatre Royal Drury Lane tour next Friday afternoon before I head to Southwark.
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3,316 posts
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Post by david on Aug 18, 2018 17:24:16 GMT
Finally managed to do the Old Vic tour this morning. I have to say Ned gave an absolutely fantastic account of the history of the building, regaling us for 2 hours with tales of the good, bad and sometimes ugly things that have gone on in that theatre. Though I didn’t know that the ENO and the royal ballet had their beginnings at the theatre. For me the highlight was having the opportunity to actually walk onto the theatre stage. That was an amazing experience and great to see the stage perspective that actors get. For £10 a great morning’s entertainment and certainly worth the money. Highly recommend doing the tour if you haven’t already done so.
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2,422 posts
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Post by robertb213 on Aug 18, 2018 17:26:55 GMT
Milton Keynes Theatre appears to be doing backstage tours in March and June next year. I doubt they'll be as exciting as London ones but I'll probably still check it out 😀
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2018 17:43:06 GMT
I'll be doing the RAH one this November! Has anyone tried their restaurant? They're offering a tour + set menu deal.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2018 17:46:39 GMT
Finally managed to do the Old Vic tour this morning. I have to say Ned gave an absolutely fantastic account of the history of the building, regaling us for 2 hours with tales of the good, bad and sometimes ugly things that have gone on in that theatre. Though I didn’t know that the ENO and the royal ballet had their beginnings at the theatre. For me the highlight was having the opportunity to actually walk onto the theatre stage. That was an amazing experience and great to see the stage perspective that actors get. For £10 a great morning’s entertainment and certainly worth the money. Highly recommend doing the tour if you haven’t already done so. How did you book? I found an e-mail address on their site, but not an online booking link. |
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3,316 posts
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Post by david on Aug 18, 2018 17:54:00 GMT
Finally managed to do the Old Vic tour this morning. I have to say Ned gave an absolutely fantastic account of the history of the building, regaling us for 2 hours with tales of the good, bad and sometimes ugly things that have gone on in that theatre. Though I didn’t know that the ENO and the royal ballet had their beginnings at the theatre. For me the highlight was having the opportunity to actually walk onto the theatre stage. That was an amazing experience and great to see the stage perspective that actors get. For £10 a great morning’s entertainment and certainly worth the money. Highly recommend doing the tour if you haven’t already done so. How did you book? I found an e-mail address on their site, but not an online booking link. Hi On the what’s on page, there is normally a box with tours info. I’ve just checked now but it is currently not there. I would imagine it might reappear next month as they seem only do the tours once a month so it can be a bit hit or miss to book a tour. I’d probably email the box office and they might be able to offer you some future dates if you haven’t already done so. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2018 17:55:21 GMT
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529 posts
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Post by ruby on Aug 18, 2018 18:42:57 GMT
I'll be doing the RAH one this November! Has anyone tried their restaurant? They're offering a tour + set menu deal. I had afternoon tea after the tour a couple of years ago and it was excellent. Beautiful cakes and very good value. |
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Post by itsemily on Aug 18, 2018 19:10:08 GMT
Richmond Theatre posted on instagram that they will be doing tours!
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Post by jaqs on Aug 19, 2018 11:04:29 GMT
I'll be doing the RAH one this November! Has anyone tried their restaurant? They're offering a tour + set menu deal. Went to Verdi before West side story with family and we had a lovely meal with great service. |
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62 posts
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Post by demonbarber on Aug 21, 2018 15:14:28 GMT
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3,316 posts
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Post by david on Aug 21, 2018 17:14:00 GMT
Thanks for the info. I’m in Chichester that weekend, but I’ve got a free Sunday afternoon in London before I get my train back up North. Tempted to do the Colliseum or Young Vic tour. From scanning the list there does seem to be one glaring omission- @theatremonkey . HQ. Any particular reason why or are visits by invite only? |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2018 9:38:42 GMT
I booked for the Shaftesbury tour yesterday and it was already nearly sold out by then, so anyone who wants to do it should try to book now - I wouldn't be surprised if it has now sold out. |
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4,156 posts
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Post by kathryn on Aug 22, 2018 11:09:48 GMT
I booked for the Shaftesbury tour yesterday and it was already nearly sold out by then, so anyone who wants to do it should try to book now - I wouldn't be surprised if it has now sold out. It looks like you can only book on the day for the Young Vic tour. The Shaftesbury tour is showing as sold out but only one time is listed, so I don't know what has happened there. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2018 12:24:51 GMT
I booked for the Shaftesbury tour yesterday and it was already nearly sold out by then, so anyone who wants to do it should try to book now - I wouldn't be surprised if it has now sold out. It looks like you can only book on the day for the Young Vic tour. The Shaftesbury tour is showing as sold out but only one time is listed, so I don't know what has happened there. When it was available if you clicked on that one time it took you through to the whole list of slots - I'm booked for 10.30 I think. |
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4,156 posts
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Post by kathryn on Aug 22, 2018 12:32:48 GMT
Oh well, it's definitely sold out now, then.
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3,316 posts
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Post by david on Aug 26, 2018 5:46:51 GMT
I don’t know if you have looked, but there are some new tour dates for the Old Vic for Sept to Nov on the website now. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2018 6:23:33 GMT
I don’t know if you have looked, but there are some new tour dates for the Old Vic for Sept to Nov on the website now. Yeah, unfortunately can't make those dates. I'm in London from 30th Oct to 3rd Nov. There's a tour at 10am on the 3rd but my plane departs at 1pm. Thank you for letting me know tho! |
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Post by Alan01 on Aug 26, 2018 22:23:13 GMT
Try doing one "new" London theatre and one old provincial theatre and see the difference - I've done the National (London) and Kings (Southsea). How the other half copes. Latter tours are quite rare I believe.
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5,156 posts
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Post by TallPaul on Aug 28, 2018 13:42:20 GMT
Three days of inactivity can be tiring, so I decided I would gently ease myself into the bank holiday weekend by spending Friday afternoon on a tour of York Theatre Royal.
I can heartily recommend it to anybody in, around or visiting York. There can't be many theatres, anywhere, with a Roman well, medieval vaulting, and a 1967 glass and concrete extension!
When not on tour duties, our guide, John, is also an usher and one of the stage door keepers, so has experience of both sides of the curtains.
The tour, which on its own lasted 1 hour 50 minutes, concluded with afternoon tea. Although not to the same standard as Bettys (no apostrophe - see website), it was a nice way to end the afternoon and compare notes. Being on my own, I was 'adopted' by a friendly Scottish couple.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2018 7:47:28 GMT
I'm doing the Royal Albert Hall tour today! 😊
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3,316 posts
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Post by david on Nov 1, 2018 7:54:34 GMT
I'm doing the Royal Albert Hall tour today! 😊 Hope you enjoy it. It’s a great tour. If you get the chance after it finishes go and have a look at the Prince Albert statue across the road in the park. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2018 12:42:39 GMT
Enjoyed this a lot. We got Andy as our guide, and he's fantastic.
Very informative. We got to sit in a box, and the view from the gallery is breath taking. I didn't know you could buy standing tickets! And it's just 6 pounds for the BBC Proms, something I might consider in the future! They were setting up a stage for a concert and it was fascinating to watch.
If you have the chance, do this! It's 13 pounds, which is a decent price.
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3,316 posts
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Post by david on Nov 1, 2018 14:47:20 GMT
Enjoyed this a lot. We got Andy as our guide, and he's fantastic. Very informative. We got to sit in a box, and the view from the gallery is breath taking. I didn't know you could buy standing tickets! And it's just 6 pounds for the BBC Proms, something I might consider in the future! They were setting up a stage for a concert and it was fascinating to watch. If you have the chance, do this! It's 13 pounds, which is a decent price. Glad to see you had a great time on the tour. Personally, I think its great value for what you get to experience. It amazed me on how big the actual hall is once you get inside. Seeing it on tv really doesn't do the building justice. I would really love to hear a concert in there one day. Have you got any more tours booked while in London? |
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2,760 posts
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Post by n1david on Nov 1, 2018 18:15:10 GMT
I did the ROH tour yesterday, mainly for the chance to see some of the backstage set up for the Ring. I've been in the auditorium many times, but never backstage. Alex my husband saw backstage quite a lot in the "old" pre-1999 ROH, as his Dad was in the chorus for 40 years. Sadly yesterday we learned that in the 1997-99 refurbishment everything behind the auditorium was torn down and built from scratch, so Alex didn't get a chance to remember his youthful visits waiting for his Dad after a matinee...
Anyway, it was a fascinating tour. We saw a lot of backstage - we were fortunate in that unusually there was no afternoon rehearsal in the auditorium, so more of the backstage was available to explore. Our guide was Martin and he provided a good mix of history, anecdote and info about how the ROH operates. Terrifically lucky to be at one of the ballet rehearsal rooms while Natalia Osipova, one of the ROH's top stars was rehearsing - fascinating and beautiful to see such fine dancers up close as they worked with the balletmaster.
£15 for 75 minutes which seemed fair value for what we saw, although like many backstage tours it will vary from day to day depending on what's going on in the House. 10% off in the Bookshop, Bars and Restaurants on the day with your ticket too which means if you have some coffee and sandwiches after at ROH prices you might even save your tour ticket price...
Most amusing fact: the bridge over Floral Street, linking the Royal Ballet School to the ROH, is officially known (somewhat pretentiously) as the Bridge of Aspiration. The scholars know it as the Bridge of Perspiration...
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