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Post by Dawnstar on Oct 31, 2019 14:38:48 GMT
The said, IMHO this is the second worst theatre in London after The Arts. The toilets are disgusting (blocked and overwhelming urine smell whenever I have been) and the auditorium only seems to exist as the tropics or the arctic. And the general consensus seems to be that the change in layout hasn't done it any favours!
I've never had a problem with the Ladies' loos there in the half a dozen times I've been there in the last few years. (Although mentioning it may be a bad idea, if all the men in the audience then decide to identify as female in order to use the better loos!) I also thought the air con was better a few months ago than it had been in previous years, though admittedly I'd go for arctic in a theatre any time.
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Post by showtoones on Oct 31, 2019 15:06:09 GMT
The reviews for this show were pretty mediocre and the photos make the show look very cheap. Is it still worth seeing? It seems like a cute premise but i think the book for this would be key but it could go the cheesy/campy effect very easily.
Is it worth seeing?
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7,506 posts
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Post by alece10 on Oct 31, 2019 16:28:16 GMT
The said, IMHO this is the second worst theatre in London after The Arts. The toilets are disgusting (blocked and overwhelming urine smell whenever I have been) and the auditorium only seems to exist as the tropics or the arctic. And the general consensus seems to be that the change in layout hasn't done it any favours!
I've never had a problem with the Ladies' loos there in the half a dozen times I've been there in the last few years. (Although mentioning it may be a bad idea, if all the men in the audience then decide to identify as female in order to use the better loos!) I also thought the air con was better a few months ago than it had been in previous years, though admittedly I'd go for arctic in a theatre any time.
I'm really surprised with the comments about the toilets. I've always found them really nice and the gents very spacious. For a small theatre they are better than many west end theatres where the toilets are so cramped. Granted I've not been to Charing Cross theatre for a year or so maybe they have gone downhill.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2019 16:59:15 GMT
Agree they were spacious but they were a state when I've been (Woman in White and Titanic) but maybe I just got unlucky....
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Post by Someone in a tree on Oct 31, 2019 17:36:49 GMT
Weren't they flooded especially for Titanic?
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Post by xanady on Oct 31, 2019 23:23:02 GMT
^It has a wonderful score with some up-tempo bangers and a couple of strong ballads.The cast gave it everything...the sort of show that puts a smile on your face...yes,cheesy with some cringeworthy jokes,but very entertaining.I have re-booked already.
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Post by ABr on Nov 1, 2019 8:25:22 GMT
Has anyone spotted any offers for this yet? Really wanting to see this, but want to try and save some money where I can. Might just have to hold out until some start to appear! It does surprise me that CCT very rarely have tickets on TodayTix, as I remember getting great tickets for Titanic off there!
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Post by austink on Nov 1, 2019 15:38:27 GMT
Row J stalls or the four seats in the balcony are £20. Balcony is much closer if you are happy to peer over and lose a bit of near action. The balcony should only be considered for those who cannot use the stairs and it’s not ideal. The venue needs better seating for those with access restrictions if they are going to maintain the traverse as they should be marketed as restricted view.
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Post by Raven on Nov 3, 2019 13:58:53 GMT
This doesn't seem to be selling very well, sadly. I love the cast recording but won't get a chance to get to London before it closes. Quite surprising as I thought the fangirls would have been swarming to see Luke and Millie.
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Post by robertb213 on Nov 3, 2019 14:08:48 GMT
Can anyone advise what time the matinee finishes please? Thanks 😀
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Post by Raven on Nov 3, 2019 17:59:33 GMT
There's a promotion code on for £10 off top price tickets for the next fifteen performances. Use the code "fifteenminutes".
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2019 19:20:53 GMT
This doesn't seem to be selling very well, sadly. I love the cast recording but won't get a chance to get to London before it closes. Quite surprising as I thought the fangirls would have been swarming to see Luke and Millie. Unfortunately, neither ever sells at the Charing. I don't know what it is but shows there are always on offer.
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Post by tmesis on Nov 3, 2019 20:41:20 GMT
This doesn't seem to be selling very well, sadly. I love the cast recording but won't get a chance to get to London before it closes. Quite surprising as I thought the fangirls would have been swarming to see Luke and Millie. Unfortunately, neither ever sells at the Charing. I don't know what it is but shows there are always on offer. Even Betty Buckley couldn't guarantee bums on seats there a few years ago. Quite the opposite in fact, the production closed early.
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Post by mammabat on Nov 3, 2019 20:48:28 GMT
This doesn't seem to be selling very well, sadly. I love the cast recording but won't get a chance to get to London before it closes. Quite surprising as I thought the fangirls would have been swarming to see Luke and Millie. I saw it last week and loved it so much I’m going back.
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Post by amp09 on Nov 3, 2019 22:35:01 GMT
The place really isn’t doing well at all. Seems to have a constant stream of flops that make it no money. How is it managing to survive?
They should really start using similar techniques other companies use with seat-filling and Rush tickets etc to build word of mouth and gain exposure.
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Post by theatrelover123 on Nov 3, 2019 23:30:04 GMT
The place really isn’t doing well at all. Seems to have a constant stream of flops that make it no money. How is it managing to survive? They should really start using similar techniques other companies use with seat-filling and Rush tickets etc to build word of mouth and gain exposure. Erm they do. Pretty much every Charing Cross show has been on papering and seat filling sites and groups daily for the last few years.
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Post by stagemanager on Nov 4, 2019 1:15:09 GMT
The place really isn’t doing well at all. Seems to have a constant stream of flops that make it no money. How is it managing to survive? They should really start using similar techniques other companies use with seat-filling and Rush tickets etc to build word of mouth and gain exposure. Erm they do. Pretty much every Charing Cross show has been on papering and seat filling sites and groups daily for the last few years. I think that is part of their problem. Everyone knows they are going to discount or make seats available through papering and consequently nobody buys tickets, people just wait for the freebies. How many people who have had a free or heavily discounted ticket can honestly say that they encouraged someone else they know to go and pay for a ticket at a show?
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Nov 4, 2019 8:18:18 GMT
The problem is when these people are bragging about getting in for free.
On an occasion recently (another show) two men came in bragging loudly "not a bad view at all for FREE" and from their faces I could see it really annoyed the people around them, who must have felt ripped off. I hadn't paid either but I didn't feel the need to tell the entire stalls.
"What a great view" would have sufficed.
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544 posts
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Post by amp09 on Nov 4, 2019 9:11:51 GMT
The place really isn’t doing well at all. Seems to have a constant stream of flops that make it no money. How is it managing to survive? They should really start using similar techniques other companies use with seat-filling and Rush tickets etc to build word of mouth and gain exposure. Erm they do. Pretty much every Charing Cross show has been on papering and seat filling sites and groups daily for the last few years. I must be a member of the wrong sites then. Joined several months ago and not seen any.
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544 posts
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Post by amp09 on Nov 4, 2019 9:13:31 GMT
The problem is when these people are bragging about getting in for free. On an occasion recently (another show) two men came in bragging loudly "not a bad view at all for FREE" and from their faces I could see it really annoyed the people around them, who must have felt ripped off. I hadn't paid either but I didn't feel the need to tell the entire stalls. "What a great view" would have sufficed. Probably the same two guys who posted it on a West End FB page and got reported and their membership revoked. That’ll teach them. I happily keep my mouth shut in exchange for freebies - perks of being a theatre fan.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2019 13:12:23 GMT
The problem is when these people are bragging about getting in for free. On an occasion recently (another show) two men came in bragging loudly "not a bad view at all for FREE" and from their faces I could see it really annoyed the people around them, who must have felt ripped off. I hadn't paid either but I didn't feel the need to tell the entire stalls. "What a great view" would have sufficed. This is infuriating to me. Seat filling is a service not to be bragged about. You get your ticket, watch the show and if you like it, you tell your friends! That's the whole point of it. Some people might ruin it for everyone, in the end. I also think that the Charing Cross Theatre is overpriced. I think if they went for lower, rounded prices (£10, £20, £30) I think more people would be interested. They also suffer from no passing trade like the Ambassadors, so that is tough. It's a nice theatre, I preferred the old stage setup but sound has always been below par. And Soho Cinders is no exception, the band was just a touch louder than the cast for my liking.
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Post by TallPaul on Nov 4, 2019 13:47:45 GMT
The place really isn’t doing well at all. Seems to have a constant stream of flops that make it no money. How is it managing to survive? The companies are small enough to be exempt from filing full accounts, but Charing Cross Theatre Ltd, and its parent, Off Broadway Theatres UK Ltd, are both behind in submitting their latest annual accounts.
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Post by austink on Nov 4, 2019 14:59:59 GMT
note the theatre owner hasn’t produced many shows in the venue since Titanic and Ragtime (ie they are just a receiving house for the most part). I believe they make most of the money off the players bar which has a fair number of patrons who don’t go to the shows in the theatre and who take advantage of their regulation of being open til 3am. The place really isn’t doing well at all. Seems to have a constant stream of flops that make it no money. How is it managing to survive? The companies are small enough to be exempt from filing full accounts, but Charing Cross Theatre Ltd, and its parent, Off Broadway Theatres UK Ltd, are both behind in submitting their latest annual accounts.
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544 posts
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Post by amp09 on Nov 4, 2019 18:21:28 GMT
The place really isn’t doing well at all. Seems to have a constant stream of flops that make it no money. How is it managing to survive? The companies are small enough to be exempt from filing full accounts, but Charing Cross Theatre Ltd, and its parent, Off Broadway Theatres UK Ltd, are both behind in submitting their latest annual accounts. Oh I hope there’s no fiddling going on a la Patisserie Valerie...
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Post by stagemanager on Nov 5, 2019 9:10:09 GMT
Reducing the ticket prices from the outset might make the show uneconomical before it starts. In my experience of working in a variety of venues the ticket prices are set by the costs of putting on a show. I know from friends that have worked on productions there, that the venue insists that anyone who works on shows produced at the venue are paid properly (unlike at some venues, who keep ticket prices low by underpaying actors and crew). I would imagine the overheads of running a theatre in that location as opposed to some of the other comparably sized off west end theatres must be considerably larger. Also while I agree that there is little to no passing trade at the venue, I can’t imagine that some other venues such as Southwark Playhouse or the Park Theatre have much passing trade and yet they manage to survive and sell their shows. I may be wrong, but I am not sure if fringe venues generally rely on passing trade as much as the larger venues. I would think their stock audiences are local theatre fans (who know about what shows are playing) as opposed to tourists who don’t mind what they see but just want have a night out in a London theatre.
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Post by freckles on Nov 5, 2019 10:35:00 GMT
Also while I agree that there is little to no passing trade at the venue, I can’t imagine that some other venues such as Southwark Playhouse or the Park Theatre have much passing trade and yet they manage to survive and sell their shows. I may be wrong, but I am not sure if fringe venues generally rely on passing trade as much as the larger venues. I would think their stock audiences are local theatre fans (who know about what shows are playing) as opposed to tourists who don’t mind what they see but just want have a night out in a London theatre. It doesn't help that the box office is hardly ever manned. Even on a performance day they open very last minute. So anyone who did happen to be passing, or had heard about the show, has reduced options to book compared to other venues.
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Post by dippy on Nov 5, 2019 10:42:37 GMT
It doesn't help that the box office is hardly ever manned. Even on a performance day they open very last minute. So anyone who did happen to be passing, or had heard about the show, has reduced options to book compared to other venues. I've seen people standing outside during the day wondering why the box office doesn't open till 5pm (I think that's when it opens).
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2019 11:18:18 GMT
Reducing the ticket prices from the outset might make the show uneconomical before it starts. In my experience of working in a variety of venues the ticket prices are set by the costs of putting on a show. I know from friends that have worked on productions there, that the venue insists that anyone who works on shows produced at the venue are paid properly (unlike at some venues, who keep ticket prices low by underpaying actors and crew). I would imagine the overheads of running a theatre in that location as opposed to some of the other comparably sized off west end theatres must be considerably larger. Also while I agree that there is little to no passing trade at the venue, I can’t imagine that some other venues such as Southwark Playhouse or the Park Theatre have much passing trade and yet they manage to survive and sell their shows. I may be wrong, but I am not sure if fringe venues generally rely on passing trade as much as the larger venues. I would think their stock audiences are local theatre fans (who know about what shows are playing) as opposed to tourists who don’t mind what they see but just want have a night out in a London theatre. Getting paid enough is definitely important. But, overpaying can be an issue too. Equity minimum is necessary, but anything too far over just sways things the other way.
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Post by freckles on Nov 5, 2019 11:19:23 GMT
It doesn't help that the box office is hardly ever manned. Even on a performance day they open very last minute. So anyone who did happen to be passing, or had heard about the show, has reduced options to book compared to other venues. I've seen people standing outside during the day wondering why the box office doesn't open till 5pm (I think that's when it opens).
I've stood outside waiting to collect my ticket much later than that! The building may be open but the box office window isn't, necessarily.
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Post by dippy on Nov 5, 2019 12:13:56 GMT
I've stood outside waiting to collect my ticket much later than that! The building may be open but the box office window isn't, necessarily.
That's just silly, just checked their website and it says two hours before the performance but from what you've said I'm guessing that's not the case.
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