346 posts
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Post by Figaro on Jun 16, 2022 13:31:09 GMT
Hello!
With the 3 days of industrial action coming up, how will this affect theatres?
I know that a number of performers live outside of London which will make it impossible for them to get home (last trains will be about 4pm apparently!)
Audiences too won’t be able to get home either!
Will shows go ahead?!
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460 posts
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Post by pianowithsam on Jun 16, 2022 13:51:26 GMT
I'm meant to be going to see Mormon on 24th. Not a strike day, but services will still be affected... I haven't cancelled/changed anything so fingers crossed will still be able to get up there and back.
West End Live is also meant to be happening on 25th (a named strike day) & 26th. Not sure what will happen.
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2,761 posts
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Post by n1david on Jun 16, 2022 16:02:48 GMT
I was scheduled to see Punchdrunk's Burnt City on Tuesday night and with both the tubes and trains on strike, and its location in Woolwich (with no car parking), my chances of getting there - and, more importantly, getting home - are nil.
I emailed Punchdrunk's box office but they're saying the show will go ahead and no change to normal policy, which is that if you buy another ticket they'll refund the original one. However I booked an Early Bird ticket so tickets are now somewhat pricier than the ticket I booked. No dice, that's the policy. Bit disappointing but unsurprising. The ticket switch needs to be done 72 hours before the show so I'm still hoping that a cancellation announcement will be made.
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Post by Jan on Jun 16, 2022 16:10:21 GMT
Due to see The False Servant at the Orange Tree but I didn't fancy relying on buses so I moved it - they allow ticket exchanges. I imagine their more local audience will still be able to get there easily.
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Post by fiyerorocher on Jun 16, 2022 16:22:06 GMT
No expectations of show cancellations. The message for theatre workers is very much 'plan ahead but get here.'
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354 posts
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Post by properjob on Jun 16, 2022 16:29:18 GMT
I think it will have a substantial impact on advance bookings. I've certainly stopped booking things outside my home town as we don't know when the other strike days will be.
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2,422 posts
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Post by robertb213 on Jun 16, 2022 17:21:17 GMT
Charing Cross Theatre have cancelled the first week of The Throne due to the strike. Wouldn't be surprised of there do end up being more.
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354 posts
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Post by properjob on Jun 16, 2022 18:04:15 GMT
I also wonder what proportion of touring cast and crews travel between venues by train?
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1,743 posts
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Post by fiyero on Jun 21, 2022 13:10:27 GMT
Get Up Stand Up! Cancelled for tonight due to strikes.
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Post by talkingheads on Jun 21, 2022 13:34:21 GMT
Was due to see Suzanne Vega but I decided against it due to the strike. I support the strike action anyway so my inconvenience doesn't matter, it's only a show. I am having a good laugh at all the Tories blaming Labour, last I checked the Cons are in Government and Grant Shapps has done precisely nothing to avert this strike.
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Post by fiyerorocher on Jun 21, 2022 14:51:37 GMT
'Cancelled because of the tube strike' is the new 'cancelled because of Covid', it seems...
Since we all knew about the tube strike plenty in advance, it does seem poor form to be announcing day-of that you're cancelling. Make that decision beforehand. Especially as people might have set off a lot earlier than normal to make it to the theatre with disrupted journeys.
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Post by Jan on Jun 21, 2022 15:06:27 GMT
Was due to see Suzanne Vega but I decided against it due to the strike. I support the strike action anyway so my inconvenience doesn't matter, it's only a show. I am having a good laugh at all the Tories blaming Labour, last I checked the Cons are in Government and Grant Shapps has done precisely nothing to avert this strike. The strike suits Shapps just fine for the moment, the amusing spectacle of Starmer telling his front benchers not to join the picket lines only for several of them to totally ignore him hardly bolsters his leadership credentials. In general union militancy of this variety causes more problems for Labour than Conservatives. |
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8,162 posts
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Post by alece10 on Jun 21, 2022 16:08:12 GMT
Bonnie and clyde also cancelled tonight.
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8,162 posts
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Post by alece10 on Jun 21, 2022 16:11:38 GMT
'Cancelled because of the tube strike' is the new 'cancelled because of Covid', it seems... Since we all knew about the tube strike plenty in advance, it does seem poor form to be announcing day-of that you're cancelling. Make that decision beforehand. Especially as people might have set off a lot earlier than normal to make it to the theatre with disrupted journeys. I am guessing they were hoping that the strike might be called off last minute which sometimes happens especially the TFL ones. Also means that if they cancel the show you can get a refund or rebook whereas if the show goes ahead and you can't get there there is no recourse as the strike is out of the theatres control. But agree not good for people who have started their journey. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2022 17:27:18 GMT
Interesting point about touring shows as cast could be opening a weekly run on Tuesday and lot would travel by train. I'd think if people are on tour they would probably look to stay close to the venue and do get the tour allowance so if they were commuting they could potentially stay over.
Saturday's strike could be the killer as company may be looking to get back home that night and if they are in a town somewhere with no trains they would realistically have to drive home. Plus if they are somewhere else on the Monday do they go home on the Sunday when it might be a reduced service?
Railworkers are people who when they strike they can cause disruption and if they choose to do that fairplay to them despite my politics being right leaning.
With inflation rising and also when you see minimum/working wage has gone up by several percent a lot of working people would think they are entitled to the same percentage rise. They don't care they are on double or much more than the person working in a supermarket etc.
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Post by firefingers on Jun 21, 2022 18:12:39 GMT
Interesting point about touring shows as cast could be opening a weekly run on Tuesday and lot would travel by train. I'd think if people are on tour they would probably look to stay close to the venue and do get the tour allowance so if they were commuting they could potentially stay over. The problem may be that if the show runs Tuesday to Sunday, the Monday will be the companies day off. They'd be expected not to travel as travel time is working time. A lot of us do chose to travel as it makes things less stressful, but it should always be possible. As far as London goes, I know of at least one producer who had laid on cabs to get people in, a costly affair but wonderful commitment instead of wheeling out "force majeure". |
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7,190 posts
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Post by Jon on Jun 21, 2022 18:51:33 GMT
'Cancelled because of the tube strike' is the new 'cancelled because of Covid', it seems... Since we all knew about the tube strike plenty in advance, it does seem poor form to be announcing day-of that you're cancelling. Make that decision beforehand. Especially as people might have set off a lot earlier than normal to make it to the theatre with disrupted journeys. I think if it was just the train strikes as it is for the other two days then shows can cope since the alternative of tube and other public transport is available and vice versa but the double whammy of tube and train strike means that some shows might find cheaper to cancel one performance for that week. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2022 10:25:34 GMT
I guess venues/producers hold off cancelling in case the talks averted a strike. The cost of taxi outlay against cost of not running would be less I'd think. The issue might be more cast getting home as they could leave earlier for inward bus journey but a longer journey home in the dark/dusk poses more safety issues.
Taxis might be pooled too and I'd guess producers could write it off as a business expense for tax purposes so to lay them on whilst thoughtful makes total sense.
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7,190 posts
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Post by Jon on Jun 23, 2022 10:31:19 GMT
I guess venues/producers hold off cancelling in case the talks averted a strike. The cost of taxi outlay against cost of not running would be less I'd think. The issue might be more cast getting home as they could leave earlier for inward bus journey but a longer journey home in the dark/dusk poses more safety issues. Taxis might be pooled too and I'd guess producers could write it off as a business expense for tax purposes so to lay them on whilst thoughtful makes total sense. I think in the case of a Tube Strike, it's annoying but manageable for producers if it's only one day. If you're an experienced producers, strikes are something you can prepare for unlike illness. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 23, 2022 10:44:15 GMT
Plus if it is a play cast often for "name" stars an Addison Lee might be part of contract so laying on a few more is practical and Producers likely have ongoing bookings with taxi firms so can get extra cars laid on ahead of a lot of on spec users.
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3,578 posts
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Post by showgirl on Jun 24, 2022 4:20:26 GMT
From an audience perspective it's worrying as theatres obviously aren't obliged to offer an exchange or refund, so I'm concerned about my existing bookings and wary of making more. One theatre I visit regularly now has a banner warning on the website about Saturday's strike, advising patrons to check with their train operating company but on strike days there has been no service whatsoever on that line (unlike some), so all that does is confirm that you can't attend.
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1,107 posts
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Post by alicechallice on Jun 24, 2022 13:11:03 GMT
I've just contacted the Royal Court Box Office about moving my tickets because of not being able to travel tomorrow and they want to charge me an admin fee, which I think is a bit much considering the train strike is completely out of my control. There are no trains running out of Brighton tomorrow.
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Post by talkingheads on Jun 24, 2022 13:16:55 GMT
ATG point blank refused me a refund or credit voucher because I wouldn't be able to get there. Disgusting service. No refund I could understand but to refuse a credit voucher to book a future show?
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