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Post by zephyrus on Nov 28, 2021 19:55:23 GMT
Having not seen this previously (believing myself to be allergic to A Christmas Carol) I thought I'd make the effort to see it this year, partially influenced by a discounted ticket offer (and because everyone I know who's seen it has told me how good it is.)
As soon as I got to the theatre, I was put in a foul mood by the incredibly intrusive bag search I had to endure. The security guard made me open my bag, and he poked about (fair enough) and then he made me remove a book from my bag, so that he could see what else was inside. And then I was made to remove several other items - bits of Christmas shopping - and it all seemed quite OTT to me (as a regular theatregoer) and before I'd even made it into the building, I was very irritated and grumpy.
Taking my seat in the stalls didn't improve my mood. I realised that my view of the central playing area was pretty much obscured by the person sitting in front of me - and that added to my grumpiness, as I reflected that this same seat (£40 thanks to the discount) would cost someone £125 in a couple of weeks time (actually £150 at a number of performances close to Xmas.) The show started and, sure enough, I couldn't see much of the action, despite sitting in, effectively, a top price seat - but then, serendipitously, the person in front of me decided to move to a different seat, which meant that I could actually see and enjoy the production...
... and I did enjoy it, in the end. It was totally delightful, and I can see why it's been such a hit for the Old Vic. I laughed, I cried, I loved it. I just wish that the whole experience had been a bit less annoying. (Bah humbug.)
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Post by NeilVHughes on Nov 30, 2021 21:17:21 GMT
Mangan was exceptional, consider me festived.
Strange how the snow always brings a tear to my eye, will need to check I am not allergic.
Sat next to a great family, as we age we become blinkered to the magic of life through a child’s eyes, how we forget the 8 year old that resides in all of us.
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Post by david on Dec 8, 2021 16:04:35 GMT
No festive London theatre trip would be complete without a visit to the Old Vic and a watch of their “A Christmas Carol”. With no online deals to be found for cheap tickets, an early morning trip to the OV’s box office bagged me a half price stage stalls seat for £33.75. I got K57 which offered me both an excellent view of the play with plenty of legroom as there was no seat in front and the the mince pies / satsuma where available directly in front of me. So after being well stocked up pre show on food, I could settle down and enjoy this magical show.
This is my 2nd in person visit to see this show and it was still as good as ever. From walking to the auditorium and seeing those suspended lanterns and the pre show on stage festive music to the final bell ringing version of Silent Night, this was my last show of my London trip and a great way to end it. Stephen Mangan was wonderful as the old miser and brought some real emotional depth to the role, especially during Act 2 with the Christmas Future scenes. The Christmas dinner scene near the end was still a fun watch as all the food is brought on stage in their different ways. Though poor old Stephen nearly got hit by the Turkey on the zip line. Though thankfully he ducked just in time!
Being sat on the stage was a great experience in itself and I’d definitely recommend sitting here. It certainly gave me a different perspective of proceedings and I’d happily sit here again.
Writer Jack Thorne and Director Matthew Warchus really have created great piece of theatre here and after this afternoons viewing, in my opinion it is still a 5⭐️ show that hasn’t lost any of its spark and guaranteed to warm the heart and bring a tear to your eye with each viewing.
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Post by fossil on Dec 8, 2021 16:44:48 GMT
Offer available:
"Use promocode STAGESTALLS to unlock half price tickets in the Stage Stalls. These seats will give you the closest view of all the action for the most 'exciting and magical' (WhatsOnStage) experience.
This offer is valid on all performances on 08, 09, 11, 13 and 14 Dec and from 27 Dec–08 Jan. Book up to four tickets by midday on 15 Dec to get your discount. Subject to availability."
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Post by kathryn on Dec 11, 2021 8:55:38 GMT
Kinda sad to see discounts running for this - it’s normally a sell-out before Christmas and you have to wait for January to get a cheap seat.
It’s a very bad sign for theatre’s recovery if a sure-fire hit like this one is struggling.
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Post by theatreian on Dec 11, 2021 10:02:48 GMT
It’s a very bad sign for theatre’s recovery if a sure-fire hit like this one is struggling. I think a lot of sectors are struggling. I am getting offers e mailed all the time, including half price meals in December etc. We were in a well known Italian restaurant yesterday which was almost empty. |
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Post by londonpostie on Dec 11, 2021 12:33:56 GMT
It's a tight 1,000-seater venue, with lots and lots of children, and it's the beginning of a new variant of Covid. Doesn't matter much to me but I guess there are many who will factor that in 2-weeks before turkey day.
Plus, I do think they over-cooked the pricing.
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Post by ceebee on Dec 11, 2021 20:16:39 GMT
It's a tight 1,000-seater venue, with lots and lots of children, and it's the beginning of a new variant of Covid. Doesn't matter much to me but I guess there are many who will factor that in 2-weeks before turkey day.
Plus, I do think they over-cooked the pricing.
I agree - I love the OV but some of the pricing is crazy. This dynamic pricing nonsense is biting theatres on the backside, cos people just hold out for the deals. |
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Post by david on Dec 11, 2021 21:57:18 GMT
I was really surprised to get such a heavily discounted ticket pre-Christmas when I watched this on Wednesday afternoon. Having a stage seat, I was the only person sat on that row and having a look around the stage seating there was quite a number of empty seats. Thankfully, there were a few school parties at this performance which thankfully created some atmosphere. Being sat on the stage and looking out into the auditorium, I'll admit seeing the large number of empty seats didn't was just a sad sight to look at.
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Post by ceebee on Dec 11, 2021 22:24:12 GMT
Well, according to people in the know, it won't be returning next year...
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Post by Phantom of London on Dec 11, 2021 22:51:23 GMT
I had a look at the Old Vic at this and when you see tickets at £125 each, your average theatregoer will say ouch and not look any further, so in a way it is the theatres fault! If they priced more reasonable in the first place.
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Post by Jon on Dec 12, 2021 2:35:51 GMT
A Christmas Carol is great but it's the fifth time it's been staged at the Old Vic and I wonder if they've perhaps exhausted the audience for it.
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Post by couldileaveyou on Dec 12, 2021 2:37:56 GMT
A Christmas Carol is great but it's the fifth time it's been staged at the Old Vic and I wonder if they've perhaps exhausted the audience for it. Yeah unless they start star-casting Scrooge with more names like Andrew Lincoln I don't think it has a long life left. |
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Post by ceebee on Dec 12, 2021 10:41:51 GMT
I am a member of OV Together - I joined during the first lockdown where I wanted to use the money I would otherwise spend on tickets to support theatre in a very dark time where at the time there was no government support for the arts. (One could argue that current government support is questionable. In fact, one could argue that current government is questionable. Actually, scrap the word "argue".)
The membership gives me quite a few insights into the goals for the theatre, and whilst the ambitions are laudible I cant help feeling that OV is not entirely aligned with theatre. So much effort, time (and money, probably) is flushed into community projects and a desire to serve a social purpose, yet surely the primary purpose of the OV is to put on world-class, cutting-edge theatre. It is interesting when one of the benefits listed for the current Exec Director job is "access to mental health support" - this is not a benefit! Any responsible employer provides access to such services either through private health plans or on-site support/schemes.
Dare I say, as couldileaveyou alluded to in their point, perhaps a more commercial approach is needed across the board with names that have the power to pull people south of the river. This is not to say that Stephen Mangan hasnt got the pulling-power to do this - I think the current climate is leaving many people nervous of crowded spaces.
I think OV should ease off on trying to be all things to all people and perhaps try being unashamedly more commercial.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Dec 12, 2021 11:11:34 GMT
Well, according to people in the know, it won't be returning next year... Im pretty sure I said this months ago- Groundhog Day is being revived there next Xmas. This is the last year of A Christmas Carol there. It may well be staged elsewhere in the uk (the Broadway version)- but not at the OV. |
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Post by ceebee on Dec 12, 2021 11:58:27 GMT
Well, according to people in the know, it won't be returning next year... Im pretty sure I said this months ago- Groundhog Day is being revived there next Xmas. This is the last year of A Christmas Carol there. It may well be staged elsewhere in the uk (the Broadway version)- but not at the OV. Yup - it was you I was referring to when I said it! :-) |
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Post by cavocado on Dec 12, 2021 12:19:57 GMT
I am a member of OV Together - I joined during the first lockdown where I wanted to use the money I would otherwise spend on tickets to support theatre in a very dark time where at the time there was no government support for the arts. (One could argue that current government support is questionable. In fact, one could argue that current government is questionable. Actually, scrap the word "argue".) The membership gives me quite a few insights into the goals for the theatre, and whilst the ambitions are laudible I cant help feeling that OV is not entirely aligned with theatre. So much effort, time (and money, probably) is flushed into community projects and a desire to serve a social purpose, yet surely the primary purpose of the OV is to put on world-class, cutting-edge theatre. It is interesting when one of the benefits listed for the current Exec Director job is "access to mental health support" - this is not a benefit! Any responsible employer provides access to such services either through private health plans or on-site support/schemes. Dare I say, as couldileaveyou alluded to in their point, perhaps a more commercial approach is needed across the board with names that have the power to pull people south of the river. This is not to say that Stephen Mangan hasnt got the pulling-power to do this - I think the current climate is leaving many people nervous of crowded spaces. I think OV should ease off on trying to be all things to all people and perhaps try being unashamedly more commercial. Ha! This sounds so much like many recent posts about the RSC. Hopefully this isn't where all subsidised theatre is heading - a lot of patronising, deluded stuff about community participation and being a social service. I think we all deserve access to high quality professional theatre. And it should be made accessible by decent concession prices, school discounts, etc. But diluting quality puts off those who can afford to pay and suggests that they think their wider audience doesn't deserve quality. I like the OV's Christmas Carol, but I think there are at least three Christmas Carols on in London this year (Greenwich, Alexandra Palace) and for the annual family outing crowd, that's probably at least one too many. |
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Post by Jan on Dec 12, 2021 20:58:25 GMT
I am a member of OV Together - I joined during the first lockdown where I wanted to use the money I would otherwise spend on tickets to support theatre in a very dark time where at the time there was no government support for the arts. (One could argue that current government support is questionable. In fact, one could argue that current government is questionable. The government funded cultural recovery fund is £2 billion in total. Hard to see why you think providing that amount is “questionable”. The OV don’t normally get any ACE funding, so they can do whatever they want in my view. The RSC is a different story. |
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Post by ceebee on Dec 12, 2021 21:21:54 GMT
I am a member of OV Together - I joined during the first lockdown where I wanted to use the money I would otherwise spend on tickets to support theatre in a very dark time where at the time there was no government support for the arts. (One could argue that current government support is questionable. In fact, one could argue that current government is questionable. The government funded cultural recovery fund is £2 billion in total. Hard to see why you think providing that amount is “questionable”. The OV don’t normally get any ACE funding, so they can do whatever they want in my view. The RSC is a different story. At the time I joined there was no financial support for the arts; yes, they provided funding eventually, but when the arts as a sector was virtually gasping. This government isn't remotely interested in supporting the arts as a viable long-term concern. |
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Post by Jan on Dec 13, 2021 7:47:10 GMT
The government funded cultural recovery fund is £2 billion in total. Hard to see why you think providing that amount is “questionable”. The OV don’t normally get any ACE funding, so they can do whatever they want in my view. The RSC is a different story. At the time I joined there was no financial support for the arts; yes, they provided funding eventually, but when the arts as a sector was virtually gasping. This government isn't remotely interested in supporting the arts as a viable long-term concern. £2 billion says you're wrong. In my view their support was too generous, or at least badly organised by ACE, there's no way handing £500k to the Orange Tree theatre looks justified for example. It was quite amusing to see the theatre establishment taking all this free money and then choking on the words "Thank you" because it didn't fit with their view that every single thing the government does must by definition be wrong. |
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Post by ceebee on Dec 13, 2021 8:57:02 GMT
At the time I joined there was no financial support for the arts; yes, they provided funding eventually, but when the arts as a sector was virtually gasping. This government isn't remotely interested in supporting the arts as a viable long-term concern. £2 billion says you're wrong. In my view their support was too generous, or at least badly organised by ACE, there's no way handing £500k to the Orange Tree theatre looks justified for example. It was quite amusing to see the theatre establishment taking all this free money and then choking on the words "Thank you" because it didn't fit with their view that every single thing the government does must by definition be wrong. I don't know enough about the distribution so can't comment on the justification for funding, and I agree that some organisations would struggle with the words "thank you" to a Tory government. Incidentally, I speak as somebody who voted for this government in the last election. However, I do have regrets now, as the leopard clearly hasn't changed its spots. |
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Post by cavocado on Dec 13, 2021 10:23:40 GMT
Yes, not subsidised - my mistake. But it's not-for-profit and owned by a charitable foundation, so I think it's fine to have an opinion on its policies and the way it's run, because its mission statement is all about bringing quality theatre to the public.
Not being able to say thanks to a Tory govt suggests a worrying lack of nuanced political thinking.
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Post by Jon on Dec 13, 2021 11:12:11 GMT
The CRF was a lifesaver but I do think that it was more squarely aimed at the Subsidied theatres since commercial theatre got very little if anything at all.
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Post by Phantom of London on Dec 13, 2021 15:36:10 GMT
I would think this going on tour next winter and could totally see it being the sit down show at Salford’s Lowry Theatre.
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