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Post by mkb on Jun 2, 2024 15:39:49 GMT
Much as I have enjoyed productions "in the round" at Scarborough's Stephen Joseph, Stoke's New Vic, London Richmond's Orange Tree, Manchester's Royal Exchange, @sohoplace, and several others, it occurred to me that none were ever actually in the round; they were in the square, rectangle, or hexagon in the case of Manchester.
It can be uncomfortable sat on the end of a straight (i.e. not curved) row in a square venue, having to angle your head 30 degrees to watch the centre of the stage.
Are there any auditoria that are actually circular (or oval) where the rows of seats also trace a circle (or oval)? The closest I can think of is the Royal Albert Hall when it uses a central performance stage, but its sheer size means it loses the immersive advantage of the format.
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Post by David J on Jun 2, 2024 16:27:24 GMT
Max Bialystock: You've heard of theatre in the round. You're looking at the man who invented theatre in the square. Nobody had a good seat.
Actually in all my time seeing theatre I don't remember seeing a production in the round, proper. Best I've found was when the Old Vic did a season in the round, well in the stalls at least, with High Society and 'Tree' the latter of which I saw. Outside of that I know Flute Theatre does their Shakespeare for autistic youngsters sitting in the round.
I suppose you get more seats in if you converted a space into a square configuration?
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 2, 2024 18:28:43 GMT
I could be wrong but i think Ghost Quartet at the Boulvard Theatre was actually in the round
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Post by max on Jun 2, 2024 19:04:38 GMT
I could be wrong but i think Ghost Quartet at the Boulvard Theatre was actually in the round It almost was - the auditorium's certainly round but the cast and musical instruments occupied a few segments, so the audience didn't wrap right round the action. |
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Post by marob on Jun 2, 2024 19:33:50 GMT
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Post by mkb on Jun 2, 2024 20:07:34 GMT
I like that! Of course, every circus Big Top fits the bill too. |
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Post by TallPaul on Jun 3, 2024 20:16:40 GMT
I've been to the Paines Plough 'dome'. You wouldn't want to see anything longer than an hour in there.
The New Vic Theatre is in the round, isn't it? The seats are, if not the stage area. And when it's in that configuration, the Bolton Octagon is more round than square.
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Post by marob on Jun 3, 2024 21:09:03 GMT
Just thought of two more properly round venues, both temporary pop-ups. Should really have thought of Chester’s Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre first, as I’ve been there several times. It’s a pop-up that runs every summer, by the same company that eventually grew into Storyhouse. The Royal Exchange also have The Den, their own Roundabout-style touring theatre for community engagement stuff. www.royalexchange.co.uk/create-participate/community/the-den/ |
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Post by mkb on Jun 3, 2024 21:51:18 GMT
... The New Vic Theatre is in the round, isn't it? The seats are, if not the stage area. ... You're right! Been a very long time since I went. |
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