17 posts
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Post by theplayer on May 16, 2018 23:34:58 GMT
I prefer to buy playscripts. Especially for new plays.
I recently bought the playscript of a production I saw 6 years ago at the Almeida. That play (Children's Children by Matthew Dunster) will probably never be performed again, so I thought buying it would be a way of reliving the experience of watching it. Or at least as close as possible to the experience. Obviously, there's no substitute for watching a performance.
Programmes, however, do not give you any information that you can't find on the Internet. Cast and crew credits, production photos and so on are all easily available. There's a reason why programmes are given away for free on Broadway.
I love the idea of having the full script of a play, which you're unlikely to find for free unless it's Shakespeare or another play that is in the public domain.
What do you think?
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Post by learfan on May 17, 2018 6:21:20 GMT
I always get a programme.
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3,322 posts
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Post by david on May 17, 2018 6:28:04 GMT
Always programmes, though on the odd occasion I’ve also bought the playtext as well.
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196 posts
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Post by rockinrobin on May 17, 2018 7:26:04 GMT
Scripts. Always.
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630 posts
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Post by jamb0r on May 17, 2018 7:30:46 GMT
There's a reason why programmes are given away for free on Broadway. Broadway Playbills and West End programmes cannot be compared at all. Playbills are a flimsy pamphlet of adverts with maybe 1 or 2 black and white pages actually containing information about the show. That’s the reason they’re given away for free. |
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2018 8:12:14 GMT
I used to buy programmes all the time when I started regular theatre-going back in the mid-noughties. Surprisingly, cast and creative information wasn't as readily available online even as recently as then. I stopped buying programmes after a while (I have limited funds and storage space, and the information is much more readily available online nowadays), but I'll always buy a playtext if I'm enjoying a play. With a RRP of £9.99 for most of 'em, it would be rude not to pick one up for £3 or £4 at the theatre. (I do wait and see if I'm enjoying a play though, I don't want to buy a playtext then discover I loathe the play and would rather not be reminded of its existence once it's over.)
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2,062 posts
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Post by Marwood on May 17, 2018 8:39:28 GMT
Some places like the R.C. only do playtexts, but I always go for programmes.
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3,040 posts
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Post by crowblack on May 17, 2018 8:48:59 GMT
The playtext if they're available and (as with the RC or sometimes the RX) cheap - if I've enjoyed a production I make notes and drawings in it. I used to buy programmes but now I'll only do it if it's a cast I really like, for the stills. The Liverpool Everyman has £1 tabloid-size programmes on newspaper - as it's a rep company, they change some of the pages depending on the production.
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2018 8:51:25 GMT
Much like @baemax above I used to religiously buy programmes, but there's only so much space and so much money, so I save that for the odd one that's a 'special' one. But if there's a playtext on offer I will buy one. Except if you're the Young Vic and rudely had run out of programmes and hadn't got the playtext in. Rude I tells ya.
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on May 17, 2018 15:56:34 GMT
I love to look back at old programmes and cast lists.
It's not nearly as much fun doing a Google search in years to come!
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Post by dramallama on May 17, 2018 22:07:38 GMT
If I care about the show, I'll get a programme. If I really, really love the show, I'll get the playscript as well. Mostly, that'd be a case of me buying the programme pre-show and then getting the script in the interval or post-show.
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821 posts
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Post by ensembleswings on May 18, 2018 5:47:39 GMT
I have a programme for every show/cast that I’ve seen, I’ve never bought a play script though. There’s a couple that I’ve considered getting but I’ve never really been drawn to them, I love to look through my old programmes and see who I’ve seen in previous shows and such like
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1,089 posts
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Post by andrew on May 18, 2018 8:29:02 GMT
I get programmes for shows that are very special, big landmark things or if I've really loved them. I get scripts for the odd show that the writing stands out on the day as being so exceptional that I'll want to relive it later on. When left alone I've been known to crack out the scripts and wander around acting out the monologues.
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213 posts
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Post by peelee on May 21, 2018 20:12:05 GMT
I don't see shows in the West End of London so don't pay whatever it is that gets charged for programmes there. But wherever I do see a play, I'll get the programme or, if it comes to a choice between the two, I'll buy the play text provided it's about half the £10 or so cover-price. I'll even pay a quid or two for a flimsy programme that's for a theatre where funds are likely very limited, as it helps them while not robbing me.
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294 posts
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Post by dani on May 22, 2018 8:45:34 GMT
At the National Theatre, I always get a programme. Otherwise I will tend to buy a play text. West End programmes always seem particularly bad value and are full of advertisements for drama courses and private schools, which is indicative - or am I being cynical? - about who producers think goes to the shows.
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1,134 posts
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Post by Stephen on May 22, 2018 9:02:53 GMT
I always go for a programme for the collection! I do like that the Royal Court sell playtexts for the same price as a programme though.
Never a souvenir brochure though. THAT is craziness and doesn't fit in my box.
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