Theatre
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Hi all,
one thing I noticed a distinct lack of around here was any talk of Theatre, which seems odd as it's a backbone of British Culture. We have such an amazing Theatreland in London and wonderful venues in other cities and they're so rarely mentioned on here.
I've been an amateur performer for 11 years, have done 6 plays and countless Musicals/One night Musical Showcases at venues including the Lowry Lyric and Quays Theatres and the Opera House, Manchester.
I love to watch as well, go to London frequently and have seen friends who have gone pro shine as they finally live their dreams.
Theatre can make you feel so many different things, shock you, make you laugh until you cry or just make you want to dance in the aisles. It can be so wondefully emotive (the best shows I've seen have left me sobbing!), and absorbing, no more so than onstage, and around my job I'd say it's my whole life.
Anyone else there like to go to the Theatre? What have been some of your favourite productions/plays/shows/writers? Anyone out there like to share their own experiences of treading the boards?
Em aka "The Thesp" to my friends! xx
one thing I noticed a distinct lack of around here was any talk of Theatre, which seems odd as it's a backbone of British Culture. We have such an amazing Theatreland in London and wonderful venues in other cities and they're so rarely mentioned on here.
I've been an amateur performer for 11 years, have done 6 plays and countless Musicals/One night Musical Showcases at venues including the Lowry Lyric and Quays Theatres and the Opera House, Manchester.
I love to watch as well, go to London frequently and have seen friends who have gone pro shine as they finally live their dreams.
Theatre can make you feel so many different things, shock you, make you laugh until you cry or just make you want to dance in the aisles. It can be so wondefully emotive (the best shows I've seen have left me sobbing!), and absorbing, no more so than onstage, and around my job I'd say it's my whole life.
Anyone else there like to go to the Theatre? What have been some of your favourite productions/plays/shows/writers? Anyone out there like to share their own experiences of treading the boards?
Em aka "The Thesp" to my friends! xx
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I actually love Shakespeare plays too, they are so relevant now even though they were written in the 1600's. Racism, anti-semetism, oedipus complex (very Jeremy Kyle:D ), sex, love, infedility.
Life isn't so different today.:D
Jodie is lovely, I met her the first time I saw it! Went more recently when one of my abovementioned friends was playing Charlotte
Matthew Bourne's Cinderella was very good a few weeks ago. On the cards is Wizard of Oz in March :eek:
I've seen a lot over the years and used to go more often. Unfortunately weekend tickets tend to be quite pricey, granted not always, and there is all the usual humdrum stuff that needs to be done at weekends too.
A bit more organisation and effort might help free up a bit more time for theatre but ....
Glad you are enjoying treading the boards luvvy!
I wouldn't even be fussy as to which one for my first time, the whole experience of going down to London and maybe staying over in a hotel would add to it.
In all honesty I don't know the first thing about the theatre - but it's definitely something I'd love to know more about, especially going to see a big show.
Maybe not the Show but in terms of Venues you can't really get more prestigious than the Palladium!
Impressive!!!
The official site http://www.oliverthemusical.com/photos/ spells her name Jodi, you spell it Jodie.
Now I have to find out !!!!!:(
EDIT - you are correct http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodie_Prenger
How common. I took my child to see Shakespeare when he was 8!
Only because I couldn't get a sitter and I had to go for my degree course.
Thankfully he loved it, it was Midsummer Nights Dream.
I took him to see Cinderella at Christmas and he was bored stiff! We made the mistake of watching a week of Pantomimes on the television which were superb and the local performance wasn't a scratch on them.
In all seriousness, I do believe that children's love of the threatre can start with pantomimes and kids stuff. There's no point in taking them if they are going to hate it, all they will learn is that theatre is boring.
I was lucky that there was enough amusing stuff in the Shakespeare play that it didn't scar him for life or put him off theatre for ever.
I can't afford London but this thread has whet my appetite to see what's on at the RSC.
*still on in London*
Wicked
Chicago
We Will Rock You
Phantom of the Opera
Les Miserables
Mamma Mia
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Blood Brothers
War Horse
Dirty Dancing
Grease
Wizard of Oz (starts in March)
Shrek (also starts soon)
* no longer playing but were amazing and may return! *
West Side Story
Sweeney Todd
Into the Woods
Jesus Christ Superstar
Oliver!
My Fair Lady
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat
Company
Mack and Mabel
The Sound of Music
Anything Goes
Little Shop of Horrors
Rent
Hairspray
Avenue Q
Hair
Imagine This
Spring Awakening
Mary Poppins
Jekyll and Hyde
not to mention all of the plays!
edit - Added some more I've forgotten and looking back.. how do I have ANY money left :eek::eek: lol!
Hes brilliant, perhaps I'm odd as I loved Chaucer too.
Did anyone else see the series "Chaucer for our Times" when they had modernised the Canterbury Tales.
Excellent for those who like or hate Chaucer, that series was brilliant.
Thanks x
EDIT: Emzie put a fantastic list up as I was typing this post.
I been many times over the years
I adore Jonathan Ansell and seen him quite few times In Whistle Down The Wind and Larkraise to Candleford theatre tours.
I just can not recall of what I seen but going to see The Jersey Boys soon and got straight play to see and Mozert production to go to
I find that West End shows are a lot more expensive than regional performances, I understand that the London performances often have higher overheads, many have smaller capacity (than say Manchester Palace or Liverpool Empire) - making a need for higher prices essential.
Not that I would be affected personally, but it would be a nice gesture if for example - to have 10% of weeknight tickets that were available at a capped price (£20?) for London residents only - who don't have the luxury of lower regional pricing.
Yeh, also taking my parents who are in their 70's and have never been there before. I think the Palladium has a big cachet for their generation as all the big shows came from there back in the day. We are in the Royal Circle. Should be a lovely night out.
I agree. We took him to a proms last year - bit of Beethoven. He loved the whole atmosphere and we are definitely taking him next year. Will try to get tickets to the Dr. Who one I think as he's mad keen on it
I've listed some shows above
The smallest I can think of is the Gielgud or the Phoenix (Blood Brothers)
Most of the others are huge!
That's one of the things I love most about the West End, you look like you're walking through a street of terraced houses almost and there's whole worlds behind the doors
Do you like plays or musical theatre?
Musical theatre for the money
Mamma Mia - lots of fun and so much better than the naff movie.
Lion King
Phantom of the Opera
Wicked
Chicago
Blood Brothers
Cats was my all time favourite and I hope it is resurrected.
Les Miserables, We Will Rock You & Priscilla didn't work for me. There's loads more maybe lesser known shows of course.
Thanks! I saw your list after I'd typed the first bit of my post
There are so many! I recognise most of the names, and I really love the way you have described the bit I put in bold.
My son surprised me I was expecting to have to nail his butt to the seat for Shakespeare but it went really well.
Where is Dr. Who showing that would be really good.
Even though I am a big fan of Shakespeare, I honestly would love to go and see a big Musical Theatre production, I reckon the buzz would be amazing
For Shakespeare it surely has to be something at The Globe
Whether its every year I am not sure. but The 2010 was in July at the Royal Albert Hall. BBC Symphony orchestra playing the music from the show. Matt Smith did a turn as well as his sidekick (can't remember her name). Lots of extras dressed up at all the different aliens (daleks, zybermen etc). Saw it on the telly at Xmas and it look great fun for the kids and the parents. Nice way to get them into full orchestra music without really realising it.
Not sure what the play was or anything but he was so intense and had you captivated.