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Post by Being Alive on Apr 13, 2024 16:45:48 GMT
Newsies was plagued by sound issues wasn't it? I wonder what they’re doing to sort that out for Starlight Express? Anything? I'd imagine having Gareth Owen as the sound designer will help.
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Post by c4ndyc4ne on Apr 13, 2024 16:49:26 GMT
I expect it’ll be a similar approach to MMTP - which had excellent sound design for such a cavernous venue
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Post by benj on Apr 13, 2024 16:50:19 GMT
Newsies was plagued by sound issues wasn't it? I wonder what they’re doing to sort that out for Starlight Express? Anything? The sound at Newsies was really awful so I’m very much hoping they’re taking steps to improve things for Starlight. It must be tricky with it basically being a big, echoey metal box. The cast finished skate school on Friday and are starting to rehearse the show next week. 2 months to go…!
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 13, 2024 17:52:15 GMT
The cast finished skate school on Friday and are starting to rehearse the show next week. 2 months to go…! I'm assuming that as part of this training they're also shown the best and safest body position to take (if possible) when taking a fall to reduce serious cast injuries.
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Post by BVM on Apr 18, 2024 16:20:15 GMT
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/what-was-i-made-for/id1733061343?i=1000652688356Fascinating podcast with guest Sam Lane who was in the London production for 8 years, mainly in the 1990s. The Starlight section starts at about 18 minutes. Talks a lot about how dangerous the London set could be, how often "crashes" and injuries occurred and how it was unique given it wound around an existing theatre (compared to say Bochum which was designed from scratch for skating). Also talks about how health and safety was changing things towards the end of the run and how something like this in a conventional theatre would never happen now. Increasing restrictions were being put in re how they moved about backstage etc etc. That AV set was so special! It's asymmetry, bends, corners, angles all a result of fitting into a conventional theatre. Completely unique moment in time! The Bochum one is cool, but for me nothing will ever beat the AV! She was also one of the last groups to go in when they held open auditions for people that could skate. One of the fascinating things (to me at least) re the first decade or so in London was the diversity of the cast and how they employed so many skaters who had never worked in MT before, some of whom had never even sung! As time went on it became more conventional until eventually the skate school model was fully established and they cast MT performers, teaching them to skate afterwards. For the Bochum 30th no doubt the choreography was simplified and the races were slowed down. Am now wondering if this was all to do with safety for the performers and reducing injuries. Certainly since then first cast have been on way more than they were before when at any given performance you were lucky to get to 60 odd percent. It's also made me reflect re the new Wembley version - a total guess but I really don't think we are gonna see much in the way of skating heroics from the main cast - certainly not to the extent the AV had in the 90's and Bochum had pre 30th (it literally got faster and more daring every year until the massive pulling back in 2018). My hunch is that all the wild spectacular stuff will be left to the bladers and stunt skaters. I do wonder how the races will work - again a guess but I am thinking some wild hybrid of projections/film/massive lighting/stunt skaters but simple ish stuff from main cast. Anyway there we are. These are my Starlight musings today.
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 19, 2024 14:37:12 GMT
Given that all performers are preforming on roller skates I predict this is going to be an insurance liability nightmare!
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Post by BVM on Apr 19, 2024 15:19:35 GMT
Given that all performers are preforming on roller skates I predict this is going to be an insurance liability nightmare! Indeed. It’s another reason for my hunch that set will be simple (ish) to skate!
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880 posts
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Post by BVM on May 4, 2024 9:37:05 GMT
5 weeks today!
Not sure I can cope lol.
Surely more details about the score/plot/other bits and pics of the set and rehearsals will start leaking soon. Other than via the official channels and wild speculation, there's not been much! Though the fandom did get the female GB right, if not the actor....
And will we ever find out who's written the new book?!
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Post by luvvie23 on May 6, 2024 6:22:18 GMT
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/what-was-i-made-for/id1733061343?i=1000652688356Fascinating podcast with guest Sam Lane who was in the London production for 8 years, mainly in the 1990s. The Starlight section starts at about 18 minutes. Talks a lot about how dangerous the London set could be, how often "crashes" and injuries occurred and how it was unique given it wound around an existing theatre (compared to say Bochum which was designed from scratch for skating). Also talks about how health and safety was changing things towards the end of the run and how something like this in a conventional theatre would never happen now. Increasing restrictions were being put in re how they moved about backstage etc etc. That AV set was so special! It's asymmetry, bends, corners, angles all a result of fitting into a conventional theatre. Completely unique moment in time! The Bochum one is cool, but for me nothing will ever beat the AV! She was also one of the last groups to go in when they held open auditions for people that could skate. One of the fascinating things (to me at least) re the first decade or so in London was the diversity of the cast and how they employed so many skaters who had never worked in MT before, some of whom had never even sung! As time went on it became more conventional until eventually the skate school model was fully established and they cast MT performers, teaching them to skate afterwards. For the Bochum 30th no doubt the choreography was simplified and the races were slowed down. Am now wondering if this was all to do with safety for the performers and reducing injuries. Certainly since then first cast have been on way more than they were before when at any given performance you were lucky to get to 60 odd percent. It's also made me reflect re the new Wembley version - a total guess but I really don't think we are gonna see much in the way of skating heroics from the main cast - certainly not to the extent the AV had in the 90's and Bochum had pre 30th (it literally got faster and more daring every year until the massive pulling back in 2018). My hunch is that all the wild spectacular stuff will be left to the bladers and stunt skaters. I do wonder how the races will work - again a guess but I am thinking some wild hybrid of projections/film/massive lighting/stunt skaters but simple ish stuff from main cast. Anyway there we are. These are my Starlight musings today. Sam Lane is an iconic Starlight legend. I’d like to see her play Momma! I’m surprised they haven’t gone back to some of the originals. I remember Ray Shell, playing Poppa after he’d played Rusty in the original.
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Post by benj on May 9, 2024 13:34:14 GMT
Some nice glimpses of the set model on the latest Instagram advert - looks pretty epic!! Getting excited now!!
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ash
Auditioning
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Post by ash on May 9, 2024 13:48:25 GMT
Just saw the videos on Insta, and I agree - very exciting! It makes me happy to see a big set with actual race tracks etc, when this was announced part of me was worried we'd end up with a slightly larger version of previous tours.
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Post by PineappleForYou on May 9, 2024 17:21:23 GMT
Are they having actual children play Control? There appears to be a group of children looking at the set model in that video.
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Post by benj on May 9, 2024 19:51:11 GMT
Yes, they have cast some kids so assuming they’re playing ‘Control’
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5,318 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 9, 2024 21:59:52 GMT
Some nice glimpses of the set model on the latest Instagram advert - looks pretty epic!! Getting excited now!! It ain’t gonna be anywhere as big as the original production so lower those expectations!
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Post by d'James on May 9, 2024 23:13:50 GMT
Yes, they have cast some kids so assuming they’re playing ‘Control’ In the ‘workshop’ I really liked having Control onstage (apart from cutting the Overture short).
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Post by benj on May 9, 2024 23:53:01 GMT
Some nice glimpses of the set model on the latest Instagram advert - looks pretty epic!! Getting excited now!! It ain’t gonna be anywhere as big as the original production so lower those expectations! They have a great cast, fantastic creative team and a huge set which looks amazing. I’ve no reason to lower my expectations at all!
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Post by danb on May 10, 2024 5:11:00 GMT
The set model looks exactly like the seating plan…like seats! 😁
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5,318 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 10, 2024 6:29:34 GMT
It ain’t gonna be anywhere as big as the original production so lower those expectations! They have a great cast, fantastic creative team and a huge set which looks amazing. I’ve no reason to lower my expectations at all! That video doesn’t show the set. It shows the model of the venue. 🤣
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Post by creakingstool on May 10, 2024 7:29:55 GMT
I've just watched the model section of the video repeatedly to try and work out the view from my seats! Gone for £77 front row locomotive and it looks fine. Obviously a railing in front but I don't really mind that. So fingers crossed it's all good. Won't be too long to hopefully find out.
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2,583 posts
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Post by viserys on May 10, 2024 7:42:18 GMT
That video doesn’t show the set. It shows the model of the venue. 🤣 I think what people mean is that it shows the layout of the stage - and the fact that there will be actual race tracks going through and around the audience, just like it used to be at the AV - which we could only assume so far, but couldn't be sure about. I've just watched the model section of the video repeatedly to try and work out the view from my seats! Gone for £77 front row locomotive and it looks fine. Obviously a railing in front but I don't really mind that. So fingers crossed it's all good. Won't be too long to hopefully find out. I worry a little that the "platform" section isn't raked at all. That's quite a few rows of heads in front blocking the view to the main stage. Although we'll be in Row H (second to last) which does seem slightly higher than those in front. Still hoping that as this is only a model, they will remember to build a little rake into that section.
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Post by blamerobots on May 10, 2024 7:48:59 GMT
"It's only a model. (Shh!)"
There's still a few good seats for June; I think I'll snag a ticket more towards the back after seeing that rake.
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Post by anthony40 on May 10, 2024 8:09:18 GMT
The cast, the production team and everyone involved must be getting so excited.
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Post by Being Alive on May 10, 2024 8:27:02 GMT
The rear two rows of the platform sections has step free access so is (I assume) on the same level as the foyer - wheelchair positions are at the back of the platform section. The rest of it isn't step free so that does suggest a rake in the section.
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Post by kit66 on May 10, 2024 8:48:38 GMT
I may be as old as the hills but jeez the cast are young.Could ALW be accused of child labour?
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Post by alece10 on May 10, 2024 14:58:14 GMT
It's cos younger bones fix quicker than older ones and they can strap them up and shove them back on the track faster. Joking obviously.
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5,318 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 10, 2024 18:30:24 GMT
That video doesn’t show the set. It shows the model of the venue. 🤣 I think what people mean is that it shows the layout of the stage - and the fact that there will be actual race tracks going through and around the audience, just like it used to be at the AV - which we could only assume so far, but couldn't be sure about. I've just watched the model section of the video repeatedly to try and work out the view from my seats! Gone for £77 front row locomotive and it looks fine. Obviously a railing in front but I don't really mind that. So fingers crossed it's all good. Won't be too long to hopefully find out. I worry a little that the "platform" section isn't raked at all. That's quite a few rows of heads in front blocking the view to the main stage. Although we'll be in Row H (second to last) which does seem slightly higher than those in front. Still hoping that as this is only a model, they will remember to build a little rake into that section. Yeah I wouldn’t get too excited. There were no barriers in that model around the audience aisles and there’s no way they can skate around there at speed without those. We’ll see. The pressure is on for this to be good.
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ash
Auditioning
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Post by ash on May 11, 2024 10:52:12 GMT
[/quote] Yeah I wouldn’t get too excited. There were no barriers in that model around the audience aisles and there’s no way they can skate around there at speed without those. We’ll see. The pressure is on for this to be good.[/quote]
In London and Bochum they had/have barriers that come up from under the stage before the race sequences, they weren't up throughout the entire show.
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Post by bobbievanhusen on May 12, 2024 11:02:26 GMT
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Post by danb on May 12, 2024 11:19:53 GMT
I suspect barriers just aren’t on the model. They couldn’t risk performers falling down that entrance staircase (just above the ‘with’ on the still) surely?
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Post by viserys on May 12, 2024 15:47:49 GMT
actually when you look closely at that still, you can see a few barriers in place. They might be examples or the part that are permanently up during the show, while others will only be raised for the races.
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