854 posts
|
Post by bordeaux on Oct 11, 2022 11:28:29 GMT
News of this has been out for 24 hours but no one has started a thread on this which I find fascinating. Time was when the Donmar was the theatre everyone wanted to go to, if they could get tickets, or talk about if they couldn't. Has it lost its mojo? I could be persuaded to see the Lillian Hellman Watch Over the Rhine, though I must admit the plays I've seen of hers strike me as being more of historical interest rather than gripping shows in their own right. These days I guess she is best known as as the object of the one of the great literary putdowns, Mary McCarthy's 'Every word she writes is a lie, including and and the'. I don't know anything about Diana Nneka Atuona or Next to Normal, so I shall reserve judgment there. Anyone seen anything by Atuona or any of the US productions of the musical? www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/donmar-warehouse-2023-season-next-to-normal_57567.html
|
|
|
Post by jaggy on Oct 11, 2022 11:45:51 GMT
I think everyone is more hyped for Next to Normal rather than a little known Hellman play. I'm interested and will be planning to go and see it. I do agree that Hellman's plays haven't particularly aged well. They can be rather dusty. I have always wanted to see Toys in the Attic performed though.
The Broadway revival of Little Foxes with Cynthia Nixon and Laura Linney alternating roles was a nice idea. I would have liked to have seen that production come over here.
I'm terribly curious about the fundraiser performance next month. I want to know who's performing. I'm assuming it's a private function as nothing has been said about tickets.
|
|
4,967 posts
|
Post by TallPaul on Oct 11, 2022 11:46:34 GMT
|
|
2,349 posts
|
Post by zahidf on Oct 11, 2022 12:37:37 GMT
It does seem that the musicals are popular at the donmar, with the plays less so
|
|
|
Post by Jan on Oct 11, 2022 12:56:01 GMT
Two USA plays out of three. The UK subsidised sector continues to enable US cultural imperialism.
|
|
4,580 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Mark on Oct 11, 2022 13:39:40 GMT
There is a rather large gap currently in the spring before next to normal. I wonder what will go there
|
|
967 posts
|
Post by alicechallice on Oct 11, 2022 14:28:37 GMT
There is a rather large gap currently in the spring before next to normal. I wonder what will go there At least two productions in between I expect. They just wanted the hype for N2N so announced it super early.
|
|
|
Post by inthenose on Oct 11, 2022 14:37:38 GMT
There is a rather large gap currently in the spring before next to normal. I wonder what will go there At least two productions in between I expect. They just wanted the hype for N2N so announced it super early. Maybe to see how it sells, hopefully ahead of plans for West End transfer. When the run sells out within an hour on Monday, they’ll have their answer.
|
|
6,335 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Jon on Oct 11, 2022 14:51:15 GMT
I'm not sure if Next to Normal would do well commercially so they probably wouldn't want to jump the gun planning a transfer this early on.
|
|
|
Post by jaggy on Oct 11, 2022 14:57:18 GMT
It selling out the Donmar? Absolutely.
Selling well at a larger West End theatre? I’m not so sure.
The musical isn’t exactly commercial. Idk though… maybe with exceptional reviews and good publicity/ hype it could.
|
|
4,580 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Mark on Oct 11, 2022 15:40:26 GMT
It selling out the Donmar? Absolutely. Selling well at a larger West End theatre? I’m not so sure. The musical isn’t exactly commercial. Idk though… maybe with exceptional reviews and good publicity/ hype it could. If it’s cost viable for them to transfer it to one of the smaller West End venues then I can’t imagine it not happening. The Scottsboro Boys had a 5 month limited run at the Garrick, I could well seeing that being the trajectory for Next to Normal (good luck to other musicals next year in the best musical/best actress race)
|
|
2,538 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by n1david on Oct 11, 2022 16:46:12 GMT
I'm terribly curious about the fundraiser performance next month. I want to know who's performing. I'm assuming it's a private function as nothing has been said about tickets. I'm a Friend and got an email invite to buy tickets. I decided not to... Public booking is on Monday...
|
|
6,335 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Jon on Oct 11, 2022 17:00:44 GMT
Seems like an event for those with deep pockets.
|
|
|
Post by jaggy on Oct 11, 2022 17:18:17 GMT
I'm terribly curious about the fundraiser performance next month. I want to know who's performing. I'm assuming it's a private function as nothing has been said about tickets. I'm a Friend and got an email invite to buy tickets. I decided not to... Public booking is on Monday... Ooo thank you! I wanted a nosey at the lineup.
|
|
|
Post by Jan on Oct 12, 2022 19:37:57 GMT
Seems like an event for those with deep pockets. A bit of a spurious celebration too as it’s been operating much longer than 30 years. They are counting from the redevelopment in 1992 but I saw my first show there in 1983 (when the auditorium wasn’t much different) and it actually opened in 1977. It was even a producing theatre prior to 1992 - when the RSC had it they first produced Educating Rita there amongst other things. They should have roped in McKellen, his Macbeth remains one of the most famous productions they’ve hosted.
|
|
1,465 posts
|
Post by foxa on Oct 17, 2022 11:15:33 GMT
Just booked for Next to Normal and Watch on the Rhine - quick, reasonable availability.
|
|
|
Post by alessia on Oct 17, 2022 12:07:25 GMT
I booked for all three shows- fortunately the affordable row C in the circle was still available. Are the standing tickets already all sold out or is Donmar keeping those for walk-ins?
|
|
|
Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Oct 17, 2022 12:19:39 GMT
I booked for all three shows- fortunately the affordable row C in the circle was still available. Are the standing tickets already all sold out or is Donmar keeping those for walk-ins? If I remember correctly they weren't available on the first day of public booking when I booked for The Band's Visit either but they were up for sale later so I think they just aren't released until closer to opening.
|
|
4,039 posts
|
Post by kathryn on Oct 17, 2022 21:36:14 GMT
News of this has been out for 24 hours but no one has started a thread on this which I find fascinating. Time was when the Donmar was the theatre everyone wanted to go to, if they could get tickets, or talk about if they couldn't. Has it lost its mojo? I ] The short answer is yes. It’s been ages since the Donmar had the sort of high profile hit that would sell the place out in 30 minutes.
|
|
|
Post by inthenose on Oct 17, 2022 22:41:13 GMT
Speaking of Next to Normal… oh wait! Nobody was… *wanders back into the appropriate thread*
|
|
2,538 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by n1david on Oct 31, 2022 18:25:01 GMT
It's possible the Donmar has overegged the Donmar at 30 event this Sunday. Got an email today giving me my "last change to buy" at both the £1k and the £2.5k levels, which suggests it has not yet sold out. No seat plans on the website but it lets e put the full allocation of 4 seats at both levels into my basket. I suppose at these prices even a less than full auditorium will be a significant fund-raising event, and I'm sure there won't be any empty seats in the auditorium on the night, but perhaps again another sign that Donmar is some way from its peak.
|
|
|
Post by imstillhere on Oct 31, 2022 20:28:23 GMT
The entire Longhurst era of Donmaris overegged - so little has been selling well for YEARS.
|
|
|
Post by inthenose on Oct 31, 2022 22:01:25 GMT
It's possible the Donmar has overegged the Donmar at 30 event this Sunday. Got an email today giving me my "last change to buy" at both the £1k and the £2.5k levels, which suggests it has not yet sold out. No seat plans on the website but it lets e put the full allocation of 4 seats at both levels into my basket. I suppose at these prices even a less than full auditorium will be a significant fund-raising event, and I'm sure there won't be any empty seats in the auditorium on the night, but perhaps again another sign that Donmar is some way from its peak. They keep trying to sell me stuff too. It’s really annoying
|
|
1,871 posts
|
Post by Marwood on Oct 31, 2022 22:32:06 GMT
Last thing I saw there was Saint Joan in 2016 and since then it’s been nothing but dull and (well I’m sure they think it is anyway) worthy productions that I’ve had no interest in whatsoever: the fact they’re selling ridiculously overpriced tickets for charity events that only the friends and family of the people appearing in would want to see without having to take out a second mortgage means I will look elsewhere for my theatre. The fact that they no longer attract world class actors to appear in their shows speaks volumes.
|
|
|
Post by Jan on Nov 1, 2022 8:52:16 GMT
The entire Longhurst era of Donmaris overegged - so little has been selling well for YEARS. That's true. They built up their reputation and audience under Mendes/Grandage but since 2011 both have been trickling away and now the tank is almost empty. These days I think of them in the same way as places like the Arcola - they may have some interesting productions now and again but I feel no particular loyalty to them, not like I did during the previous regimes.
|
|
854 posts
|
Post by bordeaux on Nov 1, 2022 14:46:46 GMT
Yes, in agreement with fellow-posters worried about the Donmar. They've moved away from the successful Mendes/Grandage programming. There has been more new writing which hasn't really hit home - I'm thinking of some US shows that didn't have the impact here that they did over there. New writing is clearly a tricky thing to manage, especially if it's not always been part of your theatre's identity. And there are newcomers on the block who are doing the sort of shows that the Donmar might have done under previous management: @sohoplace's Medea with Sophie Okonedo and the Josie Rourke As You Like It are shows that would have been Donmar (or Almeida) shows in the past , as are The Bridge's John Gabriel Borkman and possibly the Christopher Hampton thing with Maggie Smith and the Laura Linney My Name is Laura Barton. Clearly theatres change and we are no longer in the 90s but equally clearly they are not what they were.
|
|
617 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by cavocado on Nov 1, 2022 15:06:45 GMT
Big prices increases there too. I think the £15 tickets have gone up to £21. I know their costs will have risen as with all businesses, but theatregoers (esp those buying the cheaper tickets) will be tightening their belts too. Higher prices can just lead to heavier discounts or papering when shows don't sell. £20 is likely to be a cut off point for a lot of people, so might be a risky increase if too many people decide to just wait and see.
There aren't many theatres now with big online queues the minute tickets go on sale. The Almeida is one of the few that still has that level of excitement, but even they still have £10 lowest price I think.
|
|
6,335 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by Jon on Nov 1, 2022 21:25:38 GMT
The Donmar isn't in any in danger of going under so not sure why people are worried.
|
|
2,349 posts
|
Post by zahidf on Nov 1, 2022 22:33:34 GMT
I think stuff like Bands visit and Next to Normal have been hits. Basically needs a good musical! Star casting is definitely gone (Henry V accepting
|
|
1,123 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by theatrefan62 on Nov 1, 2022 22:35:39 GMT
The donmar might not be about to go bust, but it's reputation is not what it used to be either. The buzz around it and its productions has really died. Other venues have now stolen its crown.
|
|