BristolBillyBob

Off-topic, but if I ever start a band I'm totally calling us Jazz Pants Nightmare.

When I write about my feelings about the show later, I'll pick up on some of these points, but for now I just wanted to thank you for making me giggle. 2am bed after the last train back from London is already making my work day a challenge, so a smile with my morning tea was welcome.

Hi all. Just quickly popping my head up to say I'll be at this tonight, and will be flying solo. I'm always up for saying hello to fellow forumites - it was lovely to meet @Blossom yesterday! - so if you're going too and want put a more up-to-date face to my name in the interval, do drop me a line.

If anyone's interested, Northern Ballet's 1984 Blu Ray is £13.30 on Amazon at the moment. Seems like a pretty decent price for the Blu Ray disc, >£20 most of the time. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07BF8557Q/?coliid=I2HIUF64OKNJTT&colid=2JWJX25RL6KL2&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it BristolBillyBargainBasementBob

No longer needed.

What a lovely post; made me happy to read it. Thanks for taking the time to share.

I always thought, in my case for music albums, that there should be two reviews; One from someone who knows about the genre and already appreciates it, understands its nuances, etc., and one from someone who isn't normally on board with it, but can offer an outsider's perspective. Too often I've read reviews from someone who clearly doesn't enjoy or appreciate that kind of music, makes that fact clear, and I learn nothing about whether the album is any good! I always remember a friend of mine saying "The problem with reviewers is that a lot of the time they're mostly reviewing themselves", by showing off how much they know, how snarky they can be and just how gosh-darn intelligent and insightful they are, and I think that's probably true.

I saw this in the Opéra de Paris shop and had a leaf through. It's really quite a wonderful but remarkably weighty thing; I think it would've been my hold luggage allowance by itself! I quite enjoy bargain hunting - it's something of a hobby for me! - so I'll keep an eye out and report back if I spot it somewhere!

In case anybody is interested, I've been watching In the Company of Stars: The Paris Opera Ballet on Amazon and second hand copies have dropped to £1.06 (+ £2.80 p+p). Can't comment on the book itself as my copy has yet to arrive, but thought I'd give a heads up. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/2080300008/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ooh, I didn't know they were doing Vera. It's an absolute beaut. Happy memories of that night at the Barbican at Choreographics in 2014; it was something very special indeed.

Hi there, Insights: Balanchine and Robbins – Exploring American Idols: Tuesday 27 November 2018, 7.30pm I'll be up in London for a conference while this is on, and I'd be happy to take a ticket off your hands if you (a) have one to offer and (b) want to spare me the uniquely exquisite social awkwardness torture that is "networking dinner". Thanks!

Wish me luck, then! I'll report back in the autumn...

I put in an order for this when it was £30 earlier... Literally the only time I've preordered anything on Amazon, and their Preorder Price Guarantee has already paid off for me! 😄

Darcey Bussell just announced on Instagram that she has a new book coming out called Darcey Bussell Evolved: Looks like it'll be released on 1st November this year. Most bookshops are listing a 'special edition' but I'm not sure what that entails! Her last photo book - simply called Darcey Bussell - is one of my favourite ballet books, so I have high hopes for this.

Just to add to Janet's wonderful review, it's worth mentioning how strong the corps are at BRB at the moment. I've never seen Fille before it arrived in Bristol, but with the lion's share of solos given to just two characters, I suspect Fille could live or die on the corps' performance, and they were sublime. Excellent work throughout the company! Oh, and lovely to meet up with Janet at both class in the morning and in the evening! That's, by my reckoning, three different cities we've caught up with each other now, right? Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham? Have we ever met at BRB in Cheltenham?

Slightly off-topic, but maybe we could start a thread somewhere for sharing seat recommendations (or warnings) for theatres? I know there are photos for ROH, but it's useful to know when you can/can't see feet in the stalls, or whether you'll have a conductor or violin bows in the way, that kind of thing. I often write a quick note on the back of my ticket, which I keep tucked into the programme, so when I return to a theatre I can check what seats I had and whether past me suggests I book them again. An example is the Millennium Centre in Cardiff. Nearly all the stalls rows have amazing leg room, but there are two that aren't clear from the seating plan that are hideously poor for some reason.

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Periscope or https://www.savvyhomemade.com/making-a-periscope-for-kids/ ? 😇

Shame it's not doing so well, as it's frequently brilliant. Act 1 in particular is quite something, some absolutely wonderful choreography.

It's probably the van that was the target. It was a 2014 plate, so not massively old. Apparently it was clearly marked up with rental company decals. As I understand it thieves often go for rental cars/vans as the companies are more likely to write it off on their corporate insurance than go to a great deal of trouble trying to find it. I'm presuming the flight cases are worth something too, so sadly I wonder if the costumes will be disposed of and the flight cases and van sold on.

Thanks! I did check, but I suspect we posted within minutes of one another.

Central School of Ballet have just posted this on their Facebook page: Such dreadful news so close to the tour. If you can share in case anyone hears anything of use in the ballet community I'm sure that'll be appreciated. The staff and students all work so hard to create what is invariably a highlight of my ballet-going year, so I'm sure everyone on the forum will echo my love and warmest wishes to everyone at Central School, and all the very best of luck getting everything ready for the tour in what must be now very difficult circumstances.

Ooh! I'm second row stalls, f9, white jumper. Do say hello!

How on earth did I only just spot this was coming to Cardiff? Have booked for the matinee tomorrow. Been a long time since I've seen Northern Ballet, can't wait! Dreda Blow/Javier Torres/Antoinette Brooks-Daw cast should be fab...

That's true, and I often work around the corner so do that most of the time. While saving on fees would be good for other venues, I'm more curious about the deals and other offers, such as discounts or advanced bookings, etc., that come through the ATG Card, whether they'd be worth it.

Hi all, I've noticed that quality ballet is (thankfully!) coming to my fair city a little more these days, with BRB and ENB bringing their filles and swans respectively to Bristol later this year. Both are going to be at the Bristol Hippodrome. It's a theatre I don't have much love for, to be honest, as the spurious 'fees' are often as extortionate as the ice cream prices! While I'd much rather go to the Birmingham Hippodrome or Wales Millennium Centre, I can't ignore the fact the Bristol Hippodrome is 15 minutes walk away from my flat. Anyway, as I was booking for another event at the Hippodrome, this got me to wondering if I should consider the ATG Theatre Card. Have any of you subscribed to the ATG Theatre Card, and if so what have your experiences been? Are there ever good offers on ballet performances, and have you found the card good value for money? I'd be very keen to hear your experiences before I decide whether to invest or not. Thanks, BBB