Blossom

I have bought differently but for different reasons. I usually try to bring friends along but it is getting hard to manage their budgets (and the need to be seated) with my preference for an excellent view. Last season I ended up returning a lot of companion tickets at prices people were no longer willing to pay. Group visits will be limited to Sadlers Wells and Coli. I have bought more single tickets as a result or know who to invite along if planning SCS! As a final difference in habit, I think that buying single tickets also makes me less likely to sit in particular areas. Editing to add that I haven’t booked Dante as it’s too soon and don’t feel I need to see it particularly. In contrast, will be back to see The Cellist specifically for the new cast albeit on a smaller budget- but this is usually my tactic for additional casts in the same run.

It’s been a few years since I have been to one, but they are basically opportunities to visit the ROH with activities based on a theme. The first one I took my kids to was in the lead up to Remembrance Sunday and we made poppies from recycled programme covers and sheet music, there was also an opportunity to see a ballet based on WW1 experiences being rehearsed (can’t remember the name but was by Alastair Marriott). Other activities on various event days included upcycling old pointe shoes, mini ballet classes, trying on costumes (real tutus present!), learning how to conduct an orchestra (there was a brilliant young conductor running that activity)… Assuming the education team continue to make them as brilliant, I would really recommend going, especially through winter months where it’s lovely to have lots of activities to choose from indoors!

Is it particularly bad because of wider appeal for Nutcracker?

i don’t think there is a difference between what a friend and non friend can buy for each performance. Tickets for Nutcracker (likely to sell at a faster rate) are capped at 8, as is Don Q.

Seemingly this didn’t go to all of us who booked for 7 Nov. Intriguing- previously it looked like the whole left side of the seating map had been blocked out for something which I assumed was a sponsor partner/NHS/Young ROH performance. This email makes it sound more intriguing. This was my expensive booking night so I do hope that final sentence is true!!l I don’t want anything to compromise Magri/Corrales!

If these are the row C restricted view, they are priced at £52 for Don Q.

Another example of how unpredictable the current site is, even for newly registered users. About 4 weeks ago I created an account for my daughter who has just turned 16 so that she can take advantage of Young ROH. First of all, Young ROH didn't activate and she had to contact the box office to sort it out. Last week she learned that our neighbour had received a young ROH ticket offer for Jewels which she didn't get, despite being registered for all emails - again, the box office had to manually enable these. The success of Young ROH is surely in getting young people to take up the subsidised tickets and to then continue attending once they 'come of age', but if they aren't receiving the comms, surely it will be completely redundant.

Really insightful analysis @JohnS

FINALLY got to see this today and thoroughly enjoyed (bar Dying Swans which I think I enjoyed less than at BRB2). A lovely way to spend a thoroughly soggy afternoon with some brilliant performances. I think everything has been said before, but what I assume only happened at this final performance was that KOH wheeled on some birthday cakes and everyone sang happy birthday (my not particularly great filming can be seen on my instagram story @jbolsom as I have no idea how to post here). I really loved the balance of RB/BRB and Acosta Danza - they really are a superb company and enjoy every opportunity I get to see them. Thought their presentation of Carmen was fabulous.

Here's a seat map for the current production - this is for the 1 Jan matinee. https://www.roh.org.uk/seatmap?performanceId=54527 You should be able to see the view from the seats which doesn't quite take into account heads infront of you but is a big help. If you were to take row B or C to reduce the cost a little, bear in mind that if you sit centrally, you will be fine view wise. The 'rings' are better than stalls from this perspective as there are fewer rows to negotiate if you are further back.

One of the most important factors in terms of choosing the right seat is knowing what you would be prepared to pay. Top price tickets are £160 but there are some great places to sit across the auditorium, so set this first and it should be easier to advise! If money is no object, I'd suggest front row of Stalls Circle/Grand Tier/Balcony depending on what's available when you book, sitting as centrally as possible.

There are often late returns. I usually get hold of a ticket in the week/day leading up to the insights. Worth noting that at my booking level at least there is a one ticket limit, so I think it is as fair as it could be. It’s great that these events are 1. Streamed to the public and 2. Made available to all (including returns - I usually just keep a tab open on my desktop to keep my eye out) whereas as an example, these sorts of studio events are only available for certain levels of membership at ENB.

I was thinking exactly the same!! I guess as always ACE is influencing where they can tour. And of course we get 3 Nutcrackers in London between ROH, RAH (BRB) and Coli which I feel is somewhat unfair. Although in some ways good to contain viewings of ENBs Nutcracker. Hoping Aaron S Watkin will introduce his version.

Unfortunately i can only do 26th due to work and other commitments, but glad to have @SheilaC's perspective to know I have made the better choice from my personal perspective.

I am unfortunately in the position where I have only 1 day I can do for both companies - I therefore can't see both. I've already booked ENB but would love to see KCB. Given Sadlers Wells has so little in terms of ballet programming I'm quite frustrated about the programming clash.

This is a fascinating read. Thanks for sharing

I booked, originally thinking this was in the evening and had to cancel as it was inconveniently in the middle of the day and I no longer work on the doorstep of the ROH. Hoping this may have been recorded and that it might make it to youtube... In the meantime keen to hear from anyone who was there too.

Glad they are likely to be filmed, but hoping it's possible to get tickets for these (especially as I have gone against the grain and upgraded my membership since the last booking period).

And yet there isn’t enough funding in the arts and this may well spread what money there is more thinly. I am absolutely pro Sadlers Wells East and accessibility but it would be nice if funding was taken more seriously. There was an interesting article in today’s Times about Keir Starmer wanting to put more budget into creative arts education, I genuinely think we need to start lobbying all parties (specifically Culture secretary and shadow secretaries) ahead of the next general election.

It is quite a nice production and have viewed it. Much prefer Bintley’s choreography to Wheeldon’s. My desire though is to be a complete ballet geek and watch different productions of the Ashton ballet over time! I would love to see the version which must have been recorded with Alina C as Cinderella based on the clips available online.

If they did, it would likely be the cinema stream which I don’t think was great. The lighting didn’t really work for the big screen, especially for the ball in act 2. Some naughty person managed to pop the livestream up on YouTube for a couple of weeks until ROH managed to get it removed and some parts looked equally bad on the small screen. Having said that, there must be some relatively recent versions they could get hold of but I’m guessing rights wise they would need permission from the ballet’s owner and reading between the lines, especially given it’s been so hard to get Cinderella back on stage at ROH, I’m speculating that there are some considerable barriers to this. Personally, access to different Cinderellas would probably get me giving subscription a try As an aside, films from livestreams need a lot of editing work anyway before they are fit for dvd or ROH stream and can be approx a year in the making.

I was told by ROH tech to use an incognito browser for all of these issues and it works well. Otherwise everything operates well on my mobile.

Wow - so thrilled for Isabella (I may have yelped with delight on reading this). All much deserved promotions - some in particular that I hope will then get promoted up the ranks quite quickly and can't believe they are only just making it to their new rank. Cinderella was an excellent opportunity for some of the Jesters being promoted too!

It may go into Winter. I've noticed that Hansel and Gretel booking doesn't open til 18 September for a mid Dec opening so potentially this will be the same. Nutcracker is probably an anomaly as people like to be able to book ahead.

Booking opened for me at 3pm and was a breeze. Not even a queue.