RHowarth

I've just checked back on my past history on the ROH booking site, and I had B4 once for Bolshoi Don Q, which I think might be the equivalent on the other side. Pretty bad view- I remember the ballerina doing her 32 fouettes and I could only see her foot poking out every now and again as her leg whipped to the side!  

12 hours ago, jmhopton said:

Ages ago when I was a Friend of the Kirov we were able to buy rehearsal tickets for £10 and they were always in the Grand Tier. It was first come first served but I managed to get seat number one on the front row, next to the boxes. I really liked it as you were the nearest point to the stage and yet could still see everything. In the interval they didn't mind you spilling out into a box which I did a couple of times but wasn't impressed. Always went back to the Grand Tier. However I've never been able to afford to go back since.

I have a recurring anxiety dream where I finally have front row grand tier tickets, but because of a never-ending series of mishaps, don't ever reach my seat.

Did anyone see the show? 

8 hours ago, jmhopton said:

If I'm booking for Birmingham is there a rail or any obstruction on the front row of the upper circle? It's a long time since I was there. I thought I remember it as a walkway but I might be wrong.  Or can people recommend seats where obstructions/tall people (I'm quite short) wouldn't be a huge issue.

As Janet says, there are only two levels - but the circle is huge, hence being split, IIRC, into front and rear. I certainly can't remember there being any bars that restrict view - and I am not quite five feet tall.

Edited to add that I've seen that Pulcinella has given a fuller response! 

4 minutes ago, Tony Newcombe said:

Didn’t they do Beauty and the Beast there about four years ago

They might well have done - I must have missed it (not a ballet I'm keen on). I'm remembering a triple bill in around 2008 with Firebird and Petrushka (danced by Alexander Campbell at some performances IIRC). I think the third ballet was Baiser de la Fee or Snow Maiden, possibly by Kudelka - have I made it up?!

Very pleased to see BRB return to Edinburgh. I might be wrong but I don't think they have visited since around 2008.

Unusual (and a welcome change) to have the casting come out so early.

2 hours ago, Jan McNulty said:

 

Yes, that's the R&J Joan.  Christopher Gable produced it and Massimo Moricone did the choreography.  The first time I saw the production was the Saturday afternoon performance in Blackpool during its 1st season.

The first ballet I ever saw, aged 7 in 1994! 

Jonathan Cope was meant to make his planned farewell in Firebird - although ended up coming onstage on crutches after a motorcycle accident. (So I hope I haven't jinxed this one by making plans to see it!). 

I've made travel and accommodation arrangements for his 'Month' anyway - in 'due course' it's likely that trains and hotels will be more expensive. I feel very fortunate that I am also at his R&J tomorrow.

Before I start booking trains and hotels- can we assume that the Month he is doing with Morera on 30 April will be his farewell with RB? He starts at Northern Ballet the following week.

I think part of the issue with people leaning forward is that it is actively encouraged in many West End theatres. Tickets are sold with the instruction 'restricted view, lean forward' or similar. I'm sure that around 20 years ago, the ROH sold some seats on the same basis, and that overall there's a lingering perception that it's an OK thing to do, with little understanding that it can almost completely obscure the view of those behind you.

1 minute ago, art_enthusiast said:

Thanks for your response to my question about the cloakrooms being open. I wanted to ask if there are also lockers available in them - to store laptops for example?

Hi, in the past I've left all sorts in the cloakrooms at the ROH including a suitcase. There was a time when they discouraged leaving luggage, but yesterday when I left my coat, the member of staff said I could leave anything I wanted! It's not like at a museum though where there are coin operated lockers, but I doubt they will turn away your laptop and I'm sure it will be safe.

3 hours ago, bridiem said:

 

I did get an email about the Takada/Naghdi change.

I didn't - how odd.

Hello, is anyone selling a good SCS? There are plenty of tickets left in the amphitheatre but the prices are eye-watering.

Just to add that I've had a very swift and satisfactory response and resolution from both todaytix and ENB. 

Hi, if you reply to the email they sent you, it's a proper support email as opposed to a 'no reply'.

The same thing has just happened to me - for the Friday matinee which I had already heard through this forum had become a schools' matinee. I've emailed to request a refund as a opposed to a credit note. 

Which performance had you booked?

I think what is curious here is that the cancellation of the matinee on 14 Jan doesn't appear to be due to Covid - so I think Sheila might have expected a fuller explanation from the Coliseum or ENB as to why it had changed purpose, from public to relaxed to schools performance, at such short notice when she and others had already made plans in good faith to attend. 

Secondly, it's worth pointing out that I have also booked for that performance and haven't yet been contacted. 

25 minutes ago, SheilaC said:

Maybe, but it wasn't when I bought the ticket on 24 September, and a second ticket a few days later.

Same here, Sheila, and like you, I've already booked trains (the return portion on the Sunday of which has been cancelled) and hotel for a weekend which includes 4 Raymondas, R&J at ROH, and Belle Sauvage at The Bridge. I'm beginning to think it's all doomed but it's not easy to work out which commitments I would be able to get my money back for if I chose to cancel the weekend as opposed to if regulations forced it - so at the moment it feels like I need to plod on and keep changing my plans to keep up with the latest developments.

I'm thanking the gods of silver linings that I managed to see it on Friday - but that's of little importance in the grand scheme of things! 

I'm not sure it's been mentioned anywhere (perhaps in today's links) that Scottish Ballet has had to cancel a swathe of Nutcrackers from end of December to mid Jan (at least) due to new restrictions in Scotland. 

8 minutes ago, bangorballetboy said:

 

 

I imagine it will take some time for them to be processed.

 

Indeed - the box office team are as likely as any other to have been hit by Covid absences. 

31 minutes ago, art_enthusiast said:

Just watched a few clips of the House on YouTube - very interesting historical look at the ROH and the different experiences and problems encountered by the RB and RO. 
Is there a thread about it potentially?

There is an accompanying book written by Kate Mosse. Long out of print but worth tracking down.

4 hours ago, alison said:

When does Christina Arestis get her medal?  She's contemporary with Ed Watson, so must be due for one.

Did she have time out for maternity leave? Not sure whether that would have paused the clock.