BRB Nutcracker at RAH cancelled & Brum Rep looking at options (now online)

[bridiem]

 

From Twitter:

'It is with great disappointment that we have had to cancel Birmingham Royal Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker at the Royal Albert Hall this year. 

 

The government restrictions from 2 December will limit public attendance at indoor events to 1,000 people which makes it financially impossible to stage a production of this scale. We had been determined to share The Nutcracker this year and had been investigating various options including a streamed performance, but the costs were just too great to make this a viable option.

 

The Royal Albert Hall have been in contact with bookers this afternoon with further information about their tickets.'

[Bruce Wall]

A sad marker of the time.  We all look forward to a happier future.  Perhaps BRB can do a streamed performance from Birmingham.  

[Jan McNulty]

I know I wasn't going but that is dreadfully sad for all of us.

 

I wonder if the Rep performances in Birmingham will be able to go ahead (opening on 14th December).

 

How does this bode for RB and ENB?

[alison]

Well, the capacity of the Royal Opera House and Coliseum is 2000+, so I suppose theoretically that means they can play to nearly 50% capacity.  The Albert Hall is around the 5000 mark, which will make a huge difference.

[Guest oncnp]

Bad news for the RAH generally (capacity 5,272) as they've canceled everything in the main hall through the end of Feb 2021

[Sim]

Oh dear.  I feel so sorry for the dancers, who were really looking forward to this.  So were many of us.  I am getting so dang sick of all this now.  A year lost from the careers of so many young artists; when those careers are short, a year is a very long time.  

[Fiz]

I’ve been thinking this for sometime, Sim. 

[capybara]

Devastated for the dancers and all at BRB.

Sending love and hope you might read this.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 25, 2020 by capybara

[Richard LH]

I wonder why they couldn't just use the lower part(s) of the RAH auditorium with 1000 people and make it worthwhile?

[Guest oncnp]

8 minutes ago, Richard LH said:

I wonder why they couldn't just use the lower part(s) of the RAH auditorium with 1000 people and make it worthwhile?

 

As I read it (perhaps incorrectly) the production isn't financially viable with (only) 1,000 people per performance. 

[capybara]

22 minutes ago, Richard LH said:

I wonder why they couldn't just use the lower part(s) of the RAH auditorium with 1000 people and make it worthwhile?

The cost of hiring the RAH is astronomical. 
Any organisation using it needs a near capacity audience to break even.

[Sim]

54 minutes ago, oncnp said:

 

As I read it (perhaps incorrectly) the production isn't financially viable with (only) 1,000 people per performance. 

That’s right.  Even if they put 1,000 people downstairs, it wouldn’t have covered the cost of putting on the performances.   So very sad.  😢

[Sim]

3 hours ago, Fiz said:

I’ve been thinking this for sometime, Sim. 

So have I, Fiz.   😢

[Richard LH]

52 minutes ago, capybara said:

The cost of hiring the RAH is astronomical. 
Any organisation using it needs a near capacity audience to break even.

Normally I'm sure that would be so, but surely the RAH can't expect to get "normal" hire fees at present....as it is, having cancelled everything to the end of Feb, they won't be getting any hire fee income at all.

[Guest oncnp]

2 minutes ago, Richard LH said:

Normally I'm sure that would be so, but surely the RAH can't expect to get "normal" hire fees at present....as it is, having cancelled everything to the end of Feb, they won't be getting any hire fee income at all.

 

They are trying to avoid further losses. From the RAH website re: Nutcracker

 

This limit makes it financially impossible to stage a production of this scale, especially at a time when both the Royal Albert Hall and Birmingham Royal Ballet have suffered losses of tens of millions of pound

[Guest oncnp]

Sky news reporting Tier 3 for Birmingham so would appear they've lost the whole run. Terrible esp considering it has also been reported that not one case can be traced back to attending a performance. 

Edited November 26, 2020 by oncnp

[FionaM]

13 hours ago, Richard LH said:

Normally I'm sure that would be so, but surely the RAH can't expect to get "normal" hire fees at present....as it is, having cancelled everything to the end of Feb, they won't be getting any hire fee income at all.

the RAH need those fees to cover their own costs.  Theatres, companies and freelancers all haemorrhaging money at this time.   I guess they can limit their losses if they are closed ... through furlough.  

 

I applaud Carlos Acosta and BRB for trying 👏

 

I was about to book too!  In negotiation with family about dates ... and then wham.  Excitement over.

Edited November 26, 2020 by FionaE

[Jan McNulty]

1 hour ago, oncnp said:

Sky news reporting Tier 3 for Birmingham so would appear they've lost the whole run. Terrible esp considering it has also been reported that not one case can be traced back to attending a performance. 

 

Devastating news for all concerned.  If anyone can work out some of the logic behind the the tier system and the virus going away for Christmas please let me know.

[bangorballetboy]

I find this map quite useful in understanding matters.  Pleased to see there is no longer solid purple line across the north of England.

[capybara]

Heartbroken for BRB now that Birmingham is Tier 3.

 

[Jan McNulty]

BRB and The Rep are looking at options:

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIDZ_R6qWne/

 

https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/news/update-the-nutcracker-at-the-rep.html

[Shade]

Could they perform elsewhere in a lower tier region?

[Bex does ballet]

That’s exactly what I was wondering, probably wishful thinking but it was on my mind 

[Bruce Wall]

Surely they would be able to do a streaming relay .... or perhaps a series of relays and do as The Old Vic has done (reportedly successfully) with a number of their productions under a similar remit.  Hopefully that would generate a similar amount of income for the Company.  Perhaps even more which would be a grand - and well deserved - bonus. 

[Guest oncnp]

50 minutes ago, Bruce Wall said:

S or perhaps a series of relays and do as The Old Vic has done (reportedly successfully) 

 

Do you know if the Old Vic (or anyone else) has actually made money on their streamings? 

Edited November 26, 2020 by oncnp

[Bruce Wall]

19 minutes ago, oncnp said:

 

Do you know if the Old Vic (or anyone else) has actually made money on their streamings? 

 

I don't know - which is why I said 'reportedly'.  On their website they suggest they have been successful ... but it's hard to know in reality how that is defined.  Certainly they have gone on to do a variety of productions in the streaming format since the pandemic began - and are re-releasing a number of those same under their 'Playback' series.  

Edited November 26, 2020 by Bruce Wall

[Guest oncnp]

13 minutes ago, Bruce Wall said:

 

I don't know - which is why I said 'reportedly'.  On their website they suggest they have been successful ... but it's hard to know in reality how that is defined.  Certainly they have gone on to do a variety of productions in the streaming format since the pandemic began - and are re-releasing a number of those same under their 'Playback' series.  

 

Thanks! I haven't heard of any organization saying they are making money on streaming. Streaming is done for more than just financial reasons of course but was thinking that if the BRB is keen to avoid losses streaming might not be the answer for them. Hopefully the situation improves when the tiers are reviewed. 

[FionaM]

https://www.brb.org.uk/whats-on/event/the-nutcracker-at-the-rep-online
 

So, it’s online .... a separate livestream 18/12 and afterwards an on-demand 19-24 but you have to buy the ticket by 21/12 latest.  Too complicated in my view ... people will forget and miss it, and that’s assuming they actually read the details in the first place.

 

I've lots more questions, and wondering what the thinking is.  Hoping some on here have insights to share:

 

1).  Why is there a separate charge for the livestream vs the on-demand?  Asides from wanting to maximise revenue?   Maybe separate providers?  It will make me choose one or the other ....

 

2) why is the on demand only available for 3 days from activation?

 

 

 

[bangorballetboy]

11 minutes ago, FionaE said:

https://www.brb.org.uk/whats-on/event/the-nutcracker-at-the-rep-online
 

So, it’s online .... a separate livestream 18/12 and afterwards an on-demand 19-24 but you have to buy the ticket by 21/12 latest.  Too complicated in my view ... people will forget and miss it, and that’s assuming they actually read the details in the first place.

 

 

 

Some people do read the details.  Some people have diaries.  I also note that those who had booked tickets to see the show live have received emails setting out their options, one of which is to buy the live-stream and have the remainder of their ticket price refunded.

 

11 minutes ago, FionaE said:

 

1).  Why is there a separate charge for the livestream vs the on-demand?  Asides from wanting to maximise revenue?   Maybe separate providers?  It will make me choose one or the other ....

 

 

If it is to maximise revenue, what's wrong with that?  There will be different systems in use, I'm sure, but I see no problem in asking people to make a choice.  After all, the cinema and a DVD cost about the same (well, they do in bits of London anyway) - one allows you to see something once, the other on demand.  Not a lot of difference here.

 

11 minutes ago, FionaE said:

 

2) why is the on demand only available for 3 days from activation?

 

 

Because it is.  When you "rent" a film from Amazon, why do you only have access for 7 days?

[alison]

22 minutes ago, FionaE said:

https://www.brb.org.uk/whats-on/event/the-nutcracker-at-the-rep-online
 

So, it’s online .... a separate livestream 18/12 and afterwards an on-demand 19-24 but you have to buy the ticket by 21/12 latest.  Too complicated in my view ... people will forget and miss it, and that’s assuming they actually read the details in the first place.

 

Which is why we have the Community Calendar - so that people like me with a memory like a sieve/too much else to think about have a chance of actually remembering something

Plus I can't see that it says anywhere that you can't buy after the 21st - only that you won't get the full 3 days' worth if you do.  3 days is exactly what ENB have been doing since they started making content available.  Presumably they think it ought to be enough to watch a 80-minute film in.

[alison]

Hoping against hope that I approve of the casting - but I have no idea whether we shall get that announced in advance, especially if Birmingham is in Tier 3.

[capybara]

Just thrilled to bits that we shall see this production and that I shan't miss it because I have a ticket for ENB's Nutcracker Delights on the 18th.

 

 

[Jan McNulty]

Just seen the casting on Facebook - Clara is Karla Doorbar (love her in role), Prince is Cesar Morales (love him in role) and Sugar Plum is Momoko Hirata (oh yes!!!).