Two Pigeons Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 (edited) I seem to be the first person to raise this issue but I am very disappointed by a significant change to the performances at the Birmingham Hippodrome for this year. Pre Covid I bought 2 front stalls seats for Don Q for June last year. When lockdown cut in refunds were offered, although I understand it was quite onerous to actually achieve this. We were sent the usual plea to leave the money with the Hippodrome as a gesture of support until plans were clearer. About a couple of months ago I exchanged them for 2 tickets for Nutcracker this coming November. I wanted them for 2 family members, 1 of whom has never been to live ballet. I did this in the belief that they would have the experience of the full, glorious, production. Yesterday I received an e-mail saying that what us being presented this year is actually the cut down Royal Albert Hall version, complete with virtual Simon Callow. To this extent the first 4 rows of the front stalls are being reinstated. To this effect the only options are 1) move further forward or 2) lump it. The sweetener is that the production is being refurbished for the 2022 season. No indication of any refunds being available. I very much hope my family members will enjoy what us being presented but I have to say that I feel rather cheated by it all. I see Fiona Allen is leaving the Hippodrome for Opera Australia. I hope this isn't due to embarrassment! Edited August 13, 2021 by Two Pigeons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 My email only came today, just as I was going out. I'm not a happy bunny as my previously front-row seats are now 5 rows back without a rake! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Pigeons Posted August 13, 2021 Author Share Posted August 13, 2021 I think this is another severe test of loyalty to the company I have watched since May 1979. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 I've just taken advantage of the telephone number in the email and have elected to go back to row G which I have usually found OK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulcinella Posted August 13, 2021 Share Posted August 13, 2021 I'm also disappointed with this change. I had tickets for this in 2019 which, of course, was cancelled. I elected to hold them over to last year and then again to this year. Having moved away from Birmingham three years ago I had decided not to see Nutcracker again, having seen it more times than I can count since it was first produced, but when my son, who now lives in London, said he would like to see it again we agreed to meet halfway between where we both live. He didn't want to see it at the RAH, partly cost and partly because it wouldn't be the original production. Now he's stuck with what he didn't want to see. It sounds from the email that we won't be getting the stunning transformation scene when the fireplace turns round but "projections " instead. I feel short changed! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawnstar Posted August 14, 2021 Share Posted August 14, 2021 13 hours ago, Pulcinella said: I'm also disappointed with this change. I had tickets for this in 2019 which, of course, was cancelled. When was it cancelled in 2019? I definitely saw it on 5th December 2019 so was it later in the run that was cancelled & if so then why? It can't have been due to covid as that didn't hit the news until January 2020. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Pigeons Posted August 14, 2021 Author Share Posted August 14, 2021 With the greatest respect it really is not the issue which years were involved. My key point is that I have paid for one product which has subsequently been replaced with another. Pulcinella is in the same situation. As I turns out my family members are content to go with the flow but I do feel that this is a case where the opportunity for a refund should be at least extended to customers. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted August 14, 2021 Share Posted August 14, 2021 I know a lot of people who have been affected by this change. Although I haven't cancelled it's only due to ballet-watching starvation! Given that the Big Give happens in December I cannot understand why it has taken until August to notify patrons of the change. Surely BRB must have had an estimated timescale for the refurbishment? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawnstar Posted August 14, 2021 Share Posted August 14, 2021 4 hours ago, Two Pigeons said: With the greatest respect it really is not the issue which years were involved. I'm just very confused to read that a run of production was cancelled when I saw a performance in that run. I went & double-checked my theatregoing list to make sure I did see it in December 2019 as it made me doubt my own recall. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Pigeons Posted August 14, 2021 Author Share Posted August 14, 2021 I have had moments like that when l completely lose confidence in my memories. I have excused them as a sign of rapidly advancing age! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawnstar Posted August 14, 2021 Share Posted August 14, 2021 I'm only 36 so don't have that excuse yet! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted August 14, 2021 Share Posted August 14, 2021 I actually thought it was 2019 that had been cancelled but mainly because 2020 has disappeared from my consciousness. I did see Nutcracker in 2019 too. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulcinella Posted August 14, 2021 Share Posted August 14, 2021 10 hours ago, Dawnstar said: When was it cancelled in 2019? I definitely saw it on 5th December 2019 so was it later in the run that was cancelled & if so then why? It can't have been due to covid as that didn't hit the news until January 2020. Sorry, I got my timeline muddled, blame getting older and the pandemic going on for so long it almost seems like longer. What I meant was just having carried my tickets over from last year. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Pigeons Posted August 17, 2021 Author Share Posted August 17, 2021 I have today received a glossy brochure from the Hippodrome announcing its reopening and listing forthcoming productions with the appropriate dates. The Nutcracker is listed but there is absolutely no indication that it isn't the usual version. If I can find e-mail contact details for Carlos Acosta or Fiona Allen I will notify them of my feelings. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 I don't know about Fiona Allen but if Carlos Acosta has a standard BRB email the format would be: carlosacosta@brb.org.uk ( https://www.brb.org.uk/the-company/staff ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Pigeons Posted August 17, 2021 Author Share Posted August 17, 2021 Thanks Janet. I will give it a go tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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