Something rotten in the state of theatre ticket sales

[captivebird]

So this morning I capitulated and, against my own better judgement, bought Orange membership for the Barbican in order to procure a ticket to see Benedict Cumberbatch play Hamlet in autumn 2015.

Comments

[quarryquest]

x2 what you say. The first time I watched Sherlock I said to myself 'that man will make a great Hamlet' and were there not so much media interest / female screaming I would have gone to see him. I feel some sort of manipulation going on around their leading man and the ones they wish to get to buy the tickets. There is no way I will know where I am likely to be in autumn 2015 and I couldn't really afford that anyway. You'll have to tell me how it is and I hope bits of it will get out on-line.

[captivebird]

It's all more than a bit not good. I really resent having to commit and pay up so far in advance. Hopefully there will be a filmed performance - maybe even a dvd for those like yourself who have to miss out. If BC agrees to it, you can be sure that they'll want to make yet more money out of the production that way! One thing is for sure - you'll hear all about it online.

[grigorisgirl]

'Tis a digrace indeed and doubtless more tickets will be "released" at a later date.
I'm sure they won't ID you but it does indeed stink.

[rakspatel]

You are better than me!

I don't like the Barbican at all, they rarely put on theatre I want to see, and so I have not purchased a membership. On principle I refuse to purchase membership for a theatre for the sole purpose of seeing just one particular production.

Due to the ticket frenzy surrounding this production, and the desperate clamour for tickets, I have basically resigned myself to missing this production.

To be honest, I am more interested in, and excited to see what BC can do with Richard III. That is the TV version, which everyone will get to see, and so I am just looking forward to that!

And of course, I am also very excited about seeing BC play Alan Turing in The Imitation Game. Again, that will be out out across cinemas, so everyone will get to see it.

Finally the fact that you cannot give your ticket to a friend or a family member in the event you are unable to go due to circumstances outside of your control is quite frankly ludicrous!

[captivebird]

I wanted to remain strong and principled - but ultimately failed because I knew I'd really regret not seeing it, and my options were already severely limited by needing to get a Saturday matinee ticket on those few dates unlikely to coincide with family commitments. Actually I think that being more flexible with dates and times than myself you will still be able to get a ticket through public booking early next week. But the Barbican seem to be catering for international fans flying in to spend an entire week watching this play, and are cashing in accordingly.

Yes, am also probably more excited about both other big projects that you mention. Was pleased to hear that he'll be playing Richard III throughout the new Hollow Crown series i.e. will also be seen in Henry VI parts ii and iii. And as for The Imitation Game - such an important film - I think he's, quite rightly, going to break our hearts with his portrayal of AT.

[rakspatel]

As predicted, by the time I got home from work, ALL the tickets were sold out!

Still, at the end of the day, my dream ticket was Ralph Fiennes playing Prospero in The Tempest at the Theatre Royal Haymarket - one of my most beloved actors, fave Shakespeare play, fave theatre. I got to see that 3 times. So I'm not complaining!

[captivebird]

There are still the promised £10 tickets to look out for next year sometime? Supposedly 100 for each performance. But it really has been the most peculiarly unsatisfactory business. I'm sure Benedict himself must be shocked by the scary speed of ticket uptake. The amount of money that the production has raked in so far in advance... The amount of money that some fans must've spent intending to travel around the world and see the play multiple times... It boggles belief. I sincerely hope that a live screening/dvd is planned to placate those who have missed out.

[kehlen]

This reminds me of a situation several years ago, when I was visiting friends in Boston and intended to go back to New York by bus. Quite naturally, the first line we checked out (for the historical value of experience if nothing else) was the GrayHound. We ended up booking something else though after encountering draconian restrictions quite similar to those you have just described. Not only was the ticket more expensive than those offered by the competitor companies, named and non-transferable, there was also a booking fee of about half the ticket price in case where it was bought on your behalf by someone else (as my friends insisted they do). We considered it not worth it. (But I still want to go GrayHound somewhere one day

[captivebird]

I think being on the front row for Richard III is proving to be rather a mixed blessing. Many reports of the closest members of the audience being deluged in stage blood during a particularly messy murder scene! My daughter has a front row, on stage, seat when she goes to see it. I have warned her not to wear her best clothes... :-))

To travel on a Greyhound bus is such an iconic thing to do in the States. I hope you get your chance another time.

[kehlen]

The company have promised to publish a splatter pattern somewhere =))) I will try to find it before that one time I am also on the front row of the stage seating.

[captivebird]

If you find a link to that splatter pattern, do let me know! :-))