London theatre fans: advance info about Globe productions?
 

I would really like to see a play at the Globe this summer. It seems like I should book tickets as soon as they become available to the general public, but I would like to know something about the productions beforehand, if at all possible. (The last time we were in London in the summer, Titus Andronicus was on stage, luckily with suitable warnings.)

There are three choices for the week we are there, and all are appealing. I don't know anything about the directors themselves. Any ideas on when the Globe announces cast lists?

Or shall I just stop being so uptight?!

I am hoping this might be of help. If it is not, my apologies.

http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/the.../globe-theatre

One can't really know what a production is like or how good it is until it has at least had previews and/or reviews are published (after the run starts)

Knowing what Titus Andronicus is about would scare away a lot of 'squeamish' people. It is a very bloody play.

Having said that, the link Dukey posted does give you brief synopses of the various plays.

>>Or shall I just stop being so uptight?!<< Yeah :) Just pick the play that most appeals.

Thank you both. I'd scoured the Globe website and I'd seen the official descriptions. There was an article about the new artistic director somewhere online too; she doesn't sound ready to go for too much gore the first season, anyway...

I'd kind of like to see MacBeth, but with my family in tow, perhaps an Taming of the Shrew will be safer.

I'm looking forward to seeing a few plays this time around, now that my son is old enough to enjoy it, too.

Must google for some info on the half-price ticket thing.

Usually The Globe productions are all quite nice and in this season they have very famous plays, like Macbeth or A Midsummer Night`s Dream or the Taming of the Shrew. I wouldn`t hesitate to buy the ticket, just choose what would you prefer to see, a comedy or a tragedy or something weird and fantastic. the standing ticket costs only £5 and they all go on sale on 15th of February.

Register on the website for the advance notices of when booking is available and for news of productions. The Globe is a fantastic venue in which to see Shakespeare. You don't say how old your children are, but be aware that the dialogue can sometimes be difficult to follow, so maybe go for a "lighter" style of play for a first time. If they're used to Shakespeare, then go for it.

Some of the theater websites have a filter that you input your dates of visit to see what pops up. I just did that for the Royal Shakespeare Company in May & it works. You can also order RSC tickets online. They have some London but mostly Stratford presentations.

Thanks so much for the further replies. My son is 13 now, and has studied a couple of Shakespeare's plays in school. We took a tour of the Globe when he was 11; he's excited to see a performance this time around. I'm so grateful the season's offerings are more suitable this year (for me, as much as for him).

It's going to be a wonderful week in London, no matter what, but being able to see a play or two will make it different from earlier visits.

Thanks for the advice.

Regents Park Open Air theatre is doing Henry V this summer. They do one or two Shakespeare plays every year, usually excellent.
And then there's Romeo and Juliet by the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company - it it's not already sold out.

Romeo & Juliet has Derek Jacobi, Lilly James (of Downton Abbey and War & Peace fame). Still some tickets available.

Thanks for that, Tulips! My son really enjoyed the film of Henry V (Branagh) - I hope that's on when we are in town. I'm grateful to you for mentioning open-air productions; that wouldn't have occurred to me until much later, if at all. I'm off to google...

Oh. Jesus Christ Superstar.

(That's the play that's on while we're in London, and not an exclamation.)

I'd go see Romeo & Juliet just for Derek Jacobi. We saw him years ago in A Voyage 'Round My Father, and he was terrific--one-man play.

One of the things that we really enjoy is a matinee at the Globe. You can have lunch at one of the outside tables in the Yard (not bookable-get there earlier) if the weather permits. That leaves the evening free to enjoy a different activity or a nice dinner near the river.

Only seats in the outer ring have walls to lean against, the rest are backless benches.

If you are used to seeing Shakespeare presented as sacred text, the Globe is different: rain, poncho crinkling, people unwrapping their burgers and slurping thru straws during the show etc. It's an experience; I wouldn't recommend springing for the highest priced seats.

>>I wouldn't recommend springing for the highest priced seats.<<

au contraire . . .

IME/IMO (after attending the Globe probably 7 or 8 times) one should get the best seats they can afford. The only reasons to get groundling tickets (the standees who can sit on the ground <u>only</u> during the intervals and do the majority of the snacking/slurping) are 1) if you simply can't afford better, or 2) if you plan on leaving early (lots of groundlings give up and abandon ship. Especially on cold nights)

We had seats (benches) and there was eating going on there. Rain affects everyone's experience because it's hard to hear during the ponchos on/off 45 seconds of crinkling, and that cycle can repeat 2 or 3 times.
The Globe is like a Shakespeare in the park experience, for me that's not worth more than 25 pounds. Glad to have gone though, thunder and all.

tom: what the heck you think attending the theatre in Shakespeare's day was like - the ponchos weren't plastic but otherwise it was pretty rowdy. It wasn't like going to church.

The good seats are under the roof so noisy ponchos wouldn't have been an issue if you had forked over the big bucks . . .

Whoa. I'll happily fork out for the best seats available when the tickets go on sale to the general public, but if someone is eating a burger next to me during the performance ... I'm going to have to bring a flask along to help me cope.

>>but if someone is eating a burger next to me during the performance -<<

They won't be

>>I'm going to have to bring a flask along to help me cope.<<

THAT is a good idea ;)