Has anyone been to the theatre and felt it was overrated?

[flowersintheatticus]

I know going to the theatre is a regular thing for mumsnet, but geographically this isn't possible so going is a really big thing and will require a lot of money, not just for the tickets but for travel there and back. My teens haven't been and I feel I want to give them the experience. I checked out our nearest place and there is a short clip of each of the performances. One of them is a childhood favourite book/tv adaption and thought that would be a good one to go for. However the clip was very underwhelming. I'm sure the acting/set/effects are great but it didn't do anything for me. I'm not sure if it's because the characters look nothing like the tv ones or that the animal character was just a head, but I felt no inclination to watch and I think if I'd gone in person I'd be disappointed.

If you expect theatre productions to be like TV, you’re bound to be disappointed. There are limitations to what can be done on a stage with continuous viewing which don’t apply to film or TV, where each scene can be recorded dozens of times with long shots and close-ups for the best shot, and special effects added in afterwards.

I go to the theatre in London frequently - always the cheapest seats and often in out of the way pub-theatres or fringe productions. Some are amazing, some are ok-ish, and occasionally, I pick a dud. In general, if I’m interested in the topic, the experience is good, even if the venue is iffy. I love the Royal Opera and Ballet, but I get that both opera and ballet may be a bit niche if you have no experience of theatre. The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at the Globe is quite a nice experience (all by candlelight), and I do find that National Theatre productions are excellently done. I see The Lehman Trilogy is on at the Gillian Lynn Theatre again, and that is brilliant. In summer, there are a lot of outdoor productions in parks, which are great - you take a picnic and then enjoy the show. Fiddler on the Roof in Regent’s Park was amazing.

My advice is, ditch your expectations, choose something that looks interesting to you, and then soak it up as an entirely different experience.

The Theatre Royal in Newcastle upon Tyne gave me my love of theatre. Awesome place.

But not even the Theatre Royal, the RSC, and Charles Dance in his prime in the titular role could save the pile of kack that is Shakespeare's worst play Coriolanus.

So as pp have said: a tad disappointing in an interesting and memorable way rather than 'overrated'. And Shakespeare (whether the man or the collective) is certainly not overrated.

I fell asleep watching Wicked

Now That’s What I Call A Musical was outstanding from start to finish. Transfixing and transported me right back to the 80’s. Very moving! I hope I can see this again one day.

Jesus Christ Superstar feels like it’s for atheists to me! Surely it would offend a properly Christian type?

My question isn't specific to this production (as I know I don't like it from the short clip) but more has anyone felt that going to the theatre is overrated.

So, you’re asking if theatre as a form of entertainment is overrated? No. If you’re not a fan, you’re not a fan. Some people don’t read for pleasure. It doesn’t mean books are overrated.

Absolutely not. I love the theatre, and there is no substitute for the connection you make with the actors performing live right in front of you. The show is different every night, so each performance is unique. An online clip doesn't begin to convey the excitement and atmosphere. Take your kids, OP, and let them decide for themselves

I loved that production of "Oklahoma" - they got a standing ovation the night I was there. It took away all the sugary stuff and made it much more interesting.

The only show I have paid big money for was Hamilton, as a present for D.C.

Hated it. Boring, tacky musical theatre version of grime, etc.

But I go to all sorts of theatre at smaller scale venues in London. There are always £20 tix in advance at the National, various websites you can sign up to to get very good value tickets (I usually pay £25, not more than £35 in the W End).

But it is much easier if you live close to somewhere that gets a good range of excellent home grown or touring shows (e.g Chichester, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol, in England)

I love the theatre…..my mum took me to Stratford upon Avon when I was 16 to see a midsummer nights dream and I was hooked……my all time best ever was Jodie Comer in Prime Facie…..no one could have watched that and been underwhelmed…..I go to the Royal Court in Liverpool ….. i saw more than 10 shows last year
……local shows made by local people…..often based on a local historical event ….some hilarious…..some very thought prokoving…..I,m rarely disappointed….and these shows cost around 35 quid a head with dinner included…….I go to London 3 to 4 times a year….always see a show……get last minute cheap seats…..I go watch the 3rd year drama students put shows on in big theatres ( usually May time…..where talent agents attend) ……seeing the talent of tomorrow ….and these shows are free!
its fine not to like theatre…..but it doesn’t have to be expensive

has anyone felt that going to the theatre is overrated

I haven't.. but I love the theatre! I go a lot mainly to productions in London so I guess much more choice.. mostly I enjoy it

@Kitkat1523
My mum to me to Stratford as a teenager too.. loved it! Also love the Liverpool theatres as I grew up there

I love theatre, though I do tend to pick carefully and wait for the reviews before booking anything. I also live in London and can check around for deals so can usually manage to see stuff without paying full price. I was disappointed with Matilda, but I think that was mostly because the audience behaviour was awful.

The point is we all like different things (I loved "Hamilton" and "Matilda") and dislike different things (I loathed "Wicked" and "Six"). But the experience of that shared, collective moment is always special.... even when you have to grit your teeth through the shriek-fest that is "Wicked" 😂 You always get something out of your visit.

I live in London and go to the theatre at least once a month, although usually with a friend rather than with my teens. I probably take my teens 4 times a year.

I have seen amazing productions and boring ones. But by and large I mostly love everything.

My one tip I would give is the get the best seats. Cheap seats up in the gods are really not worth it and you’d be better off watching a NT Live production at your local cinema.

War Horse is touring at the moment. My teens absolutely loved this so I highly recommend if it’s coming to a theatre near you.

See, this is style sort of thing that puts people off. It wasn’t ‘awful’. It’s incredibly well written and produced and all t( casts are madly talented. It wasn’t to your taste, which is absolute ine, but it’s people saying this or that was ‘awful’ that puts people off.

Yes - and if it's been an expensive trip it often feels worse.

Even local amateur shows have worked out pricy when we took all of us - thought the show was excellent.

We looked at west end shows when we had trip with teens to London - and in end did the Globe - which they were unenthusiastic about but loved - even the one who studied the play and hated it loved it.

When it a good show - it's fantastic but it is a risk.

We used to think cinema less of a risk and cheaper - but it now costs to get there and ticket prices for all of us are expensive and then there are so many dreadful films which often seem to have misleading reviews. Recently seen more at local arts center - they get the films very quickly these days - and it walkable there and back - and tickets are 2.50 - 3.50 so if it a bad film it a few hours and under £20.

If you thin’ it’s having a go at Mormons, you missed the point a bit. They get it though - the6 advertise 8n the programme and have people outside handing out info.

I was very underwhelmed by Superstar as well. Terrible acting which rendered it meaningless. Whatever one’s beliefs it should be moving.

I go to the theatre three or four times a year. Some better than others, but live theatre is not overrated in my opinion.

You are paying too much. I’ve never paid over £50for a West End ticket, not even the first month of Hamilton or Cabaret when it was Eddie Redmayne…

I don't like adaptions of TV or film. They are never the same and can pale in comparison.
Go see something written for the stage, Shakespeare, or Oscar Wilde. Anything over 50 years old will depend on good acting rather than staging tricks, and will be much more engaging.

How do you do that and are the seats in the gods or restricted view?

Avoid TV adaptations. Somebody doing an impression of Del Boy or Captain Mainwaring is never going to be as good as the real thing. Go and see a real play. I've often enjoyed local am dram as much as West End productions, not because they were objectively as good but because expectations were lower!

@Bleachbum you don't need the absolute best seats for most things, the row in front/behind won't be much different to the premium seats, but yes I do enjoy stuff more from the stalls or royal circle than further back. If I am paying full price I don't pay more than £100 a ticket and can usually get something decent, if not I hope for rush/sales or wait until the hype has died down.

@cardibach don't keep it to yourself then, how do you get to see a West End show on a Saturday night for less than £50?