Theatre Tickets - which day to book to see the main lead?

[LaLaFlottes]

We are looking at some theatre tickets for my birthday.
We fancy seeing My Master Builder with Ewan McGregor. It’s on from April to July, Monday to Saturday. I assume Ewan McGregor doesn’t work 6 days a week for 4 months and there’s maybe sometimes another actor in his role? Or maybe not?
We’d rather see him if possible - would a Saturday quite early on in the run of show dates give us the best chance?

Any insight welcome!

Does the webpage not have info? Quite often it'll say XX does not appear in Y shows. Could be in the main text or could be small print.

@LisaJohnsonsFacebookMole ah great! I couldn’t see anything but will check again. I could also call the theatre I guess!
Thank you 😊

I would expect him to perform a full schedule, unless there is something explicitly different on the website.
BUT. Always be aware that an actor can get sick, and then the understudy will go on. And you won't get a refund, because the ticket is to see the play, not any named performer.

I went to see frozen on a Saturday the month before it closed and it wasn’t the lead playing Elsa 🤷‍♀️ I guess even if he ‘normally’ does Saturdays, he could be on holiday so maybe worth a call to ask.

@Cynic17 thank you 😊. Yes absolutely understand he might get ill - I’m sure we would still enjoy it but trying to minimise the chance of picking the wrong date 😆

@modgepodge thank you - hope you still enjoyed it 😊
I was thinking of booking the first Friday or Saturday it’s on maybe but think I’ll call the theatre to ask!

It is very rare for a leading actor to be off unless they have a long-standing prior commitment or are ill. Joseph Fiennes had a few shows off in Dear England but they were flagged on the website as they were pre-contractual.

It is different in musicals where the lead might have a couple of shows off a week to save their voices.

That is wholly understandable. Live theatre is exciting and if there is an actor whose work you are keen on then of course you want to maximise your chances of seeing them. I hope you do manage to catch his performance!

Could be on holiday? He can’t go on holiday if he’s doing this play can he?

Thank you! It would be so “me” to pick the wrong date 😂. We don’t go to the theatre a lot so it would be quite a treat!

Samantha Barks always posted the days she wouldn't be appearing as Elsa on her Twitter page a number of weeks in advance so might be worth checking there.

I don’t know. To be fair the play is only on 3 months so maybe not. I don’t know how it works, if they have a family commitment or something if they’re allowed a day off or if that’s it they’re tied to being there for those 3 months. I imagine the leads in long running plays are allowed to go on holiday at some point though 😂 it didn’t matter at all to me that it wasn’t Samantha barks, I only noticed because I’d actually heard of her (I never normally know who the leads are in these things so don’t notice if it’s the understudy).