...to love that I can watch the fabulous Hamilton for under a tenner

[CoRhona]

I signed up to Disney Plus for a month just to watch this, I really enjoyed it. I have watched it both with and without subtitles to make sure I got every word

There are so many I'd love to see but when we took the kids to see Matilda and Oliver years ago it cost an absolute fortune.

Wish all shows were online (not necessarily D+), I've seen some on NT live and ALW's musicals during lockdown but there must be loads more!

Good for you. I’ve seen it in the theatre and on telly. Theatre was a phenomenal experience. Tv, sure not bad but it’s the difference between being a Glastonbury or watching the tv highlights. Deffo better in person.

Couldn't agree more, I fully agree the 'electricity' wouldn't be there as if we'd seen it live. Still awesome though.

The National Theatre is currently streaming Amadeus on YouTube for free for a few days - fully recommend if you find yourself at a loose end one evening as it’s a fabulous production

It costs a fortune because of the hundreds of people involved who need paying - not just in stage but backstage, technical, front of house , development team, set and costume construction and on and on. Online sales won’t pay all that. Hamilton can do it, and ALW (though you couldn’t pay ME to watch most of his stuff) because they Know they can take the money in the theatre. Online isn’t Ever going to be really profitable

Isn't it wonderful? Im already on my 3rd watch!

Online isn’t Ever going to be really profitable

I wish there were a way it could be. I benefit from any productions with subtitles and although it will never be the same, it's worth it to me not to have to travel somewhere and (all too often) end up in a seat where I have a restricted view or where the seat is so tiny that it's very uncomfortable.

That said, at the moment, it's not worth any of the organisations ensuring better streaming (where they host it themselves rather than YouTube) and I'd be very reluctant to part with a substantial sum of money to view something, only to encounter streaming problems. (This has happened a number of time with the Met Opera productions which tend to be available at midnight UK time and up for 23 hours so when their streaming doesn't work then you lose the opportunity to see it.)

There’s definitely a case for some form of streaming, Embarrassing , but it has to be second string to live performances if money is to be made.

I never thought I’d like it but I’ve watched it twice! If it’s still on when this is all over I’ll be going to see it for sure.

I tried it but it left me cold. Mind you I'm not a musical fan at the best of times.

@Sparklesocks thanks for that!! I do love Mozart so I'll have a butcher's at that tonight.

Oooh I watched it last night and it did not disappoint! Settled in with cheese and biscuits and wine, sheer bliss 😊 felt like such a treat!

I have to be honest...I didn’t really get it. I also signed up for Disney this month mostly for this as I’d heard such good things. But I was a bit underwhelmed. I’m sure i would enjoy it more at the theatre, atmosphere and all, but tickets are so expensive (I think??) I’m not sure I’m fussed now. Not sure why. Felt the same about Wicked, which I did see in the theatre and everyone raves about.

I’m with you. I didn’t get to see it on stage, and now I’m addicted!

I heard Matilda might have a recording at some point and the Wicked movie is sort of in the works. Can’t wait

I can understand people signing up to D+ because they like Disney or Marvel. There is also a lot of National Geographic for the nature fans. Star Wars fans have a point too as after they have dried up the films, they have the Mandalorian afterwards.

However, it baffles me to pin-point 1 musical (Hamilton). What do you do after the 1st month dries up? Pay £6 for a 2nd month? It's like paying £11.99 for a Now album but you only like 1 song out of the 40 songs.

I just watched it on Disney + too. Completely brilliant, and amazing how a pretty dull topic can be made so exciting. Loved the development of Hamilton vs. Burr/dynamics between the sisters. Daveed Daniele Diggs is great/choreography etc. The music really stays with you.

Of course it'll never be as good as seeing it at the theatre, but considering that's not an option at the moment, the film is a good compromise. I loved having the subtitles on too - actually knowing what they're singing does help with figuring out where the plot is going!

@TrickorTreacle

I can understand people signing up to D+ because they like Disney or Marvel. There is also a lot of National Geographic for the nature fans. Star Wars fans have a point too as after they have dried up the films, they have the Mandalorian afterwards.

However, it baffles me to pin-point 1 musical (Hamilton). What do you do after the 1st month dries up? Pay £6 for a 2nd month? It's like paying £11.99 for a Now album but you only like 1 song out of the 40 songs.

You can cancel after the first month?!

I’ve watched it 3 times with my daughter, absolutely loved it, loved all the songs, the dancing. I would love to see it at the theatre, hopefully it will come back to the west End.

@cardibach

It costs a fortune because of the hundreds of people involved who need paying - not just in stage but backstage, technical, front of house , development team, set and costume construction and on and on. Online sales won’t pay all that. Hamilton can do it, and ALW (though you couldn’t pay ME to watch most of his stuff) because they Know they can take the money in the theatre. Online isn’t Ever going to be really profitable

But many more people can access it online, so the reduced price is offset by more people watching it. And those additional people don't cost any more, as they are not occupying a theatre you have to hire.

And they only have to perform it once, instead of for weeks/months, touring to different cities.

Of course it can be profitable to do it online. Otherwise no films/television would be made either, which need all the cast and crew too.

I’m with you!
Only saw part of it as my husband had already started watching , knowing that I loathe musicals.
I was bloody hooked!
I’m watching the whole thing again at the weekend.
I love that theatres are putting their shows out live.
I’ll always love to go to the theatre but in these times.. yay!!!

Sorry... not ‘live’ but you know what I mean.

I am watching it again this weekend and I am totally hooked - I have played the soundtrack in my car so much it is stuck in my head all day! Fabulous.

I love it! We already had tickets to see it at the theatre which was obviously cancelled but hopefully we'll see it next year. I'm looking forward to it even more now I've seen it on TV and will know all the words by the time I see it (will not sing along though even though that will be hard)

Of course it’s not a workable model to only stream musicals. The ticket sales couldn’t possibly account for the all the people involved, the writers, the actors the musicians, the costumes, the set, the rehearsal period. And what are all the people who work in theatre supposed to do between shows? They need to work every day to earn money just as everyone else does!

However, it baffles me to pin-point 1 musical (Hamilton). What do you do after the 1st month dries up? Pay £6 for a 2nd month? It's like paying £11.99 for a Now album but you only like 1 song out of the 40 songs.

Well, you could cancel your subscription, or, even if it ran for 6 months, it would still be less than even 2 of you getting tickets to the theatre (before travel / parking / drinks etc). But, once you've got it, you can watch anything else on there that you want. You can also share your password with another household, so the value goes on and on.
It really isn't the same as your example.

I was comparing a D+ sub to see Hamilton to buying it on DVD / blu-ray, not going to the theatre. That's the £6 / £12 territory.

Going to the theatre is another kettle of fish, and of course I would pay £100+ for a ticket / travel / food etc to see Hamilton on stage.

@rosiejaune it sounds like you don’t really want there to be any live theatre at all.
And they only have to perform it once, instead of for weeks/months, touring to different cities. Of course it can be profitable to do it online. Otherwise no films/television would be made either, which need all the cast and crew too
Live theatre and tv/film are two different things. Shows/plays being performed many times develops performances. Live performance is a different experience. They aren’t comparable at all.
Live theatre will never make money streamed because it’s different.