A Little Life

[NooNakedJacuzziness]

I watched Graham Norton last night and one of the guests was James Norton. He said he is appearing in a play of A Little Life soon in London. Apparently it's over 3 hours long. Having read the book (thanks to hearing about it on here) over a few weeks I'm not sure I could cope with such an onslaught of misery in one go, you'd come out needing a very stiff drink!

Anyone planning on seeing it? I'm fascinated by how they'd do it so might try and get tickets.

Or was that a joke that went straight over my head because I've just got up on a Monday morning?

Errr... no. 🤷‍♀️

I just think it would be weird to voluntarily want to see 4 hours of self-harm, suicide attempts and recital/scenes of sexual abuse unless it was to see the very famous star of the show.

I booked tickets to see the play for the whole cast combined (not just JN) and because of the reputation of the book… before it’s first performance (so didn’t fully anticipate the nudity, blood etc although knew the basic storyline).

It was the most amazing powerful performance I’ve ever had the privilege to witness. I loved all 4 hours of it and can’t stop thinking about it. The whole cast were breathtaking and I can’t comprehend how they put themselves through such an intense journey every day!

I’m glad that I went in cold and hadn’t read the book beforehand. No expectations or anything to compare it to.

I have been following the news about the play with interest as I have also read the book.

I'm torn. It is such a heartrending book, I don't regret reading it but I don't think I can say I enjoyed it. I fully believe the pp who said the play is incredible, and I think i do want to watch it but I'm not sure I could put anyone else through it, so I might have to go alone.

£200 a ticket i saw though?

I’m glad that I went with a friend. I needed to digest with someone. My brain was racing afterwards. It was good to talk it through.

It’s still on my mind a few days later.

With regards to some earlier comments about being less developed than the book, I don’t think that theatre or film is supposed to be “the same as” a book.

It’s an adaptation. For instance the character Ana was integral in the play. How she would work in a film I don’t know but I’d be excited to see.
That’s the beauty of theatre. It can be less life-like.

For me, not having read the book, the play was enough as it was and I didn’t feel that any of the characters were under developed.

I agree the whole cast was amazing. Absolutely superb performances all around. But without the incredible acting, it would be utter torture to watch.

@Iamblossom £200 a ticket i saw though?

Look on Ticketswap. That's where I got my ticket for under £30.

Agree x 1000!!

How have I never heard of this website? I’ve just had a look now and there’s tickets for loads of stuff!

Just had a message from a guy I met in London last week.
He told me if you turn up at Theatres and queue in the morning for the box office opening there's often cheap tickets.
Anyway, he did it this morning and got two tickets for tonight for £10 each fir him and his husband.
There were only four for sale, he queued from 8.15am and one other person showed up at 9am for a 10am box office opening.
They are standing tickets though, I had no idea theaters did standing tickets, but there you go.

Might be of use for anyone who wants to go.

There are people who will stand for a four hour play? They must have some stamina.

I'll do it for a gig, so I can see why people do.
Also I think ALL is either sold out or very expensive so I can understand standing if you get to ho and it's only £10.

I went to the Globe once where there were 'groundlings' standing. A few were carried out on stretchers - they had the stretchers handy so it must have happened a lot. It wasn't a very long play but the wooden seats were bad enough. I suppose at a gig you would be moving about and dancing which wouldn't be as bad as standing still.

At the Harold Pinter Theatre (where A Little Life is currently playing) you can sit on the steps in the Balcony section though. Several people were sitting on the steps so you don't have to stand. £10 tickets are definitely a good tip!

The best seats are on the actual stage though so you can see James Norton up close 😅

I'm seeing Macbeth at The Globe this summer with a standing ticket.
It was £12, and the seats started from £27, I'm on a major budget!

Watching the faces of the stage audience at the worst parts was erm interesting?
Not all came back for the second half

Good luck! I hope you don't have to be carried off on a stretcher. I'm sure the majority manage I was just vaguely amused that they had such a polished routine scooping people up.

Who could blame them. You have to be quite robust (or a BIG James Norton/other cast fan or family 😅) to put yourself through 4 hours of that

Tbf, they got to sit down.
Whoever stands is either tough or someone I don't wish to meet!

I didn’t realise there were stage seats! We paid so much that frankly they should be on the stage.

I’m also going to see Macbeth at The Globe (not standing though). I think the reason for stretchers is if you get a particularly hot day there is no escape when standing. The sun literally beams down on you.

It’s being screened in UK & European cinemas in September! Details on Twitter.

I finished reading the book last week in time for seeing it next week. I have to say as someone who cries if a writer says ‘he died’, I was strangely not emotional about the book. There were moments, but I found the implications more upsetting that the graphic content of you see what I mean.

Fantastic!
I'm not on Twitter, where else might I find the info?

https://alittlelifecinema.com/