New Yorker in London (Christmas Eve-New Years)

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 10/1/16 at 9:00am

I'll be spending the holidays in London this year, but as someone who sees lots of Broadway throughout the year, I'm looking for new shows that I can't see here (pretty devastated that I won't be able to catch Cursed Child).  I'd see musicals or plays.  I know a lot of people have mentioned Lazarus.  I didn't see it here because I couldn't wrap my head around the plot, but I'm a fan of Michael Esper, and if people really think it's worth it, I'll check it out.

 

I've been to London a lot but never during the holidays, so any other tips would be appreciated too.  New Years Eve options?  Winter activities?  

 

Thanks in advance!

[ggersten]

Posted: 10/1/16 at 3:39pm

Saw these recommendation over on TheatreBoard:

"Cinderella at the Palladium - they should probably catch that as a cultural icon; La Soiree in a tent in Leicester Square (flash sales now on), Potted Panto at the Garrick, Peter Pan Goes Wrong at the Apollo - should be first on their list if it is as great as last year. Peter Pan at the National (probably be as rubbish as their other Christmas shows for the past few years, but an option).
Plus the usual Wimbledon, Richmond etc pantos.

Surely the Hackney Empire Panto is worth a mention?"

 

[steven22]

Posted: 10/2/16 at 9:17am

You should definitely check out Lazarus! I saw it in NY and loved it. Esper is great! I can't wait to see it again in London!

[Wick3]

Posted: 10/2/16 at 11:40am

Try to see In the Heights before it closes on January 2017. You probably watched the Broadway production at the Richard Rodgers 5-8 years ago but this one is more intimate. The theater reminds me more of off-Broadway or circle in the square in nyc. 

How come you're missing Harry Potter?

[rjm516]

Posted: 10/3/16 at 6:16am

Just note that the holidays in London can be DEAD, especially on Christmas Day. It's not like NYC or most big US cities where things are still happening and businesses are still open. Find out in advance what will be open near your hotel (or plan on eating on Brick Lane). We always walk from our home in East London to Trafalgar Square, and it's like a ghost town (until of course you get to Trafalgar Square, where it's still rammed with tourists who also have nothing else to do).

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 10/10/16 at 2:54pm

Wick3 said: "How come you're missing Harry Potter?"

It's sold out

 

[Wick3]

Posted: 10/10/16 at 4:15pm

DramaTeach said: "Wick3 said: "How come you're missing Harry Potter?"

It's sold out "

 

That's the same attitude I had before going to London. However, I did the returns queue and was fortunately successful. While waiting in the returns queue, I learned that the box office releases weekly premium tickets online for short-term purchase. If you don't mind paying 95GBP for each part (190GBP total) then check their website to see when they release these tix. Also, try the Friday forty option one week before you're in London. Good luck!!!

 

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 10/11/16 at 6:53am

Wick3 said: "That's the same attitude I had before going to London. However, I did the returns queue and was fortunately successful. While waiting in the returns queue, I learned that the box office releases weekly premium tickets online for short-term purchase. If you don't mind paying 95GBP for each part (190GBP total) then check their website to see when they release these tix. Also, try the Friday forty option one week before you're in London. Good luck!!!

 

Who knew!  Thanks so much for the advice!

"

 

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 10/19/16 at 3:29pm

Devastated about Harry Potter? Then skip it, it's coming to New York sooner than later, with all 3 major theatre owners battling to get the show, it will be there by spring 2018 and going head to head with Frozen, should be a bit of carnage, don't think SpongeBob will get a look in though!

There are no shows in London on Christmas Day, (lucky it's on a Sunday) and very few on Boxing Day, but the good news is that over the holidays, shows do a matinee and a evening show every day, so you can fill your boots and see more shows than New York.

If you want to see something quintessential English, check out Half A Sixpence. Dreamgirls will be worth a visit too, unfortunately there is a lot of duplication of New York. Maybe worth see the Bodyguard if that's Your thing, Beverley Knight is fabulous. She Loves Me at the Mernier is always a good place to see a musical. Also Rent at the Other Palace.

But where London wins is plays and you have off the top of my head: This House, An Inspector Calls, Amadeus, The Red Barn, The Play That Goes Wrong/A Comedy About A Bank Holiday, Nice Fish, The Kite Runner and The Dresser. Dead Funny and Kite Runner maybe worth a gamble.

Art will also have opened at the Old Vic, across the road Once in a Lifetime will be at the Young Vic with Harry Hill.

if Shakespeare is your thing the Theatre Royal, Haymarket will have the double bill Love Labour Lost and Much Ado About Nothing and the Barbican will have King Lear with Anthony Sher.

Want to combine theatre with a day out? Then Oxford has The Rocky Horror Show, which being Christmas the theatre should be pretty packed, which is what you want from this show, the audience is as important as the cast. Also Sunny Afternoon is playing Brighton. Both very English musicals and two great cities.

 

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 8:13pm

I'd book Hedda Glaber with Ruth Wilson directed by Ivo van Hove

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 10/20/16 at 8:15pm

Wick3 said: "DramaTeach said: "Wick3 said: "How come you're missing Harry Potter?"

It's sold out "

 

That's the same attitude I had before going to London. However, I did the returns queue and was fortunately successful. While waiting in the returns queue, I learned that the box office releases weekly premium tickets online for short-term purchase. If you don't mind paying 95GBP for each part (190GBP total) then check their website to see when they release these tix. Also, try the Friday forty option one week before you're in London. Good luck!!!

 

 

"

I knew about the returned tickets and the friday forty, but didn't know about those premium tickets, do you know the days that they put them available on the site?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/25/16 at 12:40pm

If you haven't seen An Inspector Calls...do not miss it!

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 11/6/16 at 9:26am

Chose my shows, and got the tickets.  Starting with Million Dollar Quartet (my friend is a Johnny Cash/Elvis fan), then going to Peter Pan Goes Wrong and Book of Mormon (way cheaper in London than in NY) on the same day, and ending with the pantomime Cinderella.  Thanks for all your suggestions!

[Wick3]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 4:18pm

Not sure when they release the premium tix but I just checked online and found good availability for the week between Xmas and NYE. The price increased to 199GBP though!

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 12/18/16 at 5:02pm

Don't listen to that user, for the love of god, avoid Brighton at all costs