Is it just me, because i think Sheffield has (one of) the best theatre scene in the country!

I went to see the dress rehearsal (£1, and a well kept secret) for The Crucible (at the Crucible, obv.) tonight and it was brilliant! I strongly recommend it. My friend was moved to tears!

And did anyone see The Tempest or the fantastic Midsummer Night's Dream recently. Wow. And Suddenly Last Summer starts next week, spoilt or what?

You are dead right. Sheffield Crucible during the eighties was an amazing theatre with a distinctive and focused artistic vision. However, once Clare Venables left as artistic director, it really struggled through the nineties (though there were great shows even then).

However, it's very heartening to see that it's now back at the peak of regional theatre, and this fact seems to be acknowledged far and wide. The national press seem to hail its success loudly and often, which makes a nice change!

With a strong programme in the Lyceum too, Sheffield is pretty lucky theatre-wise.

Sheffield Theatres rock!

A Midsummer Night's Dream was brilliant and The Tempest was fab. Going back a bit, Richard III with Kenneth Branagh was good and Sir Peter Hall's Twelfth Night at the Lyceum was ace.

We've got the best theatres outside London, no question. I hope Michael Grandage's departure doesn't cause problems though. I'd like to see us build a national reputation for The Crucible and The Lyceum.

I haven't been to the theatre for years, but I do know we are blessed with a good theatre complex that has a lot of respect and a good reputation nationally.

Like always in Sheffield, we do not sell ourself very well, best kept secret and all that!

*cough*

There are many other, non-crucible theatre companies in sheffield - I just happen to belong to one of them!! We're doing J B Priestley's "An Inspector Calls" from next wednesday, for four nights up at the uni drama studio (off glossop road, near the west end bar)... Tickets are very reasonable and the cast are thoroughly professional!!!

We're always recruiting too, next productions are likely to be "As You Like It" (main parts already cast) and "A Few Good Men" (the original stage play - not cast yet!)...

Go on! Support local events!!!

It's true...Sheffield theatre is the best outside London. I went to two plays recently for my A-levels, Wuthering Heights at the Hull Truck Theatre and Othello at the Nottingham Playhouse. To be completely honest (and no offence meant, really!) I thought they were both appalling, although Othello had occasional good bits.

Michael Grandage....was he the one that did Midsummer Night's Dream and the tempest? He can't leave! His plays are amazing! Why would anyone want to leave Sheffield? (aHEM, says she who's moving to Newcastle for Uni)

I couldn't agree more.

Although Michael Grandage is still here part time. In fact, I think A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest might both have been after he started his day job at the Donmar Warehouse in London (replacing Sam Mendes, so you can see how highly thought of he is). I hope he keeps coming back, and brings some of the Donmar's Hollywood names with him!

PS The West Yorkshire Playhouse is a bag of sh*te too.

So do any of you lot have any particular favourites from all the shows you've seen at Sheffield Theatres?

My number one would definitely be Stephen Pimlott's production of 'Twelfth Night' from about 1987. It was just extraordinarily accomplished theatre, highly original and very very beautiful.

And probably my second fave would be the rabble-rousing production of Peter Pan from Christmas 1992. Truly magical, you really believed a boy could fly!

I am going to see The Crucible tomorrow. Not quite as cheap as £1 for the dress rehearsal but £7.50 aint bad for a preview night! Can't wait.

Originally posted by Babooshka
I am going to see The Crucible tomorrow. Not quite as cheap as £1 for the dress rehearsal but £7.50 aint bad for a preview night! Can't wait.

And it is one of the greatest plays ever written, so that's not bad for £7.50!

If someone could maybe post a few lines to let me know what it's like, that'd be great. I live in Liverpool and won't be making it back for this show I'm afraid.

Anyone remember Robert Delamere's production of The Crucible back in 1994? Or his incredible production of 'Playboy Of The Western World' which must surely have had one of the greatest ever stage sets at the theatre - an enormous pile of old beer barrels that was built to resemble the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland, with this musty old Irish boozer nestling amongst them. Wow.

We are indeed very lucky to have such a vibrant arts scene, although, as with all things Sheffield we seem to keep it well hidden. To be fair however, the Guardian has recently described Sheffield as the 'most artistically exiting city in the country right now'. I couldn't get to Richard III, but I was lucky enough to have seen The Tempest and it was boss.

We've just returned from watching The Crucible and once again we were mightily impressed with another superb production.

On the way home we diverted up Ecclesall Road for 24 hour Spa reasons and up pulls a taxi with lead actor Douglas Henshall inside. So I dispatched my other half to offer congratulations being the coward that I am. He seemed well chuffed...seriously folks, go and see this production!

Ooh I love the play The Crucible. I'd been considering going but now I've read the couple of positive reviews on here I quite fancy it. :thumbsup:

Went to see The Crucible at the The Crucible on Sat. I was pretty impressed, although, would I being unreasonable if I were to say that a couple of the actors drove me mad with frustration? One of the screaming girls was acting at crying soooo much I could barely make out a word she was saying! Goodie Proctor was not at all how I perceived her to be from the book. The ending was also somewhat abrupt. Maybe I AM being unreasonable. I did thoroughly enjoy it though and would recommend everyone go and see it.

Tickets for a quid ? sounds good to me !

=================

Be one of the first to see Diana Rigg and Victoria Hamilton on the Lyceum stage in:

Suddenly Last Summer
By Tennessee Williams
Lyceum Theatre
Thursday 12 - Saturday 28 February 2004

Sebastian died suddenly last summer. His mother clings to him in death as she clung to him in life. In the sultry heat of New Orleans she plans her revenge on the girl she believes stole Sebastian from her. Directed by Michael Grandage. Cast: Mark Bazeley, Virginia Denham, Victoria Hamilton, Patrick Kennedy, Jennifer McEvoy, Abigail McKern, Diana Rigg.

See it first:
Thur 12 Feb - all tickets £1 (from 12 noon, in person, on the day)
Fri 13, Sat 14 Feb, Mon 16 Feb - all tickets £7.50
Mon 16 Feb - aged 16-26? Get your tickets for just £5.00

BEST AVAILABILITY - MONDAY 16 FEBRUARY

TICKETS: 0114 249 6000
Or visit: sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/buyit

I am gonna miss this one...am GUTTED ! Holding out for Piaf and Footloose now !

I saw Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible' last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. It got 5 outta 5 in the Metro paper today too!

Looking forward to The Crucible I must admit. Can't wait. I don't go to the theatre enough.

I loved Chorus Line... it was the first time I'd ever seen it... hadn't really fancied it but I was told to go so thought, well, what the heck. Loved it.

Suddenly Last Summer was fab :thumbsup:

Didn't realise quite how odd some of Tennessee Williams' plays are until I read the programme after watching it
:P

I went seeing Suddenly Last Summer last night. Enjoyed the play but was a bit put off at first by Diana Rigg's gruff voice/accent. I thought the young girl was terrific though.
Changing the subject slightly, here's a post I put on the general chat board the other day. How do other people find the booking system ?
Regrds

Col S


------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi
Just spent a frustating morning trying to book a couple of theatre tickets for the Lyceum/Crucible.
Tried on line - absolute pants (see last months post by Geoff)
Tried ringing - on hold as caller no.7 for 10 minutes - gave up
In the end I decided to drive to the booking office and managed to buy a couple of tickets without problem. Good job I live local and I'm not a vistor/tourist.
I also tried to get a copy of the seating plans but was told that they don't give them out for security reasons !!!!!
Anyone got an old leaflet with seating plans that they can scan and mail out ?
Also, if there's anyone reading this who works there can they inform the "bosses" that people aren't happy with the booking system.
Rant over

Col S

Though having just got back from Barcelona (yes student loan all but blown) my friend and I went to see Carmen at the Victoria Theatre (equivalent of the Crucible for old "Barcelona")

I being a laddy was a bit concerned at the potential outcome, especially when the supposed Opera was actually a Spanish Flamenco ballet interpretation of Carmen...uh uh..was I wrong.

These guys and girls were amazing - how they can hold people up in the air for that long I 'll never know...and of course Carmen was an absolute stonker (very attractive and super-fit) femme fetal.

To cop it off when Carmen's killed at the end by the (the one jealous lover too many) ex-lover, they flooded the stage to about a foot depth with water and those guys were still dancing on...apart from Carmen, who is killed of course.

Absolute bloody brilliance, and thats saying something!

Of course this was in Barcelona and can't be compared to old Sheffers, but don't get too comfy for good theatre, Sheffers ain't Leicester Square.

Off to see the Crucible on Friday so should be well up on culture, only it cost me £12.50...

Disappoined in The Crucible at The Crucible. It was unconsistant. Started off badly... actually no... the first 40/50 minutes were appalling. The girl playing Abigail was awful. Not an acting bone in her body.
However at points it did pick up and there were some very powerful moments. The second half was far superior but still spoiled by Abilgail.
The set was fantastic, the lighting not good but it was certainly an interesting evening... especially for a teacher like myself.

Anyone disagree?

Gonna go see this tommorow....

---------------

'Oh Christ, nothing's right. I wish I was back with Mimi and the boys'

Be one of the first to see
Piaf
Directed by Timothy Sheader
Crucible Theatre

Special prices for first 4 performances:
Thur 11 March - all tickets £1 (from 12 noon, in person, on the day)
Fri 12, Sat 13, Mon 15 March - all tickets £7.50
Mon 15 March - aged 16-26? Get your tickets for just £5.00

Edith Piaf was addicted to alcohol, heroin and love. Her generosity of spirit, her capacity for self-destruction and her remarkable voice are captured by Anna-Jane Casey, last seen at the Crucible in the TMA award-winning musical SWEET CHARITY, along with the same creative team.

Includes the timeless classics FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN; NON, JE NE REGRETTE RIEN and LA VIE EN ROSE.


TICKETS: 0114 249 6000

Piaf: Thursday 11 March - Wednesday 7 April 2004.

I'm a bit surprised at the praise heaped on Sheffield Theatres, I find it a bit hit and miss - I wish there was more competition. For some reason the smaller cutitng edge groups never seem to come here (eg, Trestle, Paines Plough or shows that start at Edinburgh). Did anybody else think The Crucible was a bit sterile and failed to create much intimacy and atmosphere?

saw Piaf - absolutely fab singing. Definitely one for adults and not kids - lord knows what the kids there thought of the swearing, drugs, violence, sex - and that was just in the back row :P

I've recently tried to book the Crucible Studio Theatre for a fairly regular stand up comedy night, but was unable to due to the fact that the venue is so outrageously popular, they couldn't give me any nights this year.

What is the Uni Drama Studio like? I'm ashamed to say I've never been in. Is it available on an ad hoc hire basis?

Drama studio is a lovely venue - it holds about 200. I think it is well booked up though. I used to do some am dram there a few years ago and it was a fairly well regimented, 'get in Sunday, tech Monday, dress, Tuesday, open Weds...get out Sat' routine.

I reckon you'd be better off finding a town centre venue. The Montgomery Hall? The Library Theatre? The Showroom?

Thought Crucible was alright, not sure about Abigail being badly acted, she could certainly project her voice and was consistent in my opinion.

Maybe bit sterile, but good for the money

Tried Showroom Smiler, they dismissed me out of hand. Don't know Library Theatre or Montogomery Hall, so will make enquiries. Its driving me mad, The Lescar sold out in twenty minutes this week.

Posted this twice somehow

Good luck Toby. Sheffield could use a good comedy venue. The Lescar does good stuff but it deserves a wider audience.

Every vote counts! Please send this to other friends, supporters and colleagues.

Sheffield's Crucible Theatre has been short-listed in a poll to determine which theatre will be awarded the title Best Regional Theatre of 2004. Theatregoers can vote online at www.whatsonstage.com until midnight on Monday 19 April 2004.

From an original list of seventy, a short list of ten venues was created based on the number of nominations received by members of the public.

The short listed top ten regional theatres in 2004 are:

Birmingham Repertory
Bristol Old Vic
Chichester Festival Theatre
Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse
Manchester Royal Exchange
Sheffield Crucible
Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Theatre Royal, Plymouth
Watermill Theatre, Newbury
West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

The Whatsonstage.com survey also measures public opinion on the condition of regional theatre, how it's changed in recent years and how it compares to London's West End. Final results will be announced on Tuesday 20 April.

I agree Sheffield theatre is tops! I have recently been to see both Piaf (at the Crucible) and Slamdunk! (at the Lyceum) and both were a good reflection of the quality of productions coming to Sheffield at the moment. Keep it up Sheffield - theatre is the place to be at the minute!

Sheffield also has some of the best amateur theatre too. There is usually a good play on at the Library Theatre most times of year as well as some good productions out in the suburbs.

I know that Stannington Players are performing the comedy Party Piece next week at the Lomas Hall in Stannington. They have a good reputation and their prices are lower than groups that perform in the city centre.

Stannington Players has a hard to find website if anyone is interested - it's at www.stanningtonplayers.supanet.com.

They're doing "Out of Focus" in September.

I have to say that i am really disappointed with the new season at the Crucible. There is not much on that i want to see, and the stuff i will see, i'll watch in Wakefield and Hull because it's cheaper.

I'd advise theatre goers to make the short trip to West Yorkshire Playhouse to see some shows there, as they have had some great things on there in the last year.

The Sheffield Theatres had some great things on last season, it's a shame it seems to have dipped abit. It seems like they are trying to go for an audience who like seeing plays they don't really understand.

Did anyone see Prokofiev's ballet Romeo and Juliet at the beginning of the year.

The Romeo and Juliet fantasy overture by Tchaikovsky was as emotionally charged as it was captivating .

Any Tchaikovsky or Rachmaninov fans out there?