Novello Theatre

Came to watch Mamma Mia… The show was great! Light hearted and funny, can see why it’s been running for years! Definitely worth the money!

I saw Crazy For You here with my girlfriend and we loved it! We sat on the ground level, obviously not a theatre conissuer here lol, we found our seats easily and this theatre was clean and big. We did see 3 musicals whilst on holiday and this was 1 of the 2 that were our favorites. We bought these tickets with a Living Social deal that I found and couldn’t have been happier. Sign up for deals on all those Groupon like sites and get emails and plan your holiday accordingly!

This was a lively theatre going experience. Out tickets were in the stalls so I can’t really speak for the balcony (which plagued me at the palace theatre). Great show (crazy For You) and great seating and a lively time. Would go again. The location is great and there is a Snack Bar just down the street with the most MAZING melts. YAY!

We went to see Cat on a Hot Tin Roof here. On first arriving — out of breath and terrified we’d missed the start because of the usual Northern Line dramas — I was relieved that the narrow corridors and tiny foyer had conspired to make it very slow to get into the auditorium and therefore… we weren’t late after all. Hurrah. In hindsight, I also appreciated the nice walk over Waterloo bridge to get there, which isn’t one I often do but worth getting off the tube a stop early for of an evening.
The performance was fantastic — all three (yep, though only one break is a true interval) acts flew by, and yes, I still got a kick that James Earl Jones was the voice of Darth Vader… Beware of the colourful language (not a play for kids, though you probably knew that). I’d recommend it.
Anyway, the theatre itself is lovely and old. Yes that means it’s a bit higgledy piggledy and the stairs get full and the seats are a bit close together, but it has so much more character than a new build, it makes you feel like you should’ve worn something a bit smarter, that sort of thing. We got almost-​back row stalls seats (
again), and I had concerns that I might need binoculars but in the event the theatre is small enough that back row stalls is still a very good view. I’d guess it could be slightly claustrophobic as the dress circle gives it a low ceiling but it wasn’t a problem for me.
People with their mobile phones not turned off was. Come on peeps, it’s not that difficult to live without text messages for 3 hours.

Went to see Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Great production — recommended. The theatre is very pretty and old fashioned. The stalls seats do not have a middle aisle which can prove inconvenient when someone in the middle needs to get out as all to the left/​right need to get up. The rows are very close but still comfortable if you’re average tall, although there’s nowhere secure to rest bags, coats or drinks. Most wouldn’t put up with this in a refurb/​modern theatre but you find you just go with the flow here. The only thing that crossed mind was the chaos that could rise in an emergency :-o. If you miss the opening there is a bar with a screen to watch available although the screen is about 38″ and the sound quality could be better.

I’ve been here to see two different productions, Spring Awakening and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. They theatre itself is beautiful. The staff are all very nice and helpful. I find the drinks to not be too expensive. I usually order the house wine which is about 4.50. The best seats in the house are probably in the Dress Circle. You get a fantastic view of the stage and if you’re lucky, Time Out tends to have very good deals for these seats. I managed to snag a seat for Spring Awakening for only 15 quid! The toilets are a bit strangely located. But I’ve come to expect that from the West End. Just be sure to pull not push the slightly hidden door for the ladies toilet downstairs.

I’ve been here twice in recent seasons, the last time was Saturday for a birthday trip to see an Inspector Calls (that’s moved to Wydnams now — you should go, it’s very good).
Of all the theatres I’ve been to it’s one of the nicest. I enjoy coming here. I especially enjoyed coming here on Saturday. Because like an idiot I got the time of the play wrong. We were 15 minutes late. Not only were the ushers not horrible to us (and rightly so we were very in the wrong) they were polite, friendly, and understanding. I think it helped that i was so gutted about missing the start, and I was really worried about disturbing everyone. But we snuck in, disrupted just five (friendly people) and didn’t miss anything major. The play didn’t have an interval, so I think we were lucky, but the ushers couldn’t have been nicer about me being a moron.
The restricted seats are pretty restricted, you will miss some of the action, but if you’re paying a tenner for a ticket, I’d rather that than be a giant theatre right at the back. it’s not the most ornate theatre I’ve been to either. But they have good shows, it’s easy to get to from the tube and Waterloo and Charing Cross. I enjoy coming here and I can’t thank the staff enough for being nice about my silly error. It was a really really awesome play.

Went to see «Spring Awakening» this evening at the Novello. It was the most hilarious and original musical I’ve seen in a good while– a 19^th Century play about sexual awakening admist parental and society’s repression set to rock songs and Dan Flavin esq lighting the musical was yup a mish mash that shouldn’t but just work. One of the kids even had to sit on a wooden chair suspended about 1 floor up without any support for like 20 minutes! Oh and they get it on in the middle and there are boobs and butts and everything.
Anyways, the Novello is an absolutely beauty of a theatre and definitely worth a visit. It was a quiet night so our cheap «last row in vertigo inducing area» seats were upgraded to 2^nd row in the dress circle– perfect viewing and much appreciated.
Had fun, the people working there were nice– let’s just hope the ice cream wasn’t what gave me my tummy ache!

Hatte über das Internet eine Karte für Hamlet von der Royal Shakespeare Company ersteigern können. Ich hatte dieses Stück schon mehrmals gesehen, auch auf Englisch und mir aber die Aufführungen von der RSC am Besten gefielen, freute ich mich sehr auf diesen Abend. Zwar hatte mich noch kein Hamlet-​Darsteller überzeugen können (auch nicht der hochgelobte Lord Laurence Olivier). Da mein Mann, der kurzfristig mit nach London gekommen war, keine Karte mehr bekommen hatte, fuhr ich also alleine Richtung West End. Ich war neugierig auf dieses Theater, denn ich hatte dort noch nie eine Aufführung gesehen. Ich hoffte, dass es nicht zu den neu umgestalteten Gebäuden gehörte, sondern noch in seinem alten mit viel rotem Plüsch einen Charme, wie zur Zeiten der Jahrhundertwende vom 19. ins 20. Jahrhundert. Meine Hoffnung wurde nicht enttäuscht, zwar war die Innereinrichtung ein wenig in die Jahre gekommen, aber man konnte sich den Pomp der zwanziger Jahre gut vorstellen.
Was mich total verwunderte die vielen jungen Leute, die ins Theater drängten. Zu meiner Schande muß ich gestehen, dass ich mich um die Besetzung wenig gekümmert habe. Ich kannte zwar Patrick Stewart (der Captain aus Star Trek– Das nächste Jahrhundert), der den Polonius spielte. Doch David Tennant, als Hamlet sagte mir überhaupt nichts (zwar stand überall, dass er der Doctor aus der ältesten Sci-​Fi-​Serie Doctor Who sei, aber da die Serie meines Wissens nie in Deutschland gesendet wurde und ich sie nur aus meinen Englandbesuchen bei Freunden gesehen hatte, war dieser Schauspieler mir kein Begriff.) Aus den Gesprächen, die um mich herum geführt wurden, entnahm ich, dass dieser Schauspieler erkrankt war und die Zweitbesetzung spielen sollte. Mir war es egal. Ich genoß die Atmosphäre, die dieses alte Theater verströmte und mein Platz auf dem Balkon war auch ein Volltreffer. Als Hamlet beginnen sollte, kam jemand auf die Bühne und erklärte, dass heute abend doch David Tennant spielen würde und was dann geschah, habe ich bei den Briten noch nie erlebt (vielleicht beim Fußball). Das Publikum raste vor Begeisterung, selbst Sir Ian McKnellen, der im Publikum saß, tobte mit. Um Ruhe ins Geschehen rein zubringen, tauchte der Hauptdarsteller, dann persönlich auf und lieferte eine Vorstellung als Hamelt, die ich für absolut grandios fand. Sicher eine sehr moderne Fassung, aber den manisch-​depressiven Hamlet habe ich noch nie besser gesehen. Aber ich will o.g. Patrick Stewart nicht vergessen, der auch brilliant seine Rolle gespielt hat. An diesem Abend war alles fantasisch und ich hoffe, dass solche Theater, wenn auch ein wenig veraltet, doch noch verschont von der Modernisierung bleiben. Die kalten und hyperfunkitonalen Theater fehlt Seele.

Went to the Novello just the other day to see Hamlet, was in my wheelchair and was a little worried because there wasn’t any flat access however the ushers were absolutely amazing and had a special machine for lowering wheelchairs down the stairs. I have to say it was a little scary at first and I felt like I was on an episode of Thunderbird’s but it was very ingenious and they were so helpful. The interior of the theater is spectacularly breathtaking and the performance was outstanding, recommended.

Out of all of the Westend theatres this is one of the grandest and largest, usually host to plays rather than Musicals, as many surrounding the Strand area now. I have seen some of the RSC’s productions here, always a riot with the crowd but I do find their stance on the theatre world a little backward and a little dreary. I would like to change all of this and hope that the Westend will cease to become such a hideous money making scheme in the future.
That said, drinks prices at the Novello are not as bad as some theatres, for example a coke is about £1.50.

Saw Eurobeat here in October 08. The theatre has a nice feel to it, classic design with wood everywhere. Managed to get special offer tickets from lastminute, so we sat in the stalls. The stalls bar is nice and buzzy, with the service swift and giving you what you want. Ordered interval drinks, which were easy to find on their slightly unusual shelf system, rather than other places which just place interval drinks on tables.

Went to see Eurobeat last night, a spoof of the Eurovision Song Contest. The show was very funny and audience noise was strongly encouraged, as far as the actual theatre goes, it was a classic old west end theatre, red velvet seats and fancy gilt detailing all over the place. The staff were great though, they obviously enjoy their work and were very friendly. Made such a difference to have the ushers making as much noise as the audience and actually having bar staff who can hold a conversation with you at the bar rather than shoot you an icy glare as they fleece you with their overpriced drinks.
A fun night, nice theatre, very entertaining show. Saw Into the Hoods before as well, they seem to be picking up the cream of the Edinburgh Fringe and bringing it to London, I look forward to seeing what they bring in next.

The main reason I have been able to give this theatre such a good review is becasue of the amazing show I saw there.
The Theatre itself is a short walk from Covent Garden and not very big.
The show that I saw was Into the Hoods which was absolutely amazing. It is a hip hop/​street dance show which although it sounds like it is solely aimed at the hooded youth is actually enjoyed by everyone with its great wit, soundtrack and amazing talent from all involved. I would describe it as a modern, more dynamic dancing than ballet and I managed to get a great view even with cheap seats.
I definately recommend it– you’ll all come out wishing you could dance of the walls and wanting to re-​live your childhood in an estate (this will make more sense once you have watched it!!!).
I am also inclined to believe that a show like this in the West End is very unique so take family, friends, visitors to see it as soon as you can :)

Amazing theatre, such a grand building, spanning over four levels. Another one of Delfont Mackingtoshs’ theatres. At the moment they are showing a dance show called In to da hoods presented by zoo nation dancers. This is amazing! Great! Fun! Hip-​hop, breaking, street dance, all in one show! I have nothing more to say to you then you have to see this show. It is one of the best things to come into west end since a Edinburgh transfer of bomb-​itty of errors. Do it, go see it, then just tell me how much you loved it.

There’s no point giving a review of the plays at this theatre. Inside it is a typical, early 20^th century design, with fairly limited leg room (although I’m fairly tall, and was not too uncomfortable), pretty good acoustics and staircases. The stage is narrow, yet deep, giving a rather different appearance to many other theatres.
The only real criticism I have (I have been here only once) is that the foyer became extremely crowded prior to the performance. Doors were not opened until almost the last minute, and people really were rammed. I was also standing by the door, and people assumed I worked there, asking me questions. At least answering gave me some entertainment.
I do not know this theatre very well, so please expand/​contradict me if you can!