My Phantom Journey of 2012 (Part 3)

Bristol

Phantom and Neptune in Bristol!

I arrived in Bristol in very good time and checked in the Premier Inn on King Street in the Old Town.  After freshening up and getting my bearings I made my way to the Bristol Hippodrome via Bella Italia for my dinner!  I met up with Vivienne and Pearl briefly before the evening performance of The Phantom of the Opera.  Despite another uncomfortable seat (I then made a mental note that I will only book stall seats from now on!) I enjoyed the performance and the more I see the production the more it grow on me.  Vivienne, Pearl and I met up at Stage Door and we were able to chat to some members of the cast including Anthony Gabriele and John Owen Jones.  I remember Anthony Gabriele from Three Phantoms concert last year in Plymouth.  I also met Naomi who asked me to take a photo of her and Simon Bailey (Raoul) despite my limited experience using an I Phone as a camera lol!   In all it was a wonderful evening and I return to my hotel feeling very satisfied.

Pearl, Vivienne and Anthony Gabriele (Musical Director)

Phantom at the Hippodrome

 

Phantom advertised in the local car park!

  

 I spent the following day exploring Bristol.  I joined a city walking tour only to get caught in the rain but I enjoyed the tour visiting the old city and the harbourside.  I was fascinated with Bristol’s social history especially during the poignant times such as the Slave Trade and the decline of the docks activity.  After the walking tour, I did some individual exploration including a comfort stop at the Rummer Hotel, was the city’s oldest inn, for coffee and its wonderful courgette cake (just taste like carrot cake lol!) 

Queen Square, Bristol

 Photos of the Markets and The Exchange, Old City, Bristol

Later on in the day I did a city docks boat tour on the Floating Harbour which was a lot of fun! It was an interesting tour as we spotted the SS Great Britain on our travels.   

SS Great Britain, Bristol

Bristol Cathedral

Council Buildings, Bristol

On the Sunday I went across to Bath for a couple of days visiting sights I didn’t get chance to on past visits before returning home.

Rooftops of Bath

St Michael's and All Angels, Bath

Bath's Spa Quarter

 

Statue of Water Goddess outside Bath Abbey

My Phantom Journey of 2012 (Part 2)

Manchester

Palace Theatre, Manchester

Me at Palace Theatre, Manchester

Manchester is only an hour away from Leeds, where I live, so I was pleased I didn’t have to travel far and wide during its Phantom of the Opera run there.  I went twice, once with my friend and fellow musical theatre fan, Rob, and another time with a long time friend, Liz. 

On my first visit, in April 2012, I went across to Manchester for the day.  I met up with Rob and we hung around at Stage Door and we got to say hi to a number of cast members including John Owen Jones.  I was especially happy to meet Angela M Cesar (Carlotta) and had a nice catch up. She is becoming one of my favourite Carlottas.    We also met Karen, a big John Owen Jones fan, who was seeing the same performance as us and we were able to discuss and share our love for one of my favourite phantoms.

Inside Palace Theatre

Me and Angela M Cesar (Carlotta)

Rob and I had a quick drink/snack at nearby Caffe Nero’s before catching the matinee show.  Despite my very uncomfortable seat I thoroughly enjoyed the performance and my appreciation for the production continues to grow.  Rob wanted to meet more cast members so we hung around stage door afterwards.  I got to meet Liesel Dowsett (Dance Captain and who I saw perform in a previous Phantom UK Tour) and Olivia Brereton (Alternative Christine and who I saw as Christine at the performance).  Rob managed to meet who he wanted to meet so we settled down for a nice meal at nearby Pizza Express.  Afterwards we went our separate ways for our train home.

Me and Olivia Breeton (Alt Christine)

Me and Rob at nearby Pizza Express, Manchester

My long time friend, Liz, came up from South to spend the weekend with me in Manchester.  She is a big Phantom and Love Never Dies Phan and was curious to see the new production.  I met her at Manchester Piccadilly Station as I arrived earlier before we had lunch and settled into our hotel near the Palace Theatre.  I showed Lizzie the sights of Manchester via the Rochdale Canal and the backstreets.  Lizzie saw a fair bit although we were disappointed to see the Manchester Wheel was no more.  

Liz and I in Missoula's, Manchester

Manchester Sights (From Left)

Photos 1 & 2 Rochdale Canal

Photos 3 National Football Museum

Photos 4 Busy Historic Quarter, Manchester

We returned to the hotel to rest before the show and to learn that John Owen Jones was ill and would not be performing at the performance that evening.  I was disappointed for Liz but I was intrigued with Richard Woodford (Understudy Phantom) who was going to debut as Phantom.  We were in the Gods and I probably sat in the most uncomfortable seats with more or less no leg room and the view was of a vertigo issue (I do not even suffer from it!).  I do not think the glass of prosecco I had helped lol.  I enjoyed Woody’s performance as Phantom and he did a great job considering it was his debut that evening.  I hope he will have more opportunities to put on the mask at future performances.  Liz was impressed with the production and the new impressive souvenir brochure came out so I was able to purchase one.

My Phantom Journey of 2012 (Part 1)

Introduction

 

 I learnt about The Phantom of the Opera UK Tour when I was present at the 25^th Anniversary Performance at The Royal Albert Hall in October 2011.  I was especially excited that my local theatre, The Leeds Grand, will host the musical which was the best news for me!  One would think I would not need to travel to see the show.  Wrong! I wanted to combine my love of travelling with my favourite musical around the UK.  So I’ve decided to visit the cities, which were feasible to reach, where Phantom is playing.

 For logistical reasons I decided not to see Phantom in Dublin, Milton Keynes and Southampton.  I did research on those cities and it was not possible because of costs and timings of travelling there and accommodation following personal research.  However I will now plan to see Phantom in eight of the eleven cities during 2012 and 2013.

Plymouth

 

Plymouth Skyline

Before I knew it booking opened for Phantom for Plymouth and I booked my first ticket. I had not look back since then.  My first trip was combined with a stopover in London on the way and the way back.  It worked out significantly cheaper to travel by train with East Coast/Great Western trains than direct with Cross Country trains and this included by London hostel accommodation for the two nights!  After an overnight stay in London I got the morning train to Plymouth and arrived 3.5 hours later! It was nice to be in Plymouth again after visiting in November 2011 for The Three Phantoms Concert and also staying in the same guest house!

The Royal William Yard

   Plymouth Wheel     

Mayflower Exhibition

I did a bit of sightseeing and visited some sights I had not visited before including the city’s art gallery, The Royal William Yard and visiting the Mayflower Exhibition in the Barbican.  

After an interesting day of sightseeing I returned to the guest house and got ready for the evening performance of Phantom at The Theatre Royal.  I met up with Kayleigh and Nick briefly at the theatre’s cafe before the show.  I was apprehensive about the new production especially that I went during its previews (press night was the following week).  Me being a big phantom phan I had every right to be so and I nervously waited for the musical to start.  I knew it was going to be very different to what I’ve so far seen in my Phantom journey and I can say it certainly was! All I said at that point was ‘Expect the Unexpected!’  Anyhow after a wonderful evening it was great meeting some of the cast at the stage door.  John Owen Jones asked me what I thought of the new production and all I could say to him that it was very different than what I had seen!

  

 

Me with John Owen Jones

My signed Programme!

The following day I returned to London for couple of days and met up with Terena, Sophia and Alex.  I even managed to see The Brilliant Original at Her Majesty’s Theatre and got the opportunity to see Earl Carpenter’s portrayal as Phantom! I felt a sense of déjà-vu but at the same time I kept comparing both productions as I saw them close together – which probably is not a good idea!  Next stop, Manchester!

My love for London's Theatreland has returned!

I haven't travelled down as much to London during 2012 compared to previous years.  The main reasons were the Phantom of the Opera 2012 UK Tour where I travelled to different cities instead of London to see the show and also I had a very unpleasant stay at a horrid London hostel when I saw some of the Olympics action in July 2012.

I missed seeing London shows so I took the opportunity to book to see Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera in November 2012.  I was keen to see the new casts in both musicals and I couldn't think of a better time to go and see them perform.

Queens Theatre, London

I got the train down to London on Thursday afternoon (8th November 2012) and hit the West End soon after I checked in my hotel near Kings Cross Station.   I met  Annie for the first time then I made my way to The Queens Theatre for Les Miserables.  I sat in the dress circle slips and got a great albeit left side view of the stage.  It was a perfect place to see Javert do its job!  I was so happy to see almost a full cast for that evening's performance and this included Geronimo Rauch, Tam Mutu and Sierra Boggess.  The only understudy we had was for Eponine and thus I didn't see Danielle Hope but Helen Owens instead.  It was probably the first time ever I was able to see the majority of the principals together at the same time - usually whenever I see Les Miserables it always seems to be full of understudies!  I enjoyed Les Miserables especially seeing Gero and Tam together on stage - I love their Confrontation; Tam's Stars was amazing and mind blowing and so was Gero's Bring Him Home.  I had to admit I do get bored with one or two scenes in Les Miserables but because I was in an aisle seat at the side of the auditorium I was able to sneak to the bathroom without disturbing/disrupting the audience during one of the scenes.

With Tam Mutu

With Gero Rauch

I was so happy to meet up with Tam and Gero at Stage Door after the performance.  They're were so friendly, very willing and obliging to sign my programmes and be in my photos! I was able to catch Sierra and say Hi even if she had to dash off.  In all it was great evening and I travelled back to my hotel via China Town and Leicester Square.

National Theatre, Southbank, London

Plays on during my visit

The following day (9th November 2012) I had a lazy morning at the hotel and then headed to South Bank for a backstage tour of the National Theatre.  I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and you can read more about it here.  The tour took an hour and I spent some time in its public space relaxing and enjoying a coffee.  I had some late lunch/early dinner on The Strand before returning to my hotel for a rest and get ready for Phantom!  

Scott Davies

Anna O'Byrne

I met up with Sophia at Her Majesty's Theatre for the evening performance of The Phantom of the Opera.  We had Scott Davies as The Phantom that evening (Unfortunately, Marcus Lovett, the current Phantom, injured himself the evening before in the show and had to be off.  Happily, he's now doing better and hope to see him very soon in the role).  I was happy to see Anna O'Byrne as Christine; Simon Thomas as Raoul and Lara Martins as Carlotta.  Scotty and the cast were on fire and I was even more amazed by them! Scott and Anna were so amazing in The Phantom of the Opera scene and I love Scott's insane and emotive portrayal in The Final Lair. 

With Lara Martins

I had the pleasure to meet some members of the cast at Stage Door after the show and meeting Scott again was like old times! Hope he caught his train and not missed it! I would have felt bad.  Sophia and I had a catch up and reflection on the show before we parted our separate ways.

With Simon Thomas 

With Anna O'Byrne

With Scotty! Aka Scott Davies 

The following morning I got ready for return home after what has been a great couple of days in London's Theatreland!

I plan to return after Christmas for more Phantom and also would like to see The Chariots of Fire!  Plus I would like to visit The Globe and its exhibition - humble beginnings as to how theatre developed from the Tudor era!

Signing off for now x

National Theatre Backstage Tour

National Theatre, London

 For sometime I always wanted to visit the National Theatre to either see a play or tour the venue. I only recently had begun looking into the National Theatre and decided on a recent trip to London that I'll book myself on a tour.

The National Theatre organisation began in 1888. The intention of the organisation was to host Shakespeare repertoire but at the same time encouraged new and creative writing for the new nation.

The current location is situated at South Bank, across from the River Thames, and it's an area which was heavily bombed during World War II. Decades following the war intensive rebuilding took place including the National Theatre which opened it's first theatre in 1976. Laurence Olivier, an English actor, was the first artistic director with the new theatre.

The tour took us to two of the three theatres in the venue, Oliver and Lyttleton Theatres, and we learnt more about the theatre themselves. We went backstage of the Lyttleton Theatre and also visited the carpentry, painting and props workshops. We had an opportunity to learn how the props are made for the plays.

The National Theatre has foyer/public/exhibition spaces, known as the 4th auditorium, where the public who aren't planning to see a play can visit and socialise.

I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and look forward to seeing a play there in the not too distant future. Unfortunately photography is forbidden so pictures were only taken from outside the theatre. The tour cost me 8.50 gbp (November 2012) and it's strongly advisable to book in advance as tours sell out quickly. 

Contact Information:

Email: info@nationaltheatre.org.uk

Telephone: 020 7452 340
 Website:  http://nationaltheatre.org.uk/backstagetours

Plays advertised at the National Theatre

National Theatre Main Entrance