an unhinged deep dive into theatre programmes

[@camerondolphin9554]

As an American I’ve never realized that playbills don’t exist over there. Free playbills are so useful and I do collect them. I can’t imagine collecting different sizes 😂Thanks for the information

[@readswithhayley9825]

I did study abroad in London earlier this year and one of my classes was on English Theatre so I saw quite a few shows while I was there. The number of times I almost walked away with a program without paying for it even after I knew better was frankly ridiculous, but I had literally never experienced a show without a complimentary program before 😭

[@pkminpkmon]

I like that each show gets to show their personality with customising their programmes here, but the inconsistency in sizes makes storing them nearly more annoying

[@sherimarvin5938]

Some Broadway shows have programs as well. It would be interesting to know how many get sold, I don't buy one for every show, but about 25%

[@TheOtherClips]

These are somewhat nicer (especially the BTTF one) than the playbill/encore we get in the US

[@vogelmeister6809]

as someone who ushers outside the states, i get quite a few americans asking where the playbills are

[@MiddlesexBD]

Playbills are locked in because Playbill has contracts with all the theaters on Broadway and any show that goes into that theater has to use a Playbill.

[@MichellinaaB]

Thank you for the deep dive!

[@puddingcat1498]

The inconsistent sizing is also an accessibility issue. I rely on crutches to walk and so I cannot carry anything (including bags) in my hand. Programmes need to fit in my shoulder bag, and if it doesn't, it makes it very difficult for me to walk.

[@musiquesoul]

Really interesting video Ellie. Well done! Was very disappointed with one of my programmes as the production photos were all of the previous cast and not the one we saw.

[@Jess_acnl]

I love how passionate you are about this! I was not expecting such an in depth video!

[@DJWhovian]

I work front of house and mainly on the merchandise and touring shows often do offer a combo deal with their brochures and our programmes. I have seen the cost the programmes rise quite steadily over the last few years and programmes are one of the main sources of income for venues as they only get the booking fee or a percentage of ticket sales.

[@courdeleon]

Thanks for your hard work! Buy a special treat!! 🥰

[@EllieTalksTheatre]

Let's be honest, this'll probably pay for more programmes 😂

[@courdeleon]

@@EllieTalksTheatre 🥰

[@nadjaazh]

Great video! I also always buy a programme as a souvenir and the different sizes annoy me the most. 😅 How are you storing them? Would love to see a video about that.😊 happy holidays from switzerland

[@EllieTalksTheatre]

big boxes. so... many... big boxes.

[@emms232]

I did my Master's thesis on programmes, designed two of them for a Prague production of Tick, Tick...Boom and Next To Normal and wrote an article for the first Czech production of Dear Evan Hansen (fun fact - that theatre does A6 format programmes that are over 100 pages long) and I found programmes quite interesting, so I really enjoyed this video🙂. Whilst I see why many people would be interested in swapping them for Playbills, I'd miss them mainly because of the content that I miss in the Broadway alternative. My favourite programme I own is probably the souvenire brochure of Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) that you also showed because it includes a lot of interesting articles and I really like how they showcased the understudies (they did a really good job with that in general). Another one I like is Broken Wings musical (Theatre Royal Haymarket, 2018) which they were actually giving out for free because they specifically mentioned they didn't want the audience to have to pay to get these information on top of the price of the ticket to the show - that programme also contains quite a lot of photos and articles and way less ads you'd expect from a freebie.

[@dumpsterdivingqueen]

Great video... no one, absolutely no one gives content like this! So in depth. I hope the programme makers are listening xx

[@Javachacin]

Looking on longingly at your souvenir brochures, they’re basically extinct here in NY - for a show to get one they wait around a year to produce it, and most shows these days just don’t last long enough. And if they do get one they’re not the most impressive - I got both Sweeney and Some like it hot from a few years ago, and they were very skimpy, with a few full color photo spreads but not much else, on not the best quality paper, and still about $20-25 each. Programs used to be gorgeous here, like the UK ones - that Starlight is one of my most priced programs from my trips over there, beautifully designed, great info. I do totally appreciate Playbills, if anything they’re very important for archival purposes and so easy to collect, but I want something that brings back the beauty and excitement of a given show. They probably just don’t sell well enough here anymore.

[@susantailby3755]

Such a fascinating discussion - thank you. It's interesting - at some classical concerts you get a good quality free programme as a given. It's also an intriguing development that some venues are encouraging scanning a QR code to download a programme and reduce paper usage. I found the screens around me (even on matt green) quite glary and distracting. Curious that I find rustling paper less distracting! I've also noticed that some programmes are reducing the plot synopsis parts - I really expect this as a given. Haven't figured out how to display all my programmes yet - maybe I need a shed or a study/library?!! P.S. if you were able to create some interviews with different theatres on their programme design choices, I'm here for that content! For example, Harold Pinter always has square programmes as mentioned; Bridge Theatre has tall narrow programmes and the Coliseum has £10 massive glossy ones. Do theatres factor in making programmes portable (i.e. not being easily damaged when put into a bag, carried back on trains, tubes, trams and buses?!!)

[@rebeccalouisewillson]

My biggest frustration was when I was sold a brochure as a programme on a touring production - I wanted all the cast bios etc.! I was a less experienced theatre goer then otherwise I would have questioned it and asked for the normal one!

[@linus1703]

Melbourne theater goer here and I am surprised there are multiple reading materials being sold. Here there will just be a program for a sale at high end productions, I am an anomaly I buy them on the way out if I have truly enjoyed the show but most people buy them as reading material on the way in. I might be pedantic about the term ad but I don't think I've seen any with what I would call an ad, sometimes they do mention the sponsors but it's just saying thank you not discussing their products. It's really fascinating hearing about what the experience is like in other places that probably have a much bigger scene.

[@samuelblachon95130]

I love the alw Cinderella program because of the cats article because both musicals opened at the Gillian Lynne theatre

[@clowchan]

this was so thorough and informative! I would like to point out a few things: shows on Bway and in the US account for playbills in their budgeting so I wonder if would be possible for UK theatres to do the same??? (but maybe not, like you said they love making money) Certain shows on offbroadway,because of the budgeting and supposedly going green (but let's be real - money), did away with playbills/programs all together and you might just get a sheet of paper with the cast [looks at Classic Stage and weeps] The non-uniform sizes would drive me crazy. So grateful most playbills are 8.5" x 5" and stayed with that uniform size after the late 80s. Also Playbills used to have production photos but almost all stopped it seems after the mid 2000s (which is a huge shame) would love for them to bring it back

[@RobloxXwiz]

2:54 i got one from les miss arena tour it was 200 of my countries currency 😅 I also saw Anastasia and wicked in different countries! Anastasia: 75 Wicked: 60…😅 Edit: Wicked is my favorite musical so i really wanted it!

[@kathleenewing3673]

I stopped collecting the souvenir brochures sold in the US when square ones appeared.

[@JackieWarner13]

I'm Australian & we have programs too. I don't usually buy them tbh they're depending on size $25AUD-$40AUD (usually just 1 size tbh but I remember Hamilton had 2. 1 was casting & descriptions of the cast & creative team & the other was a bigger one with photos & like letter from creatives/producers) I mainly buy a program if I love the show or really love someone in the show. I wish we had playbills tbh

[@arcticturtle12]

Considering the price of broadway tickets, I would take paid uk programmes over free playbills any day. The only thing I wish we had was the consistency of the sizes.

[@impastomusic]

Love this video and the data analysis! I’m in North America, and we have free programs the size and style of Playbills, alongside optional souvenir brochures for sale. I generally get both at shows I see. I also have a lot of UK programmes and brochures. I may have a slightly obsessive organization system - I’ve got about 16 binders full of (a) Playbill-sized programs; (b) US letter-sized programs that one theatre I frequent uses; and (c) all my random UK programmes that will fit in a letter-sized binder. Everything’s protected in plastic sheets with archival card backing. For everything that doesn’t fit in a binder *glares at London’s Cabaret* I have six large shoeboxes to store my oversize programs. I also take photos of the cover page, production overview page and cast list. That way I can easily find an actor I’ve seen in multiple productions or who was in a certain show when I saw it. My personal theatre archive! I love all the memories - a few months ago I got to unbox all my London programmes from 2014-2015, and it was such a joy to remember everything ❤ My favourite recent brochure was definitely Mincemeat 😍

[@AH-sq6md]

This is such a great idea for a video! I usually buy programmes, but the one for Hercules in Germany is 35€, so... Nope. It might be worth it, but I just looked at the price list and walked away, so I wouldn't know.

[@wwozanewmusical]

Great Video as always Ellie. I'm from NY and NYC and they have Playbills that are small enough to be put in a pocket or hand bag. And Souvenir Programs. And didn't know that the UK charges for the information book along with the book that has photos and behind the scenes info about that show.

[@hannahgreen8999]

Great video! I love to display my programs but it's definitely not easy when they're all different sizes and some too big to fit on the shelves. I am a fan of a souvenir brochure but it can be annoying when they're really big as you then need to find somewhere to put it while actually watching the show. This year I've been to so many touring shows that had sold out of programs as well which is frustrating as I like to keep them for the memories and to look back at who was in the show.

[@itsmonday7450]

Or... "How to scientific method the s*** out of some programs" 😀 Great video from you! Can't wait for the next video!

[@amandapalmerau]

In Australia they cost $25 - $35 for major productions. Around £12-18. Again they vary greatly…. No consistency in sizing page numbers or content.

[@Natg6]

I recently discovered you guys had to pay for it and i was shocked

[@jenicat55]

Programmes are my go to merch item. Merch Clothing sizing is rubbish is an XL from Wicked going to fit the same as the XL from mean girls? You can't try anything on so have to guess and it's so expensive if you get it home and it doesn't fit! I don't need endless mugs and keyrings and water bottles etc. also I want to see the faces of the actors and find out their backgrounds. My local theatre (Newcastle theatre royal) does their own programmes for shows they are A5 size and cost around £5. They are amazing and double as a booklet to advertise upcoming shows. I also hate when shows have a basic programme or the glossy brochure - i want the words and pictures!

[@VeronikaHer]

I bet you only filmed a video where you have to hold a bunch of things just to show off your glorious nails 😍 I will always buy both programmes and brochures because FOMO. Only consistent souvenir I buy every time I go to the theatre. 100% spent more on those that I did on tickets this year 😅

[@Jule-t5n]

Of course there's always a reason to buy a programme to resell.... Cinderella by ALW sold for £30 on ebay cos they were sold out at the theatre

[@EllieTalksTheatre]

Note to self: find my old ALW Cinderella programme...

[@ellouisebadger849]

Programmes are great but I try to not to buy them for both financial and storage reasons

[@RickyOrr82]

THIS! THIS! THIS! to so much of this video. I adore getting programmes but my god sometimes paying like £7/8 for a programme and it having the bare minimum is so trying. Yet the Hello Dolly one was £12 and felt like a book!

[@jjicbut]

it kinda kills me that almost every programme here looks so much better than anything we get in finland yet the pricing is very similar 🙃

[@musiquesoul]

Just compared the pogramme from my first visit to Les mis on west end (2000) to the brochure for Les mis staged concert. Both are A4. The 2000 programme cost £3. I dread to think how much the concert brochure was. Yr 2000 programme was 50 pages and had 27 pages of articles. Concert brochure had 72 pages and 17 pages of articles.

[@courdeleon]

This was very interesting and thanks for your hard work!! What was most interesting for me was the different cultures around programs between the US and UK. I am in the US and I don't attend the theatre as much as you but I have always loved the Playbill as most Broadway folks do. There is a massive amount of people who collect and trade them. I have always found the monthly articles very interesting, even some of the ads are interesting as far as what else is in NYC. Some Shows also offer the nice souvenir programs or Brochures but are about 20+ Dollars. I alway buy them for my favorite shows. But I have seen that many shows don't offer them, SUFFS doesn't have one. After getting all the info in this video, I much perfer the US verson! 🙂 But it is what I am used to!😀

[@cassandragough]

I don't buy programmes because I simply can't justify the expense. I would rather spend that money on upgrading the priceband of seat I can buy. I have only been to a musical in America once when I was visiting my sister in Seattle. It was really strange (and exciting) just to be handed the programme when you entered the theatre. To be fair though, it was so uninteresting that I didn't even keep it at the end of the show. 50% was ads and the back three pages were just a list of the sponsors and patrons of the theatre.

[@Philippadrinkstea]

Queen I loooove your nails ❤ and the video too, obvs 😁

[@silenthillxd6057]

Haha oh my god not this video coming out mere weeks after me being utterly appalled by the quality of the Mean Girls programme! Can confirm it's still bland and featureless, although there is a Christmas cover at the moment...

[@Stephenb033]

Square programmes are wrong… apart from the small Choir of man one. That one is acceptable.

[@bethieandbooks]

The David Tennant Macbeth one is terrible. Just a cast list, loads of ads and one article about the show.

[@lennies_mindful_life]

I love collecting programmes. I still have programme from Donmar Into The Woods 1998 which had a very young Sheridan Smith in it. What hate is programme full of ads I find regionals venues are the worst for that