THE WEST END V.S TOUR | WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? | Georgie Ashford

[@Slidetotheleft]

I hate when people think touring productions aren't as talented - so not true!! I'm so excited for everything to open up again :)

[@Thelunawolf731]

Agree with everything you just said... :)

[@GeorgieAshford]

Me too! 🤗 xx

[@a.prettygood6358]

That's interesting that in the West End Sunday is dark. In North America the standard dark day is Monday.

[@lizheinrichs]

It's similar in Germany as well. Sunday is usually a double show day and Mondays are dark. I always found it interesting that it's different in the UK, although it's slightly shifting now.

[@GeorgieAshford]

I know it’s odd isn’t it! I think it may change quite a bit now x

[@TheSpinDoctor]

Comes from the days when shops, theatres, etc couldn’t open whatsoever on Sundays in the U.K. Has changed a lot since the 80s as shops can open limited hours on Sundays (or full hours if under a certain size) and that kind of tradition of Sunday being the day off for everyone has continued. It does, however, make MUCH more commercial sense to have shows on Sundays when people with “normal” jobs can see them. Midweek matinees used to be on Wednesdays at one point with very good student discounts as Wed PM is when most university sports are played and it meant the non-sporting students often went to the theatre for VERY little money. That slowly changed to coach parties for retired people coming into London and moved to Thursdays and Tuesdays. It is most certainly all a moving target and the driver is what makes the most revenue, and nothing else other than any Union restrictions.

[@lorcanbonser-wilton3222]

So true about the same talent level! I saw the 2019 Les Mis tour and the guy playing Valjean actually played it in London for years, and that cast ended up joining the London one, playing their parts from the tour. Shows that touring actors are just as dedicated and excellent! Also lol I relate to the touring prices, I saw Six in Chichester for £10pp 😂😂

[@oliver.e.murphy]

I hate people saying they're not as equally good or talented!! It also massively disregarde some amazing performers (e.g. Jodie Steele and Carrie Hope Fletcher) who have done both West End and Touring shows! I also adore the idea of touring shows. I'm currently in an unlucky position where I live in Cornwall and we only ever get touring shows, but that's still very rare for us!

[@GeorgieAshford]

Completely agree!

[@Dianaemanuel]

It's hugely frustrating when some shows will not tour to the New Victoria Theatre in Woking. We still haven't had Les Miserables, Phantom or Wicked. And I have no idea why. After all, some of the big 'mega musicals' like Cats, Miss Saigon, Evita, and the Palladium production of The Sound of Music have been there.

[@thephantomfantasia]

Dear evan hansen is so expensive but thats going on tour anyway thats quite an easy set to transport around its only projections it started off as tour first in the usa but now its getting the uk tour

[@aaronbarker1830]

Hi Georgie can you possibly do a video like this about the deffersnces between tours and/or West end to regional theatres like Chichester Festival they venues??

[@GeorgieAshford]

Yes great idea thank you! 🙏🏻

[@claudiadawson825]

Hi Georgie, so my school may be doing Legally Blonde next year and it is going to be my last production so would love the get either Pilar, Margot or Serena since I have never had a role. I was wondering if you could do a video on how to do accents because I am really struggling with the American accent? Thank you!

[@zoejessica_actor5484]

Such a great suggestion - I'm useless at an american accent too so I would find this extremely helpful.

[@jameskinnear5937]

If a show is touring, is the accommodation different for that as you're travelling around a lot? Is that usually stuff you provide yourself (theatre digs, hotels etc) or might the production company provide something like a tour bus?

[@jessicaneala7]

From what I understand, usually you organise it yourself and you get an allowance with your wage to pay for it

[@GeorgieAshford]

It completely depends but I’m going to make a video about this too 🤗

[@gabrielmontgomery7889]

You got my subscription with the comment about pricing.

[@GeorgieAshford]

Haha lovely to have ya 👍🏻

[@lizheinrichs]

I agree that tickets are really pricey, but I have to say before moving to London, I used to travel to the UK from Germany to see shows, because travel, hotel and multiple tickets often came out slightly cheaper or the same as travelling to let's say Berlin from within Germany and see one show there. But totally with you on that theatre could still be made more accessible in terms of pricing.

[@GeorgieAshford]

Oh wow that’s so interesting! I can’t believe that!

[@MauritsVeen]

I think that with touring shows the actors and people involved are just as talented, BUT, I do think the quality of the orchestra and set design is slightly lower quality. For example with Wicked on tours, as someonse who knows the show in and out you can really tell that e.g. As Long As You're Mine, which is a very romantic song, feels less magical because some instruments who add that magic touch to the song are missing or replaced by other instruments. They pick up a different trumpeter in every town, so in The Wizard And I on the final belt of "And IIII" the trumpet often makes a few mistakes since all of a sudden they are in this massive complicated show that has been running for a while, while they didn't have a long time to rehearse (an example here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXnGdHyPf62tjq8). Also the mixing of the sound quality often lacks a bit since they have to figure that out in every single new location. The set design on tour, while replicated to look exactly like the original, is also a little different as the show on Broadway uses lifts in the show, while on tour they can't have those lifts as it would take too long to assemble so the actors just run on and off the stage (for example when Elphaba runs on here in NGD: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKrYqWZ-jbCSh9k). It just feels a bit rushed, which it is ofcourse and it's amazing how they can set up a show in a matter of days, but it does make a difference. I know this is very nitpicky and a normal audience member wouldn't really notice this, but in these regards I think the quality is slightly lower between Tour and Bway/WE. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk

[@nadineschulze8914]

I didnt know that most Shows dont have a Show on sundays... here in Germany there are shows tue thru sun with sat and sun having the matinee shows... and prices here are way more expensive than in the West End, at least for most ensuite productions. They usually dont have cheaper day seats like in the UK either...

[@GeorgieAshford]

Oh really? That’s so interesting!

[@iona7232]

It really annoys me when people think touring is worse!! I saw Amy Ross in the touring cast of wicked which is what first made me a theatre kid and now what to be on the west end

[@GeorgieAshford]

Oh wow! She is incredible!!

[@MoreThanFour]

Hey can you possibly do advice on older people who want to train and be in thr industry im 28 with 3 kids and I feel im ready for this but theres alot less support out there for us complete beginners (adults) X

[@GeorgieAshford]

Yes that’s a great idea! It’s never too late!

[@sarahjolley2074]

I think that a mis conception tickets in Sheffield are very expensive, its cheaper to travel to Leeds with a lower priced ticket.

[@GeorgieAshford]

Oh how interesting! Yes the tickets are still very pricey! I wish they would do more deals!

[@TheSpinDoctor]

@@GeorgieAshford Gone are the days you could walk to a box office 2 mins before curtain and get any seat left at all for £5-15 just to fill it and not leave it empty. They cottoned on to people being willing to chance it and not buying tickets ahead as a result. Was such a well-kept secret but the advent of the internet meant word spread and more and more people did it. Best seats in the house for £5 midweek just to put a bum on the seat vs £27.50 (that used to be the most expensive seat in the West End “in my day”!) was a GREAT deal. You only bought ahead of time if you wanted to see a specific understudy who was on or a last-matinée tbh. Has all changed now and the prices are stupid. Sadly so few people can afford the best seats. I’m all for the democratisation of theatre.

[@calvinliu6304]

Hi gerogie hope you well?

[@GeorgieAshford]

I’m well thank you hope you are too?

[@quinceybabcock9864]

Can you do a Pilates video?

[@GeorgieAshford]

I would highly recommend checking out my friend Emily’s Pilates classes- they are fantastic! www.emilylanghampilates.com x

[@sarahlouisemcevoy6726]

Hi Georgie can you do a strength and flexibility KZbin video

[@GeorgieAshford]

Oo great idea!