WasThatGood.com has launched a new online offering to give people an opinion platform regarding London theatre. The site will allow theatre-goers to post honest appraisals of shows in an open forum format.
The site has launched to address an apparent gap in the market for honest, transparent online theatre review resources. At present fans of the stage can often only wade through advert-heavy sites designed to promote famous shows like Lion King or Wicked - with even the official media rarely giving genuine reviews of shows.
As such, Robert Stuart decided to develop and launch an independent theatre and show review site in the shape of WasThatGood.com. On the site show fans can share opinions and find out what is on at venues from the National Theatre to venues around the UK.
“I had had enough of the theatre after a number of uninspiring evenings and so decided to do something about it! Instead of waiting for another news resource to launch more biased reviews surrounded by adverts I deduced that a new, independent site where opinions could be shared openly was required - hence we now have WasThatGood.com!", said Stuart.
In the continuing economic climate many Brits have ceased going to the theatre because they do not want to waste money on shows that will disappoint. WasThatGood.com aims to change the game and bring people back to stage shows via positive, honest reviews.
WasThatGood.com will build to become an open forum which seeks to drive improvement in modern theatre. The site will promote the best shows through positive attendee opinion and poor productions will feel a similar honest impact.
The WasThatGood.com website boasts features ranging from times of shows to dates of performances, offering an in-depth resource for theatre fans. Users can also search productions by highest-rated and even buy tickets through the site.
About WasThatGood.com
WasThatGood.com was born in an attempt to give the public a say in the world of theatre by offering an independent forum for them to share their opinions. The intent is to promote open discussion regarding the theatre, which could very well lead to improvement as theatres will have to face reality and will no longer be subject to only a handful of critics who have a channel to the public.
WasThatGood.com is giving the public a voice and theatres will now have an army of critics to contend with. The site is completely independent so users can be confident that what they read is truly the opinion of someone who saw the show and not simply another promotional tactic.
Showing posts with label London. Show all posts
Showing posts with label London. Show all posts
Thursday, 19 April 2012
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Tower Bridge Launches 'Tale of of Two Towers'
Exciting New Show that brings the Story of Tower Bridge to Life
As Modern Technology meets Victorian Innovation
Tower Bridge (www.towerbridge.org.uk/TBE/EN) invites visitors to an audience with Her Majesty Queen Victoria, along with her faithful subjects Sir John Wolfe-Barry, the Victorian civil engineer who designed Tower Bridge, and its architect Sir Horace Jones, to experience the story of the bridge in an exciting new show that opens at the world-famous London landmark this spring.
Using the latest techniques in visual effects, this immersive experience features top stars from stage and screen, including Cally Lawrence (Coronation Street, Law & Order UK) as Queen Victoria, Sebastian Abineri (The Bill, Kingdom) as Horace Jones and Robert Benfield (Sherlock, Emmerdale) as Sir John Wolfe-Barry, to tell the fascinating story of Tower Bridge in an entertaining and light-hearted way that will appeal to all ages.
The Experience:
• On arrival at the North Tower of Tower Bridge, visitors are guided to engineer Sir John Wolfe-Barry’s Victorian ‘ virtual’ study - a realistic three-walled set created by 3D mapping (with a floor-to-ceiling height of approx 4.5 metres and a back wall width of around 4 metres).
• The audience enter the newly themed area and the four-minute show commences, using a projected figure of Sir John Wolfe-Barry in conversation with Her Majesty Queen Victoria and architect Sir Horace Jones, who are both depicted as talking portraits (animated plasma TVs).
• This exciting new initiative uses the latest developments in 3D mapping – a technique that projects images onto a 2D plane which has a textured surface creating the illusion of depth in a dynamic way. In this instance, we are projecting a textured visual effect of Sir John Wolfe-Barry’s study, as well as incorporating ‘Magic Lantern’ illustration and animation.
• No additional cost for the visitor.
This imaginative show was devised and created by Eddie Saul, Creative Projects Manager at Tower Bridge, and developed by innovative film and media company, ay-pe www.ay-pe.com/, whose previous work includes an animated pop-up book for Windsor Guildhall, the Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh and an epic CGI film of Housesteads Roman Fort for English Heritage.
Ay-pe’s Creative Director, Richard Playford, comments: “This is a great opportunity to create a unique piece of immersive media theatre to help interpret and complement this truly iconic structure.”
Tower Bridge’s Creative Projects Manager Eddie Saul adds: “Sir John Wolfe-Barry will be able to pull books from shelves, open them up and have animations pop from the book to cover the whole expanse of the wall. He can even click his fingers to transform the space into the Tower Bridge Engine Room. The possibilities are endless!”
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Sleeping Dogs
Drowning Fish Productions and The Impulse Company presents:Sleeping Dogs
By Brenda Gottsche
BARONS COURT THEATRE, Tuesday 31st January – Saturday 18th February 2012
PRESS PERFORMANCE: Friday 3rd February
‘Brenda Gottsche’s bright comedy drama... a gently provocative, highly enjoyable evening.’
Time Out (on The Fulham Jesus)
Doctor Roz is Britain’s fastest-rising celebrity shrink. Her radio show has ratings through the roof and her self-help books fly off the shelves. She’s got a great marriage to Leo, who has just written a best-selling crime novel, and a teenage son whose idea of rebellion is to find Jesus.
All seems well until Leo’s past begins to catch up to him, and, faced with blackmail from an old Australian acquaintance, he has to decide whether the truth is really the best policy or if he should just let sleeping dogs lie. Meanwhile, Roz’s carefully-crafted life begins to fall apart, first at home, then publicly on her radio show.
Sleeping Dogs is a sometimes funny, often moving play that asks the crucial question, ‘how much do we really know of one another?’
Brenda Gottsche, the playwright, divides her time between London and Sydney. Her first play, The Fulham Jesus, debuted at Barons Court in 2003 and has been performed in the USA and in Australia. Hot Property played at the Old Red Lion in 2005, andThe Max Factor at Barons Court in 2007. Her production company is Drowning Fish Productions.
Co-producing is The Impulse Company, founded by Scott Williams to celebrate the work of actors, writers, and directors. Originally from California, Williams has directed the world over, including Measure for Measure at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Ancient History at Hong Kong’s Caught in the Act, and Five O’Clock Angel starring Nichola McAuliffe, which played throughout the UK for over six months. The Impulse Company is expanding its reach with regular work in Paris, Sydney, New York, and Hong Kong.
The cast includes Barbara Hatwell (Anthea Dixon in Brookside) and Gregory Cox (Arcadia, National Theatre)
www.drowningfishproductions.com
Running Time: Approx 2 hours
Company Info
Written by: Brenda Gottsche
Directed by: Scott Williams and Dominique Gerrard
Design by: Philip Lindley
Lighting Design by: Luke Girling
Costumes by: Rachael Smith
Cast:
Leo Gregory Cox Alex Joel Dyer Roz Barbara Hatwell
Andy Andrew William Robb Anna Fiona Watson
Listings information:
Venue: Barons Court Theatre
Address: The Curtain’s Up, 28a Comeragh Road, London W14 9HR
Dates: Tuesday 31st January – Saturday 18th February
Price: £12 (£10 concs.)
Box Office: 020 8932 4747
Transport: Barons Court/West Kensington
Times: Tues-Sat 7.30pm, Sat 2.30pm, Sun 6.30pm
By Brenda Gottsche
BARONS COURT THEATRE, Tuesday 31st January – Saturday 18th February 2012
PRESS PERFORMANCE: Friday 3rd February
‘Brenda Gottsche’s bright comedy drama... a gently provocative, highly enjoyable evening.’
Time Out (on The Fulham Jesus)
Doctor Roz is Britain’s fastest-rising celebrity shrink. Her radio show has ratings through the roof and her self-help books fly off the shelves. She’s got a great marriage to Leo, who has just written a best-selling crime novel, and a teenage son whose idea of rebellion is to find Jesus.
All seems well until Leo’s past begins to catch up to him, and, faced with blackmail from an old Australian acquaintance, he has to decide whether the truth is really the best policy or if he should just let sleeping dogs lie. Meanwhile, Roz’s carefully-crafted life begins to fall apart, first at home, then publicly on her radio show.
Sleeping Dogs is a sometimes funny, often moving play that asks the crucial question, ‘how much do we really know of one another?’
Brenda Gottsche, the playwright, divides her time between London and Sydney. Her first play, The Fulham Jesus, debuted at Barons Court in 2003 and has been performed in the USA and in Australia. Hot Property played at the Old Red Lion in 2005, andThe Max Factor at Barons Court in 2007. Her production company is Drowning Fish Productions.
Co-producing is The Impulse Company, founded by Scott Williams to celebrate the work of actors, writers, and directors. Originally from California, Williams has directed the world over, including Measure for Measure at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Ancient History at Hong Kong’s Caught in the Act, and Five O’Clock Angel starring Nichola McAuliffe, which played throughout the UK for over six months. The Impulse Company is expanding its reach with regular work in Paris, Sydney, New York, and Hong Kong.
The cast includes Barbara Hatwell (Anthea Dixon in Brookside) and Gregory Cox (Arcadia, National Theatre)
www.drowningfishproductions.com
Running Time: Approx 2 hours
Company Info
Written by: Brenda Gottsche
Directed by: Scott Williams and Dominique Gerrard
Design by: Philip Lindley
Lighting Design by: Luke Girling
Costumes by: Rachael Smith
Cast:
Leo Gregory Cox Alex Joel Dyer Roz Barbara Hatwell
Andy Andrew William Robb Anna Fiona Watson
Listings information:
Venue: Barons Court Theatre
Address: The Curtain’s Up, 28a Comeragh Road, London W14 9HR
Dates: Tuesday 31st January – Saturday 18th February
Price: £12 (£10 concs.)
Box Office: 020 8932 4747
Transport: Barons Court/West Kensington
Times: Tues-Sat 7.30pm, Sat 2.30pm, Sun 6.30pm
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Where East Meets Westfield & Nicole Scherzinger
The Next Chapter in Shopping Arrives in East London
London’s retail landscape is about to change forever as Westfield Stratford City, Europe’s largest urban shopping and leisure centre at 1.9 million sq ft, opens its doors to the public and a new chapter in retail is born.
On Tuesday 13th September, the £1.45 billion Westfield Stratford City will welcome its first visitors. Providing a new perspective on London, opening up a unique and undiscovered skyline with a new way to see the city, Westfield Stratford City is the next chapter for London.
Global superstar Nicole Scherzinger will officially launch Westfield Stratford City on Tuesday 13th September. The singer/songwriter will enthral invited guests and shoppers with her sublime vocals and energetic dance moves ensuring an awe inspiring opening to Europe’s largest urban retail and leisure destination, Westfield Stratford City.
This exclusive performance by Nicole, who had a number 1 hit in the UK singles chart with ‘Don’t Hold Your Breath’, promises to be a show-stopping event that will be enjoyed by the thousands of shoppers who will be helping to celebrate the opening of London’s newest and largest shopping experience all at the Gateway to the Olympic Park in East London and in front of the incredible backdrop of the Olympic Stadium.
Ms. Scherzinger said: "I am hugely excited about performing at the Official Opening of Westfield Stratford Cit} and I am looking forward to making this an event East London won’t forget!"
As a major new destination, ease of travel to Westfield Stratford City is key – indeed it is the best connected shopping centre in the country with 58 trains per hour connecting Stratford with journey times of 8 minutes to the City, 11 minutes from Docklands and 20 minutes from the West End.
For those driving to the centre, the 5000 space car-park introduces many unique services with the journey carefully considered from start to end; from free SMS messages letting you know even before you leave home how many parking spaces are available to Automated Number Plate Recognition.
A city within a city, Westfield Stratford City combines lifestyle, entertainment, shopping and dining in a whole new district of London to discover. Located at the gateway to the Olympic Park, striking in its scale and architecturally stunning with both an internal dramatic, pillar-free curved mall and a tree-lined external shopping street, Westfield Stratford City brings together the best of both indoor and outdoor retail.
Anchored by leading UK retailers John Lewis, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer, housing over 300 stores, 70 dining options and a unique food market –Great Eastern Market - Westfield Stratford City is the next chapter in retail.
Providing a key new leisure destination for London, Westfield Stratford City is home to celebrities’ favourite bowling alley - All Star Lanes which is, opening its largest venue to date and a 17 screen all-digital Vue cinema. In addition, London’s largest Casino and Champagne Bar by Aspers, opening later in the year, will bring to Westfield Stratford City both a luxurious bar and the opportunity to take part in top of the range gaming. With a round the clock lifestyle offer, there are, three hotels within Westfield Stratford City providing the opportunity for over-night stays.
Once in the centre, in addition to Interactive kiosks which ensure the shopper can establish the best route to and from one store to another, Concierge staff trained is to ‘World Host’ standard are on hand to personally answer any questions regarding the experience at Westfield Stratford City.
In creating Westfield Stratford City, a commitment was made to achieving high standards in sustainability and the scheme will set a new benchmark for an urban retail led development housing its own Combined Cooling and Heating Power (CCHP) plant on site.
Art and design have been critical in the creation of Westfield Stratford City and are woven throughout the fabric of the development including a stunning Digital Fountain by acclaimed local and international artist Jason Bruges Studio, positioned at the heart of Chestnut Plaza. Also, following the establishment of the Studio East project last year with a panel including Tracey Emin, Tom Dixon, Roland Mouret and Erin O’Connor, a new generation of artists and designers have been commissioned to design lights, centre management and concierge uniforms, art installations and an environmental innovation – a creative combination that is a first for a shopping centre.
The local community is at the heart of Westfield Stratford City and in addition to providing local grants, Westfield, in conjunction with Seetec has established the Skills Place – Newham – a retail academy with a focus on providing employment for the local community including the long-term unemployed with at least 2,000 of the 10,000 jobs going to local residents.
With less than one year to go to the Olympic Games, Westfield Stratford City represents the first piece of Legacy providing the first opportunity for Londoners to view the Olympic Park and enjoy a whole new shopping and leisure experience.
London’s retail landscape is about to change forever as Westfield Stratford City, Europe’s largest urban shopping and leisure centre at 1.9 million sq ft, opens its doors to the public and a new chapter in retail is born.
On Tuesday 13th September, the £1.45 billion Westfield Stratford City will welcome its first visitors. Providing a new perspective on London, opening up a unique and undiscovered skyline with a new way to see the city, Westfield Stratford City is the next chapter for London.
Global superstar Nicole Scherzinger will officially launch Westfield Stratford City on Tuesday 13th September. The singer/songwriter will enthral invited guests and shoppers with her sublime vocals and energetic dance moves ensuring an awe inspiring opening to Europe’s largest urban retail and leisure destination, Westfield Stratford City.
This exclusive performance by Nicole, who had a number 1 hit in the UK singles chart with ‘Don’t Hold Your Breath’, promises to be a show-stopping event that will be enjoyed by the thousands of shoppers who will be helping to celebrate the opening of London’s newest and largest shopping experience all at the Gateway to the Olympic Park in East London and in front of the incredible backdrop of the Olympic Stadium.
Ms. Scherzinger said: "I am hugely excited about performing at the Official Opening of Westfield Stratford Cit} and I am looking forward to making this an event East London won’t forget!"
As a major new destination, ease of travel to Westfield Stratford City is key – indeed it is the best connected shopping centre in the country with 58 trains per hour connecting Stratford with journey times of 8 minutes to the City, 11 minutes from Docklands and 20 minutes from the West End.
For those driving to the centre, the 5000 space car-park introduces many unique services with the journey carefully considered from start to end; from free SMS messages letting you know even before you leave home how many parking spaces are available to Automated Number Plate Recognition.
A city within a city, Westfield Stratford City combines lifestyle, entertainment, shopping and dining in a whole new district of London to discover. Located at the gateway to the Olympic Park, striking in its scale and architecturally stunning with both an internal dramatic, pillar-free curved mall and a tree-lined external shopping street, Westfield Stratford City brings together the best of both indoor and outdoor retail.
Anchored by leading UK retailers John Lewis, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer, housing over 300 stores, 70 dining options and a unique food market –Great Eastern Market - Westfield Stratford City is the next chapter in retail.
Providing a key new leisure destination for London, Westfield Stratford City is home to celebrities’ favourite bowling alley - All Star Lanes which is, opening its largest venue to date and a 17 screen all-digital Vue cinema. In addition, London’s largest Casino and Champagne Bar by Aspers, opening later in the year, will bring to Westfield Stratford City both a luxurious bar and the opportunity to take part in top of the range gaming. With a round the clock lifestyle offer, there are, three hotels within Westfield Stratford City providing the opportunity for over-night stays.
Once in the centre, in addition to Interactive kiosks which ensure the shopper can establish the best route to and from one store to another, Concierge staff trained is to ‘World Host’ standard are on hand to personally answer any questions regarding the experience at Westfield Stratford City.
In creating Westfield Stratford City, a commitment was made to achieving high standards in sustainability and the scheme will set a new benchmark for an urban retail led development housing its own Combined Cooling and Heating Power (CCHP) plant on site.
Art and design have been critical in the creation of Westfield Stratford City and are woven throughout the fabric of the development including a stunning Digital Fountain by acclaimed local and international artist Jason Bruges Studio, positioned at the heart of Chestnut Plaza. Also, following the establishment of the Studio East project last year with a panel including Tracey Emin, Tom Dixon, Roland Mouret and Erin O’Connor, a new generation of artists and designers have been commissioned to design lights, centre management and concierge uniforms, art installations and an environmental innovation – a creative combination that is a first for a shopping centre.
The local community is at the heart of Westfield Stratford City and in addition to providing local grants, Westfield, in conjunction with Seetec has established the Skills Place – Newham – a retail academy with a focus on providing employment for the local community including the long-term unemployed with at least 2,000 of the 10,000 jobs going to local residents.
With less than one year to go to the Olympic Games, Westfield Stratford City represents the first piece of Legacy providing the first opportunity for Londoners to view the Olympic Park and enjoy a whole new shopping and leisure experience.
Thursday, 1 September 2011
BT and Heineken to offer Wi-Fi to London pubs
Through Wi-Fi, customers can access a special area of the internet, the Heineken Hub, for which the UK's newest newspaper, i, the quality daily and sister paper to The Independent, is supplying exclusive content.
Customers can get online quickly with any wireless PC, tablet or mobile phone at any of the Wi-Fi hotspots and will also receive exclusive, location-specific content including the best stories from news, views, features, business, culture and sports. It is the first time this content has been available online and it will be updated daily.
The pubs boost BT’s hotspot numbers to more than three million - the largest network in the UK. More than 200,000 sites have been added in the last three months.
Rick Lawrence, Marketing Manager at Heineken UK said: "The partnership with BT reinforces the brand's reputation as a leading player in the development of technology. The Wi-Fi initiative will provide excellent exposure for Heineken among its key target audience and build greater affinity between the brand and its consumers."
Chris Bruce, CEO, BT Openzone, said: "Using Wi-Fi to deliver free and exclusive content, Heineken is engaging and exciting pub goers and will undoubtedly increase business. It's an exciting time to be involved in hospitality marketing."
Wi-Fi access is completely free to over five million BT Broadband customers, plus users of iPads, iPhones, iTouch, Android, Samsung and Blackberry devices and smartphones through other BT partnership agreements.
In further developments to the UK’s largest Wi-Fi network, BT has also added Wi-Fi access at John Lennon Liverpool, Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield and Teesside regional airports.
BT Wi-Fi is also available at 13 Shepherd Neame hotels in Kent, Starbucks, major hotel chains including Thistle, Guoman and Ramada Jarvis, Welcome Break and Roadchef Costa motorway service areas, Network Rail stations, airports and thousands of homes and independent businesses.
BT also extended its relationship with Hilton in June to provide a fully managed suite of Wi-Fi internet services to more than 17,000 bedrooms, public areas and meeting and conference spaces in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
Sunday, 24 July 2011
ArcelorMittal Orbit as the backbone of London Olympics 2012 roller-coaster ride?
With the London Olympics opening in a year's time, one question has been puzzling visionary artist, David A Hardy. What can be done to make the 22.7 million pound artwork, the ArcelorMittal Orbit, more than just an abstract piece of art? As can be seen from his illustration, he suggests it could form the heart of a state of the art roller-coaster ride.
“The twists and turns in the sculpture reminded me of the organic form of a roller-coaster,” points out David. “This would be a perfect fusion of art and entertainment. At 114.5 metres high, the sculpture is taller than the Statue of Liberty in New York so not only would you get a great ride, but you would also have fantastic views of London and the entire Olympic Park.”
David is one of the world’s leading visionary artists having collaborated with the likes of Patrick Moore and Arthur C Clarke to create visions of the future. Based in the UK, he has won numerous awards including ‘Best Artist’ at this year’s European SF Convention in Stockholm, written and illustrated top selling books such as “Visions of Space”, and his artwork has been used all over the world from NASA to New Scientist Magazine. His website is astroart www.astroart.org.
Monday, 11 April 2011
Do Something Different This Easter, Enjoy A Family Getaway To The West End
Don't waste hours queued up at theme parks or try to distract the kids with expensive games consoles, enjoy some surprisingly affordable family time in London's West End instead.
Show and Stay provide top-quality West End theatre ticket and hotel packages for the biggest London shows at the best possible prices. We also offer tables at fabulous pre-theatre restaurants and tickets to the city's most-popular visitor attractions.
Theatreland is full of family-friendly shows at the moment. From the perennially popular production of The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre to Andrew Lloyd Webbers incredible Wizard of Oz at the Palladium or the glittering girly extravaganza that is Legally Blonde, there's a show suitable for practically every family just waiting to be seen.
A trip to the West End may seem like an expensive extravagance, especially during the school holidays. However, a visit to the home of the world's best theatre could cost as little as £81* per person including an overnight hotel stay at a handpicked city hotel.
A visit to see the multi-award-winning production of Wicked could cost a family of four just £324 including top tickets and an overnight stay at the very comfy Holiday Inn Express Royal Docks. A similar package to see The Lion King comes in at £428 for a family of four and a Wizard of Oz package could cost a mere £378, again for a family of four.
Treat the family to a Show and Stay short break this Easter, the memories you'll make will last a lifetime.
Wicked package
£324 is based on four top tickets to see Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre and a family of four sharing a family room at the Holiday Inn Express London Royal Docks on April 15, 2011.
Wizard of Oz package
£378 is based on four fourth-class tickets to see The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium and a family of four sharing a family room at the Holiday Inn Express London Royal Docks on April 14, 2011.
The Lion King package
£428 is based on four top tickets to see The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre and a family of four sharing a family room at the Holiday Inn Express London Royal Docks.
(Subject to change, please check for details)
Show and Stay provide top-quality West End theatre ticket and hotel packages for the biggest London shows at the best possible prices. We also offer tables at fabulous pre-theatre restaurants and tickets to the city's most-popular visitor attractions.
Theatreland is full of family-friendly shows at the moment. From the perennially popular production of The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre to Andrew Lloyd Webbers incredible Wizard of Oz at the Palladium or the glittering girly extravaganza that is Legally Blonde, there's a show suitable for practically every family just waiting to be seen.
A trip to the West End may seem like an expensive extravagance, especially during the school holidays. However, a visit to the home of the world's best theatre could cost as little as £81* per person including an overnight hotel stay at a handpicked city hotel.
A visit to see the multi-award-winning production of Wicked could cost a family of four just £324 including top tickets and an overnight stay at the very comfy Holiday Inn Express Royal Docks. A similar package to see The Lion King comes in at £428 for a family of four and a Wizard of Oz package could cost a mere £378, again for a family of four.
Treat the family to a Show and Stay short break this Easter, the memories you'll make will last a lifetime.
Wicked package
£324 is based on four top tickets to see Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre and a family of four sharing a family room at the Holiday Inn Express London Royal Docks on April 15, 2011.
Wizard of Oz package
£378 is based on four fourth-class tickets to see The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium and a family of four sharing a family room at the Holiday Inn Express London Royal Docks on April 14, 2011.
The Lion King package
£428 is based on four top tickets to see The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre and a family of four sharing a family room at the Holiday Inn Express London Royal Docks.
(Subject to change, please check for details)
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