Lynette H Posted November 10, 2017 Share Posted November 10, 2017 Just received an email today about changes to access in the ROH amphi "Key changes from 15 November Work will start on the Amphitheatre Level to create a fresh and contemporary restaurant and bar. The current Amphitheatre bar will relocate to the Clore Studio (during intervals only) so that we can continue to provide you with refreshments. There are a number of Insights events that will need to be moved to alternate venues and audiences who have already booked tickets for these will be contacted shortly. To help you enjoy your visit we recommend that you make use of the bars in the Paul Hamlyn Hall and Dorfman Conservatory before the performance as there will be no bar service on the Amphitheatre level pre-performance. You will also be able to leave your coat in the Paul Hamlyn Hall temporary cloakroom, and we do ask that you avoid bringing bags. If you are seated in the Amphitheatre please place your interval drinks order in the Amphitheatre Corridor before the performance and collect them in the Clore Studio during the interval. There will be a limited selection of refreshments available to all our Amphitheatre audience members during this period. From Monday 8 January 2018, the Amphitheatre Restaurant will also close." There is no indication of how long this closure lasts (or at least I didn't spot it). Further detail in a second mail indicated that the following Insights are relocated "Insights: In conversation with Arthur Pita, Tuesday 14 November This event is moving to the Crush Room at the Royal Opera House. You will not need a new ticket for this event and our ushers will be on hand to direct you to the new venue. Insights: What’s the Future of Opera?, Wednesday 22 November This event is moving to St Paul’s Church, Bedford Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 9ED. Tickets to this event will be reissued in the coming week. Insights: Joyce DiDonato – National Opera Studio Masterclass, Thursday 14 December This event is moving to the Linden Studio at the Royal Ballet School in Floral Street, Covent Garden and will now start at 7.30pm and conclude at approximately 9.30pm. Tickets to this event will be reissued in the coming week. Please note that all events will now be general admission rather than allocated seating and unfortunately there will not be refreshments available at venues outside the Royal Opera House." This looks rather hurried doesn't give the appearance of being particularly well thought through. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynette H Posted November 10, 2017 Author Share Posted November 10, 2017 It seems from the ROH web site that the Insight evening on 24 November on Benesh notation has been cancelled. It's not clear if this is related to the other venue changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penelopesimpson Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 I have to say that it is all going on a bit. Fed up with the Flral Hall looking a wreck and closing the Ampitheatre Restaurant is going to be a pain. Who is Dorfman, he of Conservatory fame? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 I never use the bar or restaurant so in that sense this won't affect me; but clearly a lot of people do and I think this will cause a degree of chaos. Is it really necessary to create a new 'modern' bar and restaurant when the existing ones were shiny and new (and very expensive-looking) only at the re-opening of the new House at the turn of the century? It's not as if the current facilities are a hang-over from the 1950s or whenever. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pulcinella Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 7 hours ago, penelopesimpson said: I have to say that it is all going on a bit. Fed up with the Flral Hall looking a wreck and closing the Ampitheatre Restaurant is going to be a pain. Who is Dorfman, he of Conservatory fame? I assume the same one that the Dorfman Theatre at the National Theatre is named after. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mallinson Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 This must be he (or him) Lloyd Marshall Dorfman of Travelex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm365 Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 I hope the loos on the Amphi level are not affected by all this. As they are not specifically mentioned, I am hoping for the best! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capybara Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 Well, I didn't get an e-mail about all these changes. Should I be feeling miffed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penelopesimpson Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 4 hours ago, bridiem said: I never use the bar or restaurant so in that sense this won't affect me; but clearly a lot of people do and I think this will cause a degree of chaos. Is it really necessary to create a new 'modern' bar and restaurant when the existing ones were shiny and new (and very expensive-looking) only at the re-opening of the new House at the turn of the century? It's not as if the current facilities are a hang-over from the 1950s or whenever. Well, quite. I do use them and they seem absolutely fine to me. And the closure of the Ampitheatre is, as you say, going to be disruptive. I was wondering what the seating proportions of the house are. How many people does the Balcony and Ampitheatre accommodate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizbie1 Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 30 minutes ago, penelopesimpson said: How many people does the Balcony and Ampitheatre accommodate? About half the total capacity is in the Amphi I believe. One thing they should perhaps have addressed but apparently haven't is the access to the amphitheatre - it's not really good enough that 1000 or more people (I know there are a couple of poorly signposted shortcuts) have to make the same painfully slow shuffle down a single corridor. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jules_skichick Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 i always thought that the people at the back of the amphi would never get out in time in the event of a fire - stuck behind slow staircase hoggers - getting out can take an age as there is only one stairs which is already full of people from down below Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penelopesimpson Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 1 hour ago, Lizbie1 said: About half the total capacity is in the Amphi I believe. One thing they should perhaps have addressed but apparently haven't is the access to the amphitheatre - it's not really good enough that 1000 or more people (I know there are a couple of poorly signposted shortcuts) have to make the same painfully slow shuffle down a single corridor. You are absolutely right. I can’t use the escalator and that corridor is a deadly bottleneck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 11, 2017 Share Posted November 11, 2017 9 hours ago, penelopesimpson said: Well, quite. I do use them and they seem absolutely fine to me. And the closure of the Ampitheatre is, as you say, going to be disruptive. I was wondering what the seating proportions of the house are. How many people does the Balcony and Ampitheatre accommodate? The amphi is 500+, IIRC. Not sure about the balcony. It used to say at one time on the seating plan/pricing table in the booking brochure, but I'm not sure it still does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lollylamb1 Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 The link in the email to Open Up doesn’t work either, someone typed it in incorrectly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 (edited) 15 hours ago, alison said: The amphi is 500+, IIRC. Not sure about the balcony. It used to say at one time on the seating plan/pricing table in the booking brochure, but I'm not sure it still does. I’ve dug out an old booking leaflet. Capacity is given for each section of the amphitheatre. Assuming I’ve added the separate sections correctly, here are the figures: Amphitheatre Seating 700 Rear Amphitheatre Standing 21 Lower and Upper Slips Seating 200 Lower Slips Standing 20 The leaflet is an old one so doesn’t give the current figures for Balcony Standing. The original Balcony Sides Seating is now Balcony Standing. Taking account of that, I’ve come up with the following figures for the Balcony: Balcony Seating 167 Balcony Standing 28 I can't guarantee these figures are 100% accurate but I hope they answer the original question. Edited November 12, 2017 by Bluebird 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penelopesimpson Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 Thank you Bluebird. That's an enormous amount of people to get out through that corridor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangorballetboy Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 Just now, penelopesimpson said: Thank you Bluebird. That's an enormous amount of people to get out through that corridor. Though, of course, *that* corridor is not the only exit from the amphitheatre/slips Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penelopesimpson Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 I'm sure you're right but I don't really know my way around up there! I can't sit in the Ampi because of the slope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizbie1 Posted November 12, 2017 Share Posted November 12, 2017 (edited) 6 hours ago, bangorballetboy said: Though, of course, *that* corridor is not the only exit from the amphitheatre/slips But the alternatives aren't exactly pushed are they? And that's presumably for good reason, as the side staircases would quicky fill and make egress more difficult for those in the Balcony and Grand Tier if they were to be better publicised. (That's not a swipe at the ROH's attitude to those in the more expensive seats, by the way.) I'm lucky enough usually to sit within easy reach of one or the other, but unless I'm making a dash for a train, the staircases are always on go-slow by Balcony level. And I'm shameless enough to barge through the Crush Room on the way out but I'm apparently one of very few who are a. aware of and b. willing to take that option - not that I'm complaining Does anyone know whether better access to and from the Amphi has simply been ruled out because structural reasons make it impossible? Or is it an opportunity missed? Edited November 12, 2017 by Lizbie1 Unwanted automatic emoji when I type "b)" - changed to"b." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zxDaveM Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 11 hours ago, Lizbie1 said: Does anyone know whether better access to and from the Amphi has simply been ruled out because structural reasons make it impossible? Or is it an opportunity missed? well, the big escalators to the bar area make it much easier than it used to be (apparently - before my time though, for me to quote from personal experience). The corridor beneath/at the back of the amphi I don't think they can expand much due to the nature of the building's listed status Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 It was a darned sight quicker getting out of the amphi before the rebuilding 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penelopesimpson Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 I am not good with escalators at any time, but the ROH ones are v. steep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fonty Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 I've also eaten several times in the Amphitheatre Restaurant, and always enjoyed it. Can't see anything wrong with it, it certainly didn't need a long and no doubt expensive makeover. hat exactly do they mean by "fresh and contemporary"? Have they got lots of spare money they need to use up by a certain date or something? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zxDaveM Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 40 minutes ago, Fonty said: Can't see anything wrong with it, it certainly didn't need a long and no doubt expensive makeover. What exactly do they mean by "fresh and contemporary"? fresh and contemporary = even more expensive, but served on anything that isn't a plate 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangorballetboy Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 1 hour ago, Fonty said: I've also eaten several times in the Amphitheatre Restaurant, and always enjoyed it. Can't see anything wrong with it, it certainly didn't need a long and no doubt expensive makeover. hat exactly do they mean by "fresh and contemporary"? Have they got lots of spare money they need to use up by a certain date or something? The restaurant and bar are being merged into a flexible space so that there's more room in the bar when the restaurant is quiet and vice versa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 Well, that makes some sort of sense. Taking out the amphi terrace to increase the size of the whole thing is a debatable measure, though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangorballetboy Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 4 minutes ago, alison said: Well, that makes some sort of sense. Taking out the amphi terrace to increase the size of the whole thing is a debatable measure, though. Taking out part of the amphi terrace... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MargaretN7 Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 30 minutes ago, bangorballetboy said: The restaurant and bar are being merged into a flexible space so that there's more room in the bar when the restaurant is quiet and vice versa. That's what we were told with the Conservatory/Crush Room as well, but no sign of any merging yet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangorballetboy Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 8 minutes ago, MargaretN7 said: That's what we were told with the Conservatory/Crush Room as well, but no sign of any merging yet I don't remember that being in the proposal and it's not there now. The new terrace over the Bow Street extension is taking shape though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 46 minutes ago, bangorballetboy said: Taking out part of the amphi terrace... Well, yes, the adjacent part - which is a significant amount of it - obviously no point in taking out the rest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 I think this is an update: "Open Up Building for the future Important changes to your visit While we make improvements to the Royal Opera House to create an even more dynamic and exciting place you may notice a few changes in some of our public areas. We have begun our work to the Amphitheatre level to deliver a fresh and contemporary restaurant and bar for September 2018. We are committed to delivering the best service to all of our audiences and therefore we have decided to open the Clore ballet studio exclusively for our Amphitheatre ticket holders for interval refreshments. If you would like a drink before the show we would like to invite our Amphitheatre ticket holders to use the Paul Hamlyn Hall bar and the newly opened Dorfman Conservatory bar where we have increased staffing to provide an efficient service. There will be no cloakroom on the Amphitheatre level during this period of works. We have created a new cloakroom in the Paul Hamlyn Hall for Amphitheatre ticket holders. As usual, we ask that you do not bring bags to the venue as cloakroom space is limited and bag checks can cause delays. If you are seated in the Amphitheatre we encourage you to order interval drinks at the desk in the Amphitheatre Corridor before the performance and collect them in the Clore Studio during the interval. Many thanks for your co-operation and understanding." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 We found out tonight that the closure of the Amphitheatre Bar will mean that the Amphitheatre Terrace will no longer be accessible. Apparently the whole area will be blocked off leaving a corridor to enable audience members to get from the escalator to the auditorium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted November 13, 2017 Share Posted November 13, 2017 Brilliant. Guess that means we have to go and stand on Bow Street to get our fresh air - after all, it's not as if there are any other options, are there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now