Letter: Is new theatre up to the job?
Thursday 20th May 2010, 9:18AM BST.
Letter: I recently went to the flagship Severn Theatre in Shrewsbury to see the evening performance of Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
The production was fantastic – wonderful singing, dancing and sets. The power of the show highlighted, however, the inadequacies of the building.
The auditorium was too small for the sound and to do justice to the scenery.
The sound would have been fine in a decent-sized provincial theatre but in the claustrophobic size of Theatre Severn it was overpowering.
Part of the joy at a musical is to see the orchestra and conductor but at Shrewsbury they are isolated away from the audience.
The decoration, with wooden-slatted uprights on the wall, is 1960s. And who approved the drab seat and curtain fabric colouring?
I understand that many in the circle and upper circle have either restricted views or have to sit sideways to see the show.
There do not seem to be enough seats in the foyer area and the anticipated demand for programmes was not met by the management.
Outside the theatre there is dilapidated wooden slatting which has discoloured and the traffic exit is restricted. Perhaps flagship, at £28 million, should be described as half-mast?
Supporters will say that there are full houses for many shows, but at 600 seats is that a surprise?
The individuals who approved the detail of the new theatre project should be named and hopefully hang their heads in shame at a missed opportunity to provide one decent sized theatre for the town.
Andrew Sceats
Shrewsbury
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I’ve only ever been to Theatre Severn once, and I found my seat to have very restricted legroom. I was also very disappointed with the accoustics. It would have to be a very special show to lure me back.
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No centre aisle for toilet/quick exit. Why?
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It would reduce the seating capacity for the venue and therefore big acts which are in demand in Shrewsbury and the outlying areas would not want to come as they would not make enough money out of it. Were they to have had an aisle and have the same capacity, this would cost more money (another reason for people to moan).
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OH moan for moan sake some people will . Perfect facilty all round decent place .
Bad place if your fat,incontinent,deaf,or just moan alot.
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Brilliant. spot on.
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“The auditorium was too small for the sound and to do justice to the scenery.”
I would argue that it is in fact, a privilege to see such productions in a more intimate space. Next.
“Part of the joy at a musical is to see the orchestra and conductor but at Shrewsbury they are isolated away from the audience.”
I don’t know many people who would buy a ticket for Joseph in order to watch an Orchestra. Next.
“The decoration, with wooden-slatted uprights on the wall, is 1960s. And who approved the drab seat and curtain fabric colouring?”
1960s is cool. You’re complaining about the fabric colouring. Is this a joke? Next.
“There do not seem to be enough seats in the foyer area.
Do you propose Theatre Severn supply 650 seats in the foyer areas also? Ridiculous. Next.
Perhaps flagship, at £28 million, should be described as half-mast?
Half-mast? Yes, very good that.
“The individuals who approved the detail of the new theatre project should be named and hopefully hang their heads in shame”
Is this an overreaction?
We are most fortunate that a new entertainment venue has been built in our town. It should be embraced, warts and all. Letters such as this can be so damaging to current arts ventures and those planned for the future. It is nothing more than a river of self-satisfying drivel.
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