Watching a Theatre performance in a Cinema

A question about : Watching a Theatre performance in a Cinema

Has anyone ever done this?

There's a couple of plays that are being 'screened' that I wouldn't mind seeing but wondered if the view (if that's the right word!) is worth it

Best answers:

• Hi, I have taken my kids to see a few cinema screenings, I would say it's well worth it. Although obviously not the same as being in the actual theatre, the plus sides for me were:
  View- unless buying top price to see it live the view is better in the cinema
  Price - much cheaper, especially as I have a family of 5
  Distance- although we are on a tube line it's still much quicker and easier to get to the cinema, so for example we can go on a school/college night.
  Choice-I suppose this also comes under price , but we can go and see stuff we might like as it's so much cheaper, if I was paying to see live I may not go if I was not sure id like it.
  We have been to encore showings and live showings and the Cinema does feel different , almost always sold out and people are much quiter than usual, ie. as if they were in the theatre not cinema if that makes sense
  Give it a go, we are off to see Frankenstein again next month
• Thanks for that.
  Living far far away from London it certain would be cheaper than going to the Theatre!
  I saw a couple of things that tickled my fancy (including Frankenstien!) so I might just book up - if I don't like it then I don't need to go again!
• No worries, I would say though if you are wanting to see benedict cumberbatch then go for the screening where he plays "creature" we saw him playing doctor Frankenstein last year as that's the only tickets we could get and he was not in it nearly as much as johnny lee miller
• Yes, I go a lot - I've been to most of the NT Live and RSC productions in recent years. They are really good value for money and very well done - they have a number of cameras etc that they cut between so you get very good views, close ups etc- it's not just one camera pointing at the whole stage.
  I've had one occasion (Coriolanus) where the cinema messed up and didn't have it set up correctly, so we missed the start of the performance (we got a refund and a free ticket which I used for the encore performance) and there was a worrying moment during Medea last week where it looked like the signal was going to break up for a second, but in general they are very good and I'd highly recommend them.
  We've seen both versions of Frankenstein and both are very good - for me the version with JLM as the Creature edged it, but in my opinion if you can afford it it's well worth going to see both versions as each actor brings something different to the two roles.
• Btw There's the Billy Elliott one on 28th Sept.
• You can also check with your local cinema if they're doing an 'encore' (second, repeat) screening of the same stream? If they are, it's often cheaper.
• Anyone got any more info on which cinemas are doing Billy Elliott on 28th? Online info on cinemas is not working. How much would the tickets be? and which cinemas?
• https://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinem..._Musical_Live/
  Picturehouses are
• I use this a lot and have seen some fantastic stuff, including BC's Frankenstein. Like to watch opera of which there is plenty of choice. Excellent place to start if you have never been, best seats in the house for about Ј12 but be aware that there can be one and sometimes two long intervals (20-30 mins) on operas streamed from New York Met. The screen stays on and sometimes you can watch the scenery changes or there are related interviews, some more interesting than others. If I am on my own, I might take something to read to pass the time! Sometimes take my own refreshment as do plenty of other people. Love cinema popcorn but prices extortionate for a product that costs pennies to produce. Do take a punt on this, you won't be disappointed, my local Cineworld is in a fairly poor Northern mill town and to be able to access these performances is a real boon.
• Just thought I would update this tread,
  I haven't been but my mother went to a ballet screening just before Christmas and she loved it so much she booked another screening!
  Obviously she would have preferred to see it live but it was the next best thing.
• I've seen both parts of Frankenstein (with Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller) in the cinema and it was brilliant.