The Harold Pinter Theatre — Attraction in London

This review is not about a play or the venue, but about the theatre’s staff. I usually don’t write negative reviews, but the people at the Harold Pinter Theatre managed to ruin our experience today. Simply by deciding to follow rules blindly, showing no kindness, understanding or just simple heart. When we arrived at the theater, we had some takeaways in a plastic bag, because we had rushed from the Chinese restaurant to arrive at the play on time. We explained our case, but they told us we couldn’t enter the theate. We completely understand that people can’t bring their food in, but it was obviously not food we would eat during the play - we just happened to have it with us and didn’t want to waste it. When we asked if we could simply leave the boxes somewhere and get them back after the play, they told us « no, you need to finish your food now or you can’t get in ». Obviously, we couldn’t finish our food on the pavement.. so we left it on the street around the corner, hoping we would find it again after the show. Following a rule for the sake of it, showing no understanding or customer service is such a shame for a place like the Harold Pinter theatre, which should promote better human values. The play itself, Lyonesse, was beautiful. At some point around the end of the show, I needed to open my bag to take my pill. But the person right behind me was in charge of silence and rushed in to tell me I couldn’t search my bag during the play. I was careful not to make noise, I respect people around me, but explained that I just needed to take my contraception. She told me that I couldn’t do it here, and would have to leave the room to take it. I missed some of the play to do so. Quite ironic in the context of a play about a woman not willing to get pregnant again. I’ve been a regular at the Harold Pinter theatre, but I told the staff today, that I might...

Recently had tickets for Macbeth, which got cancelled for a number of days before our showing due to company illness, and on the night of our showing the lead actors weren't performing but the show was going ahead with understudies. We opted to get a refund so we could go another night, only to be told that the rest of the run was completely sold out. Imagine my shock when I went online and found tickets for sale at massively inflated prices - ten times what we initially paid. When we contacted the theatre and told them there were tickets for sale, and asked if we could have tickets at the same price we initially paid, we were effectively told that it was impossible as we had bought access tickets. Translated: One of you is disabled so even though we told you the run was sold out, we can't pricematch the tickets that are up for sale to the tickets you initially bought! Stinks of ableism to me. We went up to the theatre after a showing another night and got to meet David Tennant, which was incredible, but the staff manning the stage door were quite rude, refusing to repeat an answer to a question that was asked by someone else when we didn't hear it - apparently it wasn't a "general question" it was a "personal question". I'm not sure what's "personal" about a question regarding whether the actors will be stopping for selfies, but there we go. David did tell us he wasn't stopping for selfies, and he did it much more politely than the theatre staff! To end on a positive, the staff in the lobby where we bought the programme were...

First time to this theatre under it's current name. Play: The Years, the play follows the life of the author through five stages from the end of the war through the war in terror. As seen from France. The play uses imagined photos to stage each section of the authors life. With the author being played by the youngest through to the oldest actress The play does not suger coat life so many may feel offended, but it is a lived experience. Including abusive sex and unlawful abortion in graphic details. In the case of the later, woman may still experience this through the pill in the post system. And sadly abusive sex has not been eliminated from the lexicon of interpersonal relationships. The story also travels through development of technology since WWII. Life has changed and life has remained the same. The play is challenging. But it has humour and the constellation of human emotions. Do not attend if graphic depiction of abusive sex and unlawful abortion would make you faint. Do see if you can understand the lived experience. Would see again. Staff very helpful. Second time to see The Years, Tuppence Middleton seamlessly takes over from Romola Garai as the woman 3. I don't know if the audience fainting is part of the play but it seems to happen every performance. is a pity that Tuppence is not credited on the...