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ROYAL COURT THEATRE
UPSTAIRS |
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DISCONNECT (play)
Ends 20th March
2010.
After show talk: 25th February 2010.
From an Indian call centre, Roshan peruses credit card debtors in the
USA.
The latest play from Anupama "Free Outgoing" Chandrasekhar is directed
by Indhu Rubasingham.
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Theatremonkey Opinion: |
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ITV comedy series "Mumbai Calling" in 2009 dealt with the culture clash of UK
managers meeting Indian call centres. Here, it is an Indian staff employed by
America to collect American debts, and neither side is laughing. The pressures
exerted, and the pressures exerted upon the exerters cause the hapless young
staff to almost mentally fuse with their prey. Already asked to be "Western,"
they adopt the anxieties of those they speak to and build their fantasies around
them.
John Napier's set manages to give the play the atmosphere it needs more
quickly than the writing, and it is to the actors credit that they eventually
get us to care about their characters and dilemmas despite undertaking a
distasteful job.
Without much in the way of history for each character, it is kept very much
in the present and as such we miss out on one dimension of the drama. Anupama
Chandrasekhar is inventive, but there isn't really enough to sustain the entire
evening. It isn't a bad play - just perhaps we'd like more about the people in
the call centre, which is the point of it all.
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Important: Some reviews below can contain "spoilers" - please don't read if this
bothers you!
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The monkey advises checking performance times on your tickets and
that performances are happening as scheduled, before travelling.
Monday to Saturday at 7.45pm
Extra performances on Saturdays at 4pm
Runs 1 hour 30 minutes approximately.
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All seats:
Tuesday to Saturday: £15
Mondays all seats £10
Concessions at £10 are available in advance for all evening performances until
22nd February 2010, and also any afternoon performances. For all other
performances, concessions are available on a standby basis only. The Royal Court
Theatre also takes part in the "A Night Less Ordinary" Scheme, offering free
tickets to under 25s at some performances. Contact the theatre box office for
applicable productions, dates and full details.
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Theatre Box Office:
www.royalcourttheatre.com
provide their own service for this theatre.
Site not available between 02.30 hrs and 05.00 hrs
UK time
Booking fees per ticket for online bookings:
35p bank fee is levied per transaction, not per booking using this method.
Cheaper than by telephone. Other Online Choices (with
S.T.A.R. genuine ticket
agencies):
Independent S.T.A.R. ticket agencies
may also offer an alternative choice of seats.
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Box Office Information: |
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Tickets offered differ between outlets. Outlets also may offer
different seats via their phone and online systems. Offers may be
available click here. |
Theatre Box Office:
Telephone:
020 7565 5100
(10am to 6pm) then 020 7565 5000
Operated by the Royal Court Theatre itself. At
busy times / outside working hours - 10am to 6pm, See Tickets may
answer on behalf of the venue but may not be able to make bookings
for this venue.
Discounts cannot be booked by the agency, nor can they
give disabled access advice. Call if possible weekdays 11 am to 4 pm
for the best chance of speaking to the box office itself. Booking fees per ticket for telephone bookings:
A 50p booking fee is charged to post out tickets by
the Royal Court Box Office, online is cheaper.
For personal callers or by post: Sloane Square, London. SW1W 8AS
No booking fee for personal callers.
Special Access Needs Customers:
Wheelchair users and other registered disabled
theatregoers can book their seats on 020 7565 5000 and enquire about
concessionary prices that may be available to them.
The wheelchair users line connects
directly to the theatre box office in London during working hours. If for some
reason See Tickets answer, ask to be connected to the theatre / arrange to be
called back.
See Notes.
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Theatre Seat Opinions: |
Please remember that cheaper seats often do not offer the same view /
location quality as top price ones, and that ticket prices are designed to
reflect this difference.
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| A simple black painted studio room in a space once used as a restaurant.
Seating can be moved around to allow any configuration of stage and audience.
The most common seating arrangement is one simple stand with 8 benches. The rake
is good.
Seats are unreserved so the earliest arrival gets first pick. Arrive well
before the show to avoid having to sit at the far end of a bench squashed
against a wall.
Legroom is poor in all seats, worst on the front bench. The only good legroom
is on the back bench spaces which have the aisle staircase in
front. Protest vigorously any attempt by the ushers to move you for latecomers
to be seated. A bad leg is the best argument.
Notes
Seats 80 approx.
Occasional signed and audio described performances. Scripts available free to
deaf patrons attending sign-interpreted performances. Texture mapped stairs and
floor number announcer in lift. Guide dogs welcome in auditorium or dog sat.
Hearing loop at box office, and infra red headsets in auditorium. Wheelchair
space in auditorium. Access via lifts and easy slopes. Adapted unisex toilets at
theatre level, as well as others shared with rest of complex. Fuller details www.royalcourttheatre.com
or call the box office. A "venue access guide" from the team who created book "Theatremonkey,
A Guide to London's West End," is available to download in PDF format
by clicking here.
Restaurant / Cafe in basement shared with main theatre. Ice cream and
confectionery in auditorium.
Three bars shared with main theatre.
Toilets shared with main theatre.
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Nearest Underground Station:
Sloane Square - Circle Line (yellow) and District Line (green).Plan your tube journey to this station using the button below:
The theatre is next to the station.
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Buses:
11, 19, 22, 219, C1 to Sloane Square. |
Car Park:
Cadogan Place. From the car park, exit onto Cadogan Place. Turn to
your right and walk to the junction with Sloane Street. Turn left into
Sloane Street and walk up it, crossing Pont Street, to the theatre,
which is ahead of you on the far side of Sloane Square. |
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