The Secret Seven at Chester Storyhouse

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AlexH
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The Secret Seven at Chester Storyhouse

Post by AlexH »

Is anyone going to see this? I saw the posters for it on the way to work last week and got quite excited (though I never got massively into The Secret Seven, but it is Enid Blyton).

https://www.storyhouse.com/event/secretseven" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Apologies if it's already been posted. I searched, but couldn't find it.
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Re: The Secret Seven at Chester Storyhouse

Post by Daisy »

That looks interesting AlexH. Lovely to think Enid Blyton is having an airing in a theatre once more.
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Re: The Secret Seven at Chester Storyhouse

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

I'm sure young fans will enjoy it. My sister and I would have loved to see an Enid Blyton-themed play as youngsters. We had a shed of our own just like the Secret Seven and we practised "shadowing" and other detecting skills and longed for a mystery to come our way!
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

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Re: The Secret Seven at Chester Storyhouse

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

The play opened a week ago and a short video of audience comments has been added to the Storyhouse website:

https://www.storyhouse.com/event/secretseven" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Some rehearsal shots are also available here:

https://www.enidblyton.co.uk/behind-the ... atre-show/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


The storyline is summarised as follows:
Bright lights, frosty nights, presents on the tree – Christmas is coming to Cherrydale! But something is wrong. There’s a strange fire burning in a haunted cottage, Santa’s elves aren’t being nice at all – and who’s the little girl who can walk in the air? The Secret Seven must be at their best and brightest to solve this mystery – and with no help at all from Jack’s little sister Susie…
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


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Re: The Secret Seven at Chester Storyhouse

Post by pete9012S »

The adult prices seem expensive - or am I just out of touch?
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Re: The Secret Seven at Chester Storyhouse

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

It's about right for adults, Pete, I've paid more than that before I was 65 that is. Now I'm a pensioner I get special rates. :lol: :lol:

Glad it seems to be going well, would love to see it if it came to Truro or Plymouth. :)

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Re: The Secret Seven at Chester Storyhouse

Post by Rob Houghton »

£26 for adults seems very cheap to me!! The lowest adult price for the Birmingham Hippodrome pantomime is £29.00 - the highest price is £99.99. Most shows are now at least £45 a seat in Birmingham Hippodrome. Some theatres are a little less - but I'd say that's about average. Our local Hippodrome also stopped doing concessions for pensioners a few years ago, so pensioners now pay full price (sorry Julie!! :lol: )

Even our amateur musical company charge £16 - £18 a ticket. Putting on shows is just so expensive these days.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
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Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

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Re: The Secret Seven at Chester Storyhouse

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

No need to be sorry, Rob, I wouldn't travel up to the Birmingham Hippodrome anyway. :lol:

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Re: The Secret Seven at Chester Storyhouse

Post by Rob Houghton »

I know you wouldn't! :lol:

Seriously, I was shocked though a couple of years ago, when I tried to get matinee seats for the Cape Town Opera version of 'Showboat' - NOT to be missed - it was amazing! - and concessions for two over-60's friends were not available! They had to pay the full price of £45 each.
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: The Secret Seven at Chester Storyhouse

Post by AlexH »

I've booked for the last weekend, so unfortunately won't be able to give feedback in time for anyone else who is considering going. It sounds very good judging by the write-up in the Chester Chronicle.

I find the price differences for different times/dates annoying - it's as cheap as £21, but as expensive as £32 - that makes it a huge difference for a family.
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Famous Five play.

Post by MJE »

Daisy wrote:Lovely to think Enid Blyton is having an airing in a theatre once more.
     I wonder if the Famous Five play ever gets performed nowadays. I'd never have guessed a Famous Five story could be in the least convincing within the limits of what can be staged, and with presumably very limited scene changes, and still seem like a Famous Five story. So when I saw a copy of the play for sale on eBay, I was curious and bought it, and, when I read it, I found it quite ingenious and it did seem that it would work quite well.
     Just a pity that a page was missing (indicated in the book) where one could only infer what probably happened there - someone would need to fill that in and write a new page to make all the events match up.
     And curious that two rather different endings (10-20 pages each) were provided also.

Regards, Michael.
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Re: The Secret Seven at Chester Storyhouse

Post by AlexH »

I saw this today and was disappointed. The set and costumes looked good, but I thought it was shouty and over-acted at times, and it didn't grip me. Maybe there were too many characters to introduce in a short space of time - if I remember rightly, there were 4 or 5 before the Seven first appeared. There weren't many big laughs in the theatre (which was a mix of ages, but more children than adults). I didn't think great use was made of the accompanying live band. The ending was nice.

Overall, it was okay, but won't live long in the memory. All the reviews I've seen are very positive, however. I've been searching to try and find one that fits my view - and the only one that does is who I went to the theatre with! So I'm in the minority, or it was an off-night (matinee).

I only have one comparison in terms of children's theatre in my adult life, which was 101 Dalmations at Newcastle-under-Lyme's New Vic Theatre - which was outstanding, and one of the most fun things I've ever seen live. I'll be returning there next Christmas - who knows, maybe they'll pick an Enid Blyton story!
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Re: The Secret Seven at Chester Storyhouse

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Thanks for letting us know your thoughts on the play, Alex, though I'm sorry it was disappointing.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
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Re: The Secret Seven at Chester Storyhouse

Post by Susan Webster »

[hi just seen this . is it still at chester story house and is it near raolway station.
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