Royal & Derngate Reviews Summary

Theatre Experience

Pros:

• "Great theatre."
• "The theatre was comfortable, clean and staff were lovely and friendly."
• "Staff were great and it felt so safe and clean."
• "Theatre is clean and offers a good range of drinks, snacks etc at a good price."
• "A theatre of the highest quality with a warm entrance at the door and 100% service behind the bar."
• "Have never found a seat that doesn't offer a great view."
• "Every single member of staff had smiles on their faces and there was evidence of them talking, smiling and helping their visitors."

Cons:

• "The seats are far past their use by date. My seat was very uncomfortable and was held together by tape."
• "Great show and great artist at this venue, but the seats really need some work. They are so uncomfortable."
• "Seats are starting to look worn out and threadbare could do with being refurbished with new cushioning and seat covers replaced."
• "Inside it really feels old and worn, screaming for a refurb with worn out chairs that are far from luxury."
• "The chairs are extremely tatty and uncomfortable for the duration you're there for."
• "Seats could be re-cushioned soon."
• "The chairs were horrendously uncomfortable."

Show Quality

Pros:

• "Panto was very good despite some understudy."
• "Entertainment was great."
• "5 stars for the panto itself; such a pity the sound was so awful as to completely distract from the performance."
• "Saw what was probably the best production of Gilbert & Sullivan last night when I saw Ruddigore at The Royal The costumes were excellent the songs and diction great and the plot was fun as well."
• "Terrific show, great costumes, lovely 'feel good' punchy, songs."
• "The show however was amazing!"
• "The act was brilliant."

Cons:

• "Pantomime Cindarella was technically good, and well designed costumes, but the show was not appropriate for young kids, e.g. showing stripping man to his pants etc."
• "Disappointed in the pantomime, somehow the atmosphere was poor and lighting wasn't dimmed."
• "We did have a lovely time, but the sound was not very good, we sat in the circle and couldn't understand what the actors were saying."
• "Sound in the upper circle too loud and very very distorted."
• "A version of the Buddy Holly Story a couple of years ago that was so amateur it made me want to cry."
• "A touring version of a West End show was completely ruined by members of the audience constantly coughing, fidgeting, unwrapping sweets, twiddling their thumbs, children bawling."
• "The only negative was the 2 women sat next to us who throughout the performance were talking, giggling, on their phones and sneaking e-cigs which spoilt the experience a little."

Facilities and Accessibility

Pros:

• "Would recommend any time."
• "Disabled access good too."
• "The Derngate seems to have improved recently drastically and has had a face lift."
• "The Underground is a more intimate performance space."
• "Very comfortable venue."
• "There are great facilities at the R&D."
• "Good accessibility for wheelchair users etc and ADEQUATE BATHROOMS meaning minimal queues!"

Cons:

• "The temporary toilets near the entrance to the Filmhouse are tiny."
• "Not easy parking. Pantomime Cindarella was technically good, and well designed costumes, but the show was not appropriate for young kids."
• "Because of the issues with the concrete, parts of the venue are closed."
• "Not enough toilets and difficult to get to downstairs."
• "The heat of the place was very hot !!"
• "Not disabled friendly at all. Too many different levels to negotiate."
• "Men's toilets are a real disappointment given how they look after the rest of the venue."

Staff and Service

Pros:

• "Kudos to the auditorium staff who will enforce the 'no mobile phones' rule."
• "The staff were helpful, and the bar prices were not extortionate."
• "The staff are super friendly, helpful and polite."
• "Staff on the night were friendly, cheerful and very helpful."
• "No matter where you are heading or what show you are there to see, the helpful and friendly staff will take care of you."
• "The staff were really helpful and friendly."
• "Staff are friendly and helpful."

Cons:

• "Only downside was the elderly couple checking tickets."
• "Found the staff inside the concert hall a bit rude and abrupt being told in no uncertain terms to turn off my phone."
• "The younger staff could be better trained."
• "First of all the staff where rude and extremely unhelpful."
• "Had to wait 25 mins after we had paid for our drinks to actually receive them and staff didn't apologize."
• "Seats so old very uncomfortable and not helpful staff when people walking with aids to get into theatre itself."
• "The gents toilets an absolute disgrace."