The Grand in Blackpool is trialling a new project, the first of its kind at the theatre, asking customers “what would you pay for great drama?” on its opening performance of English Touring Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe Eternal Love on March 11.
Marketing manager Andrew Howard said: “We hope this will help many more people enjoy a night at our lovely theatre.”
Customers can book tickets for the opening night by calling up the box office or booking in person at the theatre (tickets can’t be booked online for this particular performance).
After the performance, the customer decides what price they feel the performance was worth by paying a sum of their choice upon exiting the auditorium. Contributions go towards programming more quality drama in the future.
Eternal Love tells the story of a wild, ill-fated affair between philosophy teacher Abelard and his student Heloise, and the controversial and radical views which led them to question key figures and beliefs of the day.
The production marks the inaugural tour of the National Touring Group a consortium of eight major venues across the UK which aims to bring high quality and ambitious theatre to areas of the country that fundamentally rely on touring for their arts provision.
Performed in 2006 and 2007 to acclaim at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the NTG’s Spring 2014 tour of Eternal Love will see the original creative team re-unite.