Just found this new series of 8 programmes on Sky Arts- Thursdays 8pm Its a behind the scenes look at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket including the rehearsals for Waiting for Godot.

I see things I'd like to watch on Sky arts programmes but they cannot be bought in anything other than package deal Sky channels I would not want to have or to pay for. Likewise football broadcasts: I'd rent them but do not want all the other stuff that has to be paid for when being a Sky customer. Were Sky to offer arts channels for a modest sum, it would be able to sign up many more viewers than it has, who would pay for what they want to watch.

For those of you who can get Sky Arts- the first in the series of 8 starts tonight at 8.30 pm

Is this right? In the listings it does not appear and on the website it indicates that the first episode is tomorrow night?

Edit: I've found it now. Meerkat is correct.

Meerkat usually is.

Ah thank you, I'm blushing- but can you tell my teenagers!!!

Part 2 tonight at 8pm.

Tonight? Oh right, thanks. Why the sporadic episode broadcast. I thought this was a once a week programme?! Is it back to once a week from now on?

Any thoughts on last night's episode? Thought it was entertaining and worthwhile. It's always refreshing to see a theatre programme on the telly - they're so rare.

Poor man having to check all those seats!!!!

Just found out its repeated on Sundays on Sky Arts 1 at 7:30pm

I've been watching this, it's really interesting to have a look at the Haymarket, which is one of my favourite theatres. It's great to see a factual theatre programme focusing on a less publicised show for once. It should be broadcast on terrestrial then more people would watch it.

I agree, it's an excellent programme and I look forward to watching it every week. However, I don't think it would ever be shown on terrestrial as we are are in a minority - I don't think there's an audience for it at all. Apart from us theatre enthusiasts, who would watch it? It's depressing when we have to look hard into the lesser known satellite channels to get good TV. Joe Public wants people tearing into each other on Jeremy Kyle, or I'm a Celebrity, Watch me for 24 hours and cook a meal in 30 seconds etc... It's just the way it is.

Following on from last night's episode- has anyone seen a theatre ghost?

Does anyone know the full name of the Master Carpenter?

Loving this series btw! We need more of this, it really saddens me how there is no love over here for the West End compared to Broadway, would be lovey to get some televised awards...

My favourite moment was the cameraman having to point out Maggie Smith and Joan Plowright to the usher that was supposed to be VIPing them.

It's certainly giving a revealing insight into the workings of a theatre - I never knew that theatres actually had a planned fire evacuation with a full house in.

Bravo Sky Arts - terrific series. The farewell to Godot show was truly moving. Ian McKellen has leapt in my estimation from luvvie to true great.

The "haunted" episode felt a bit like "Whoops, we've got one more episode to fill than we thought, what shall we do?" but otherwise I agree, I've enjoyed the series a lot. Fun to see what goes on and what the people are like backstage. I too was surprised and quite moved by how emotional McKellen got after the final show, especially in contrast to how matter-of-fact he was about it before the performance started.

I agree, New York is buzzing leading up to the Tony's. We have the Oliviers which most people don't even know when it is and it only gets a couple of lines in page 7 of the Evening Standard. Even Broadway on Broadway, which was inspired by West End Live is so much better.

It's sad when you have to tell a British person that the Olivier Awards are "the British version of the Tonys". It's ridiculous that they're not broadcast on TV - if the BBC was really interested in promoting theatre, they'd find time to show them, perhaps instead of one of those reality TV casting programmes! It's a vicious circle: the less the public are interested in theatre, the less coverage it gets; the less coverage it gets, the less the public are interested in it, etc.

Actually, I rather liked the ghost film. It was interesting in its own right because of the great theatre tradition of ghosts generally but also because I liked the gentle tongue-in-cheekness of it. Extraordinary, none the less that Patrick Stewart saw something suspicious on stage. The filmmaker must have thanked his lucky stars. Also, it was refreshing to come away from the intensity of the stage for a programme although I am pleased we are back with the cut and thrust of production again.

I think theatre is a great place for this sort of observational storytelling and I for one hope we get more of this in the future. One consequence, I truly hope, will be that it persuades more people to try live theatre for themselves - not only the Westend but regional theatres as well which are as least as good at providing great productions as anything in "Theatreland".

I agree with this except I wonder how much mileage there is in "theatre" for an ongoing series. I guess it all depends on the "characters". Certainly, the characters in the theatre royal I could watch alot more of but then I am already interested in theatre. Also, it is clear that the actual play concerned can only ever be a "back-cloth" as the main stories are those that surround the production - like the carpenters. But anything that promotes theatre is good in my book. The other thing I have noticed is that this series has not concentrated on arguments and tempers etc which so many reality shows do - and that is refreshing although I am sure they occur in this theatre as in any other - so perhaps the films are a little sugar coated. Still love them though.

Did anyone else get teary like me when Sir Ian cried after his last performance of Godot?
I love this series.

I havent been a happy bunny this week as last weeks episode and its repeats have failed to record- but over on Broadwayworld they say there will be a DVD out on 19th October- hurrah!

That is right. A DVD of the entire series will be out in October according to the website. That's my Christmas presents taken care of! Does anyone know if this is an ongoing series? I would love to see this treatment applied to other theatres. Which ones would people like to see? The National perhaps? Or what about an out of town theatre? Yorkshire Playhouse?

The last show about the run up to "Breakfast..." was interesting - now I know how they get cats to act on cue and also that it's probably a bad idea to start rollerskating coaching 6 days before the first preview.

I'm pleased to hear about the DVD release as last week's episode failed to record whilst I was on holiday. I'm not as annoyed about missing it now.

I remember doing Waiting for Godot in my drama class during college. Freakin' love that play. The DVD's come up for pre-order on Play.com, so thats £10.99 of my money well spent.

By the way, anybody know the theme music to the show?

I got this DVD a couple of weeks ago as I don't have access to Sky Arts. I saw Waiting for Godot in April when it was on tour in Bath , and find the whole working of theatres fascinating, so I knew I would love it....

And I wasn't disappointed. I've just watched the first 6 programmes back to back.

I too cried when Sir Ian McKellen got emotional after the final performance.