It's Gonna Be a Great Day: The Quest for the Batch

I'll give you the moral first: Where there's a will, there's a way.

A few weeks ago I found out that it was possible to buy ten pound tickets to see Benedict Cumberbatch in the Barbican's soon-to-be-ending production of Hamlet, the fastest sold out show in the history of the London stage. The catch? There are only thirty a night, and everyone crazy Cumberbitch (this is a real term) wants one.

The first step was recruiting a team to stake out with me. The only friend crazy enough to go? The Canadian go-getter Sam Roberts. So, last Wednesday, she and I woke up in the wee hours and stamped over to the Barbican. We arrive at 5 am, with the expectation that waiting in the cold for five hours would ensure us two of the precious tickets.

Fraid not. There were already too many people in line to both staying! Barbican was like, Get thee to a nunnery!

Alright, no big deal. Neither of us acted the fool. We had learned our lesson and simply planned to go again to try and catch "Bendydic Cumbyboo" in a few days. On Saturday night, we went at 2 am, this time with two more friends and improved supplies.

But guess what...

We had failed to acquire tickets TWO TIMES. Wasted bus trips, wasted late nights. Frustration was building, but with it determination...

On Tuesday night, the time had come. It was our absolute last chance. With a bottle of wine each, coats, sleeping bags (only two), movies and readings, we arrived at the Barbican at 1:45 ...

and we were the 14 and 15 in line!! Meaning, we would be some of the last people to receive tickets nine hours later, when the box office finally opened.

After nearly freezing to death, having a few good talks, escaping under the shelter when it started to pour and finally being allowed inside at 7am .... WE GOT TICKETS! We had a match with the Batch scheduled for that evening. So I did the only thing I could do--hoptailed it home to sleep most of the day before putting on fancy dress and setting out for the fourth and final time, to the Barbican.

It was an amazing set and of course The Batch didn't disappoint. Our seats were sort of terrible, but after all the work we'd put into getting them, I couldn't have loved it any more.