Usher shambles – 250 fans hit by tickets chaos

Published on Monday 12 October 2009 22:07

USHER Hall managers are to review their policies after a major concert was delayed due to box office chaos.

A crowd of up to 250 people gathered to buy tickets for the BBC's Scottish Symphony Orchestra at the venue on Sunday night, swamping staff and spilling out into the surrounding streets.

With only 500 tickets sold for the 2,200 capacity hall by Friday, organisers feared the lack of interest would mar the return of conductor Donald Runnicles to his home city.

But the last-minute rush on Sunday – possibly as a result of a BBC documentary on Thursday about Mr Runnicles – eventually pushed ticket sales to 1,040.

Stephen Duffy, spokesman for the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, said: "I've never seen anything like it, there were well over 200 people queuing between 7pm and 7:30pm. I'm surprised at the number that turned up on the night, but overall we are delighted at the turnout."

Mr Runnicles had criticised city officials on Saturday for not promoting classical music or the Usher Hall enough, suggesting in an interview with The Scotsman that they could be "doing more".

Mr Runnicles said: "I would like to see, quite frankly, Edinburgh … doing more to make it clear to audiences that important things, innovative, exciting things are happening on the classical music scene outwith the Edinburgh Festival."

The box office problems came as The Scotsman revealed that work on the Usher Hall's new glass "wing" had been delayed for the third time in nine months, pushing completion of the 14-year-old project back until 2010.

Tam Pollard, the creator of a Donald Runnicles fan site, was at Sunday's concert and saw the size of the queue.

He said: "I was surprised by the number of people and the queue stretched all the way back to the clock in the entrance courtyard.

"The concert kept being delayed as more people were being shown to their seats."

Stephen Perry from the Usher Hall said: "We have a policy on Sundays of not opening the box office until one hour before the performance. But after what happened on Sunday, it's something that needs to be addressed."

Deidre Brock, Edinburgh City Council's culture convener, said: "Sunday's concert at the Usher Hall was a great success. Our box office was busy all afternoon on Sunday, with people flocking to snap up last-minute tickets.

"There was such a flurry of demand the orchestra opted to delay the start of the concert by a few minutes to make sure everyone got to their seats in time."

The concert was one of a series of four at the Usher Hall by the BBC Symphony Orchestra this season.