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Post by clair on Jul 15, 2020 8:46:20 GMT
Even with a doctor's note the days are included in the majority of workplaces, certainly all my friends have the same thing. As you only get those for seven days or more for most that one illness is it for the year unless they really can't get to work. The trouble with going to statutory sick is most people I know are on pretty low salaries anyway, the drop to that on top would be a major concern so they would still go in. I have to say where I am is pretty good and very understanding in general - plus I'm lucky enough not to suffer from too much ill health - but some of the stories I hear make me totally understand people going in no matter what. Also the next few years are likely to be difficult with redundancies etc, no-one will want a high sick record just in case.
I also know that there are people who take days off for the smallest thing (or because something comes up and they're not really sick) so it's a tough balancing act for managers too.
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Post by clair on Jul 15, 2020 8:00:36 GMT
The only problem with things like colds is that for many of us there are a set number of days sick per year that you can take, one day over and you find yourself going done the disciplinary route. Where I work the number is nine so one bout of proper flu lasting two weeks and you can't have another day in the next twelve months (it's a rolling year). So many of my colleagues have been at the stage of being scared to call in sick - and I know friends for whom the number of days is even lower so they go in unless too ill to make the journey. For this to change it requires change from the top down in most places - many places are great and fantastically supportive when a staff member is quite seriously ill, they just need to start applying that to the lesser illnesses
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Post by clair on Jul 14, 2020 17:30:18 GMT
Whilst all the TFL adverts are saying work from home if possible!
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Post by clair on Jul 14, 2020 13:12:48 GMT
But how do you enforce it and how do you know who might be exempt. You can tell with younger people or people out with a carer but others do they carry an "exemption card". Then you have people who could have things like claustrophobia etc. I expect there'll be a lot of social pressure because nobody will want to stand out from the rest. Just as people maintain a polite two metre separation in a queue without anyone enforcing it because nobody wants to be That Person, so people will want to wear masks in situations where they can't maintain the two metre distance. One of the things that concerns me is that people who are genuinely exempt might end up being treated with hostility in the same way as people with hidden disabilities are when they use a disabled parking space. That's my concern too, not every genuine issue with masks is going to be visible - someone undergoing domestic abuse may well not be able to have something covering their mouth (all too often that could be the abuser's hand stopping the screams) and for them going to do the shopping could be the only respite which will now just become another terrifying experience. I loathe wearing them as I suffer mild claustrophobia but I do wear them and take them off as quickly as is possible once away from people, those with a more severe form will really struggle. Not everyone out there is compassionate enough to accept that for some this is a genuine problem.
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Post by clair on Jul 14, 2020 11:48:35 GMT
Perhaps they're seeing what can be done with 2m for viability further down the line always having the potential to decrease distancing and add seats rather than having to do the opposite
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Post by clair on Jul 11, 2020 8:38:32 GMT
Minack Theatre has already added some storytelling sessions to it's what's on pages - aimed at families but I'm sure if I lived nearby I'd book just to see something, anything at a theatre!
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Post by clair on Jul 10, 2020 7:33:42 GMT
I stopped buying programmes for that reason plus having less money so x number of programmes added up to a ticket for something! I do have quite a collection of mugs though - not every show does them and I haven't bought one at everything that does but there are a fair number of them and they are visible reminders of shows I've enjoyed.
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Post by clair on Jul 9, 2020 11:10:37 GMT
Surely any true fan will avoid stage door unless prearranged with whichever performer they want to see for at least the first few months to see how things go. If they're prepared to put their favourite performer at risk, thus also putting the show and all the theatre staff at risk, by going to the stage door when there's the possibility that they are infectious but have no symptoms then that's not a fan but a selfish idiot. It's going to be difficult enough for theatres to open knowing that if a cast member goes down with covid the show may have to close for the duration of an isolation period without adding to the risks.
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Post by clair on Jul 9, 2020 5:32:26 GMT
May well book for the George IV exhibition at the Queen's Gallery now they've announced opening dates, just waiting to see what my return to work dates will be before doing anything
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Post by clair on Jul 8, 2020 17:46:46 GMT
Friday March 13th - The Red Shoes
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Post by clair on Jul 8, 2020 12:02:26 GMT
Quite frankly I don't get involved in those conversations on twitter - I don't follow too many people, will mute or stop following those who get annoying and can't see the point of trying to argue with anyone in a limited number of words.
Yes, there are ways of finding cheaper tickets and so on but then it's all the additional costs - my parents went to see something with friends and although the ticket price wasn't too bad it cost them over £10 to park while they were there - no easy public transport route for them even though a local theatre. They really have to pick and choose carefully as they have limited income. Also accessible covers many things such as actual access for those with mobility needs (yes most theatres have massively improved on this but here's still the getting there and back to consider) and transport (many places outside big cities have cut services so the last bus is before the end of a performance). Then again there are so many people who have been brought up to believe that 'theatre isn't for the likes of us' by parents who either weren't interested or couldn't afford it and who are intimidated by the idea of going - far easier to blame it on ticket prices than to say they're scared of unknown territory.
I love theatre however right now even if they were open I couldn't afford to go - not even at a £10 ticket - due to paycuts already in place and redundancies looming and sadly I think there are going to be many more people in this situation as we get to the end of the year. Some people complaining about it being for the elite may well be worrying about how to pay the rent and won't take into account all the thousands of people in the industry in the same boat, all they'll see are the big names who don't have that worry.
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Post by clair on Jul 4, 2020 14:46:34 GMT
I gave in and, despite having no money and having promised myself I wouldn't buy anything for the rest of the year, am now awaiting the delivery of a Howard Keel face mask - if I have to wear them they can at least be a decent picture!
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Post by clair on Jul 1, 2020 10:47:35 GMT
There will be some leisure activities though with galleries and museums starting to open, plus many people consider going shopping a leisure activity (I personally call it hell on earth but others seem to enjoy it), some zoos are open again, cinemas starting to open up - people may well travel to meet friends once travel is a better, more viable option. Theatres being closed for a long time affects all of us on here badly and a huge industry of amazing people but they are not the only leisure activity out there, many people I know never go to a theatre but are missing other things. This thread is about getting recreation and leisure up and running not just theatres.
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Post by clair on Jun 30, 2020 12:09:21 GMT
Or could be more like The Graduate if you have an older Eliza and younger Higgins/Pickering/Freddy
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Post by clair on Jun 30, 2020 9:11:26 GMT
If we can have an age blind Hamlet what are people's thoughts on who they could be casting for an age blind MFL?!
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Post by clair on Jun 29, 2020 20:08:19 GMT
Panto is the one form of theatre that can be played with though - audience participation could be altered to work. For example have masks made that say POP (protect our panto) and change the 'when I say xxx shout Buttons' to 'when I say mask you clap once to make a 'pop' noise'. Songs could be recorded by the cast and that gets played while they do a dance routine/silly walk/whatever is appropriate, 'it's behind you' becomes the audience pointing to the area of the stage rather than shouting, instead of a physical kiss a sound effect and so on. It wouldn't be the same but it could work if done properly.
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Post by clair on Jun 28, 2020 19:27:35 GMT
I, and many of my friends, don't have a smartphone - I have a cheap pay as you go which is all I need, I'm not so important that I have to be contactable 24/7 and neither do I feel that I need to be looking at a screen or plugged in at all times. As for the idiots who use their phones to pay on the bus - don't get me started. They simply hold the rest of us up - I timed the waiting on a bus journey to work once, with the amount of time wasted as people tried to get their phones to work, get signal etc that was 10 minutes that could have been spent having a cuppa at work before starting!
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Post by clair on Jun 28, 2020 19:20:33 GMT
I was surprised when the email came through - thought 29th September was being optimistic so bringing it forward seemed insane. I've not seen it yet, being on a very tight budget I can't spend that amount on a show that's 75 minutes long and the cheap seats are rarely available although right now there seem to be plenty at under £30 so might take the plunge once I know whether or not I'm being made redundant!
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Post by clair on Jun 28, 2020 8:42:51 GMT
I've had an email from See tickets saying that tickets are on sale for performances from 4th August although on the website they only start from 29th Sept so could be that it's opening earlier than expected
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Cash
Jun 28, 2020 6:57:28 GMT
Post by clair on Jun 28, 2020 6:57:28 GMT
There's just one company I pay by cheque - they do have paypal set up but that has a per item charge so it's cheaper to post a cheque. If everything goes to card only it will save me money as I refuse to use a card for buying a cuppa, drink or programme at a theatre etc, I distrust contactless as I know far too many people who have been scammed so small amounts are cash. I'll save money, those places will lose it, simple.
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Post by clair on Jun 26, 2020 17:28:31 GMT
I've taken to putting a couple of large plastic bottles of water in the freezer then one of them sits bobbing about happily in a bowl of cold water along with my feet! Once that one has melted I swap them over and so on - it may not look elegant but it works!
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Post by clair on Jun 24, 2020 15:31:11 GMT
Wearing gloves without changing them constantly means that you are still continually spreading any contamination for others - using hand sanitiser between shops means you don't spread anything from one shop to another, wearing the same gloves in different shops will be spreading germs - is how I've had it explained to me. I got so confused by all the 'advice' online that I spoke to the GP and a friend who works in the NHS and they both said the same thing so I'm sticking to their comments. That doesn't mean I'm right but I simply can't face going through all the different suggestions online to try to make sense of it all
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Post by clair on Jun 24, 2020 12:34:37 GMT
Past caring about the electric bill - the fan will be on all day and all night so that I'm still here to actually pay the bill! I loathe this weather especially as I'm one of the unlucky people who is allergic to the sun, having had sunstroke in winter I'm going nowhere today. Stocked up on ice cream and lollies last week thankfully.
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Post by clair on Jun 24, 2020 7:08:55 GMT
Also many people who have suffered abuse in it's many forms will possibly/probably have had their mouths covered at some point to prevent then screaming/shouting - wearing a mask could be impossible for them. Of course there are selfish people thinking they can do as they please but let's not judge that this is automatically the case, we don't know everyone's story
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Post by clair on Jun 23, 2020 14:36:01 GMT
I know how unlikely it is but if this could persuade Julia McKenzie to make one last stage appearance I would actually pay the insane Coliseum prices!
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Post by clair on Jun 21, 2020 14:30:27 GMT
Masks should be worn inside shops, on public transport or in crowded areas but various friends working in NHS have said they don't need to be worn all the time - if out for a walk and not near others then we should be getting fresh air as well. Also I'm trying not to judge those without, yes some people are just selfish but there are many who cannot wear them constantly for health reasons, some (including me) suffer from claustrophobia and wearing a mask is extremely difficult. I wear it if in close proximity to other but certainly not if in a park or on a walk which is what I've been advised by the GP, as long as I don't cough/sneeze over someone and am not close to them that is considered to be fine.
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Post by clair on Jun 19, 2020 10:45:26 GMT
I would love this to have 'names' for the older characters such as Higgins, Pickering, Doolittle, Mrs Higgins and Mrs Pearce but to give a couple of unknowns a chance as Eliza and Freddy. So many young performers who are wondering whether they'll have a profession to enter right now and it would be amazing to offer that chance out there for them
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Post by clair on Jun 18, 2020 16:48:07 GMT
It helps to kill off the 'no one will buy a ticket' to a live event argument - the market and appetite is there. This concert will get millions of viewers tonight - it's pretty powerful stuff showing venues with an audience again. To put it another way, up until a few days ago, this concert was going ahead with zero audience at all. Paris is (finally) on a route back. ETA And just because it is France, the audience have been asked to wear a tasteful and discreet dark mask. Those Parisiens, eh! Would be interesting to see what this looks like. 2000 people spread over a 20000 seat arena could look pretty sad and pathetic. I’m guessing they won’t be across the whole venue though. I guess a lot depends on whether you are a glass half full or glass half empty person - to me it's not the number of people spread in a big area but the fact that there's an audience. It's a start and that's cause for celebration, the next thing there might have 4000 people if this goes well - theatres will have to start small and work the numbers upwards, anything that can help show that people will buy tickets and turn up is a cause for celebration in my world
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Post by clair on Jun 18, 2020 16:42:25 GMT
I rarely watch any tv at all to be honest - mind you, I never did even as a child so it's nothing new. I do agree though and sometimes wonder how today's fans of tv shows would react if they had to watch each episode as it aired, no video let alone streaming, if you weren't in then you missed it. Fans of tv shows when I was younger really were fans, making sure you could see it, buying magazines etc for interviews with your favourite performers and always discussing with friends the next day. Also the bliss of no spoilers, no social media telling you what you hadn't yet seen and being truly involved with the characters. I don't really get the idea of binge watching, the anticipation of what would happen has simply disappeared with it all being so readily available
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Post by clair on Jun 16, 2020 10:11:37 GMT
...give the cast a break, they are all great but I do feel that shorter tours would enable them to keep that energy going throughout and breathe new life into it even without changes being made. Or perhaps recast more regularly. Possibly - although as I said I think they just need slightly shorter runs to catch their breath, and their emotions as it must be emotionally exhausting as a show. I've seen various people in most roles so the impression of a different show could just as easily be that joy of being back together again as well.
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