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Post by talkingheads on Mar 14, 2020 22:59:16 GMT
Theatres are going to shut aren't they? I mean they have to. Even more so than cinemas and other public places, especially West End brings a mix of tourists and people from all over, the fact they are still open and operating is astonishing frankly.
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Post by longinthetooth on Mar 14, 2020 23:48:46 GMT
The last time I went to my local cinema, it was almost as good as self isolating. There were only three of us in the audience. Sorry I'm being flippant, but it's that or fall into a deep depression (which I can feel is on its way ....)
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Post by malvolio on Mar 14, 2020 23:58:17 GMT
I assume nothing now will be announced until Monday?
So in the meantime, I wonder if the Admin team would Be good enough to run a poll please? On whether that theatre should go dark like New York/America or stay open?
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Post by Jon on Mar 15, 2020 0:28:23 GMT
I used SOLT’s website for tickets to The Seagull but I used a gift card to part pay for it. If it’s cancelled, will I be able to get the gift card amount or just the money paid by card?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2020 1:43:08 GMT
With a lot of sport being closed I think that larger gatherings will be banned and thus a lot of shows will go dark.
I noticed that clubs holding over 1,000 people were open tonight in B'ham but football matches attracting similar sized crowds probably won't be played.
I personally felt that sport should have played this weekend where possible and shut down after Sunday.
With shows we'll get cast illnesses which could well be nothing like Covid 19 but symptoms could be similar. Can shows risk running if someone might have infected others - imagine lawsuits hitting ALW, Cameron, Kenwright, ATG if they did. To test the whole cast, backstage crew etc wouldn't be practical.
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Post by mrbluesky on Mar 15, 2020 10:24:38 GMT
The first bit of speculation was that large gatherings of 1000 or more would be cancelled, starting with stadiums and the like. With football off for what is effectively just over two weeks, I reckon the best thing is for theatres to do the same. It might work, it might not, but at least the industry can say it did its part.
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Post by tmesis on Mar 15, 2020 14:19:26 GMT
I think the one no-brainier to be cancelled is The Proms. The RAH holds 5000 plus and all those promenaders standing in close proximity!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2020 15:35:00 GMT
I think the one no-brainier to be cancelled is The Proms. The RAH holds 5000 plus and all those promenaders standing in close proximity! The Proms don't start until mid-July! If we're all going to be that pessimistic then what is the point of ever looking forward to anything? |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2020 15:37:43 GMT
I think the one no-brainier to be cancelled is The Proms. The RAH holds 5000 plus and all those promenaders standing in close proximity! The Proms don't start until mid-July! If we're all going to be that pessimistic then what is the point of ever looking forward to anything? Well if the Proms goes then that will be the bloody end! |
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Post by zak97 on Mar 15, 2020 15:44:54 GMT
I assume the Oliviers won’t happen as scheduled. Could it be delayed, or done as an online stream with winners speeches pre-recorded?
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 15, 2020 17:18:01 GMT
I think the one no-brainier to be cancelled is The Proms. The RAH holds 5000 plus and all those promenaders standing in close proximity! The Proms don't start until mid-July! If we're all going to be that pessimistic then what is the point of ever looking forward to anything? Much of the audience for The Proms are going to be self-isolating for at least four months (and, let's fact it, if the Government announces four months, they're thinking a longer time period but just trying to cushion the blow). Unless things change dramatically, I can't see any way they would go ahead. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2020 17:22:46 GMT
The Proms don't start until mid-July! If we're all going to be that pessimistic then what is the point of ever looking forward to anything? Much of the audience for The Proms are going to be self-isolating for at least four months (and, let's fact it, if the Government announces four months, they're thinking a longer time period but just trying to cushion the blow). Unless things change dramatically, I can't see any way they would go ahead. Well we might as well say no entertainment, fun or general living will happen for the rest of the year then. July is so far away that it is a complete unknown at the minute, so as far as I'm concerned speculating about it is pointless. Plus assuming the worst is just downright depressing and going to make my mental health even worse than it already will be if we go into lockdown, so I don't find those sort of posts very helpful. And that's beside the very obvious points that actually a lot of younger people go to the Proms and there are plenty of possibilities for different arrangements other than a full season cancellation. This thread is meant to be about shows actually affected right now, not unnecessary speculation. |
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Post by adolphus on Mar 15, 2020 19:56:41 GMT
I was offered not just the link, but a year's Priority Membership if I choose not to have the ticket refunded. Great offer, smart thinking from the OV
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Post by lichtie on Mar 15, 2020 20:09:14 GMT
I was offered not just the link, but a year's Priority Membership if I choose not to have the ticket refunded. Great offer, smart thinking from the OV So was I, just didn't spot it in the first skim! And I agree, it was a good offer (well if you've got a seat as cheap as mine anyway). |
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Post by stevej678 on Mar 15, 2020 22:25:05 GMT
Sleepless at the Wembley Park Theatre must be vulnerable, surely? Previews are due to start next week but ticket sales across the run look almost non-existent and it's hard to see that changing in the current climate.
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Post by talkingheads on Mar 15, 2020 22:29:09 GMT
Honestly in the long run I think that shutting theatres for say a month is probably the best cause of action. It's more or less accepted that given the amount of people staff interact with somebody will get it thus it will have to close anyway. So getting ahead of it is the best thing to do.
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Post by Jon on Mar 15, 2020 22:31:53 GMT
I wonder if American creatives like Bartlett Sher will be able to travel to London if the travel ban isn't lifted by April since that could in turn affect To Kill a Mockingbird?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2020 1:26:51 GMT
If a cast member gets ill with a cold/chest infection which can have very similar initial symptoms to "that virus" then shows are going to be on very thin ice continuing if something starts to spread amongst cast and backstage crew.
One slightly off topic but I went to see Cat and The Canary at Lichfield on Saturday night and on the way out to get food after buying my ticket I saw Britt Ekland stop and sign for someone as she was coming back from walking her dog. So I asked her if she would sign my programme she said she would but she wasn't allowed to accept a pen from anyone and had to use her own pen/sharpie which she did.
After the show a few people were waiting and as there were a few cast members I'd never graphed before I decided to try my luck. All signed using other people's pens, Mark Jordon was doing selfies too. Only Tracy Shaw mentioned that they had been told not to accept pens but as I'd met her several times over the years and have a friend who has been a fan of hers for about 25 years - they send each other Christmas/Birthday cards level friendship etc she recognized me and said she'd sign but she shouldn't really.
Britt at 77 years old I fully understand her being very careful and not wanting to touch other people's pens but fairplay to her for having the good will to carry her own pen and sign. Tracy had ironically had her hands all over the stage door as she was leaving so was probably getting more germs from there than taking a pen.
But as two people said it there must have been some directive from Bill Kenwright's organization when it was just Britt at first I thought she was rightfully being careful and also some bigger names prefer to use their own pen as I've seen people take pen lids off with their mouths and then present pen to said performer/star. Also when you've probably signed as many autographs as Britt over the years having a pen handy is useful as it stops people searching for one and she can do a quick signature and carry on with her day.
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Post by Oleanna on Mar 16, 2020 2:41:31 GMT
Official advice from SOLT and UK Theatre has encouraged all artists to use their own pens for signings. This is the same directive which has encouraged the banning of backstage visits.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 16, 2020 7:30:29 GMT
Posts removed. If we could keep on topic that would be appreciated.
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Post by talkingheads on Mar 16, 2020 8:07:18 GMT
Official advice from SOLT and UK Theatre has encouraged all artists to use their own pens for signings. This is the same directive which has encouraged the banning of backstage visits. Surely people aren't still stage door-ing? What is wrong with them! |
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Post by schuttep on Mar 16, 2020 8:29:25 GMT
Theatres are going to go bust very quickly, what with being legally obliged to pay refunds and being dark for - possibly - months.
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Post by duncan on Mar 16, 2020 10:15:37 GMT
And then my thoughts were set off by LondonPostie in another thread - Eileen Atkins is 85 so there is no way that any responsible company is going to put her or indeed anyone else of that age (and probably anyone over 70) on stage at any point in the next six months or indeed longer.
When we get through the peak of this pandemic, but remembering its just the peak over the next 10 weeks or so and CV19 could be a nasty little git for a long time afterwards, there may have to be programming changes or casting changes to ensure that those on stage are those least at risk of picking up something nasty from cast/crew/attendees.
Younger actors, this could be your chance to become the next Clive Dunn.
Older actors, stay safe.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2020 10:57:04 GMT
Schaubühne Berlin has announced it is closing until 19th April - I presume this (plus travel restrictions) makes the Barbican's "Orlando" very unlikely to go ahead.
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Post by jaqs on Mar 16, 2020 12:20:51 GMT
Jerry Mitchell not here for hairspray rehearsals, says it will happen I even if postponed. Which sounded to me like not expecting it to happen as scheduled.
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