Getting recreation and leisure up and running again.

I think what ALW is doing is great...atleast he’s trying. If it fails then it fails but you will never know unless you try and at the moment theres legit no other solutions other than closing until 2021 like CM did and nobody wants that. Atleast ALW has come up wirh a possible idea. It’s true these creative hotspots can’t be shut forever and it’s not just theatres...think about nightlife (clubs and bars) and concerts in arenas...these generate hugeeeee amounts of business and jobs and money for the economy and can’t be closed forever can they. Think about how much money one concert makes or how much all the nightclubs in the UK make on a Saturday night, these places can’t operate wirh social distancing in place. If ALW can prove this can work for theatres there’s no saying that concerts cannot do the same and nightclubs/nightlife too since these things have got to open at some point haven’t they

Regarding public transport, it's not just the worry as to whether you should be using it yet.
With the reduced capacity, trains are simply running through stations when they are deemed to be full.
This will make it very difficult to plan journeys, as you'll have no idea what time train you'll actually be able to catch.
For example, one could go past as full, and then have to wait an hour for the next- not really viable for getting in to cities to see theatre.

The guidance on public transport is here:
www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers

It has no been communicated very well.

An update with a picture! 12 venues to hold concerts and other events such as West End theatre shows.

www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/utilita-live-drive-locations-acts-and-how-get-tickets-socially-distanced-drive-gigs-2889734


There's a trailer now!!

www.indy100.com/video/culture/utilita-live-from-the-drive-in-trailer-cpC9ZBWM

Why is theatre being singled out as a supposed burden to the taxpayer?

In case anyone is unaware here are the full set of procedures that are used in South Korea that ALW is proposing for use at the Palladium:

Measures adopted in theatres in South Korea
The theatre has a capacity of 1,600 and with staff this rises to just under 1800 people. The capacity of the theatre has not been reduced.

The below measures have been adopted at the theatre in which our production is playing. These measures were drawn up in collaboration with the Korean Center of Disease Control (KCDC), the theatre and the Producers and it is a condition of our operating that they are adhered to. These measures have been in place since we started work in the theatre in early March. As Covid-19 is an evolving situation, the KCDC has retained the right to make changes to protocol based on the most up-to-date information.

(i) Testing & Tracing: First and foremost South Korea’s government and the KCDC has. made testing widely available (via their universal healthcare system) and returns results to people’s mobile phones within 24 hours of testing. Authorities then support the testing by undertaking contact tracing and employ technology to help do so. People who have tested positive are asked to recall their recent movements, aided by GPS tracking and credit card transactions. In real time, the KCDC issues alerts to every mobile phone in the country about where infected persons have been. The KCDC alerts appear on people’s phones in form of notifications and do not require people to open an app. The alerts do not reveal the individual’s identity.

(ii) Survey of audience: This publicly available information allows businesses like theatres to engage with their patrons by setting up internal checks and systems. The theatre in Seoul has created an app (based on the KCDC guidelines), which assesses whether a patron may pose a risk to others in the theatre. A patron cannot enter the venue until they’ve filled out the theatre’s survey made available on the app. If someone hasn’t got access to the app to fill out the survey, the venue asks the patrons to fill out the survey manually upon arrival, which is assessed before they enter the venue. The app asks patrons to confirm whether they have visited an area with a confirmed case in the last fourteen days. If they have, the patron must advise if they’ve been tested. The app evaluates whether the patron is at high risk of being a suspected case, if the answer is yes then they’re not permitted to attend the performance until they’re cleared. The results of the survey have to be presented with your ticket before entering the theatre.

(iii) Hygiene: Businesses in South Korea including theatres and public venues have implemented protocols to ensure hygiene - the most effective tool against the spread of the virus is promoted:
a. Non-touch sanitizer mist machines are located at the front of the theatre, each and every patron must sanitize their hands upon entry;
b. The venue has installed hand sanitizer dispensers around the foyer and bottles of hand sanitizer are available at key counters such as the box office and the
merchandise kiosk;
c. Further to the above ushers, when checking tickets, provide every patron with hand sanitizer before entering the auditorium; and
d. Paper towel is supplied in the restrooms to promote thorough hand drying.

(iv) Temperature scanning: Venue staff have been briefed on temperature scanning. Two forms of body temperature checks are in place at the venue:
a. Thermal cameras are used as people enter the venue;
b. Before entry into the auditorium ushers, when checking tickets, also check every patron’s temperature with a no-contact thermometer used on the inside of the
patron’s wrist; and
c. In the event that someone’s temperature is above 37.5 degrees Celsius, they are not allowed into the venue.

(v) Masks: It is venue protocol that every patron and staff member must wear a mask. In the event that someone arrives at the venue without a mask, they are provided with a mask to wear. Much like ushers monitor audience members’ phone use during the show, there is protocol in place to also monitor that people do not remove their masks during the show. The KCDC promotes the use of masks and purports the efficacy of masks in minimising risk of spread by offering a barrier between people.

(vi) Gloves: All front of house staff must wear gloves.

Backstage Protocol:
The Company and the venue staff are briefed regularly and as required on Covid-19 measures. Briefings reiterate the principles of combating the spread and promote people to exercise common sense. The below offers additional and more specific measures implemented backstage.

(i) Self-reporting: All backstage staff must report to their team leader whether they have travelled to an area with a reported Covid-19 case since last visiting the theatre. A decision as to whether someone should refrain from attending work is made based on the KCDC guidelines issued (these available via the public health alerts and on their website);

(ii) Hand sanitizer: Hand sanitizer is available every five to ten steps in common spaces and in every dressing room. The only exception to this rule is the fire stairs;

(iii) Temperature scanning: All backstage staff must have their temperature checked upon entry and re-entry to the building (temperature check upon re-entry is applicable to smokers);

(iv) Masks: All backstage staff including crew must wear a mask except performers during the performance. Masks are supplied by the Producer for all backstage staff;

(v) Gloves: Any and all crew required to handle props must wear gloves while doing so. Gloves are supplied by the Producer. Props must be sanitized before and after the show;

(vi) Wipes: Every dressing room and work room is supplied with surface cleaning wipes and company members have been briefed to use wipes to clean their spaces regularly. The guide is to wipe down before the show, during interval and after the show;

(vii) Minimise unnecessary contact: People are asked not to touch tools and equipment they are not required to touch e.g. backstage tool kits or props;

(viii) Sharing of personal items is banned: i.e. do not share water bottles, food, personal make up brushes, personal make-up, lip balm etc.;

(ix) Non-essential contact is discouraged, for example, no handshakes, kisses or hugs togreet others in the company;

(x) No visitors permitted backstage;

(xi) No signings at stage door after the show. An announcement is made at the beginning and end of the show to audience members advising that due to Covid-19 autograph signings are prohibited as advised by the KCDC. Venue staff help police this rule after the show by asking any fans who may arrive at stage door to disperse;

(xii) Alcoholic wipes are provided to wipe down the water cooler tap after people have filled up their water bottles;

(xiii) Sanitizer fogger: Company Management have been provided with a sanitizer fogger (similar to a leaf blower) to use in high traffic backstage areas before the show, during interval and after the show; and

(xiv) Self-reporting symptoms: Anyone who is not feeling well for any reason whatsoever must call in sick to work. Unless the reason for feeling unwell is a pre-existing condition, the person is sent for testing.

Venue Cleaning & Venue Specific Measures:
(i) There must be a two-metre gap between the orchestra pit and the first row of audience.
(ii) The venue cleans the seats with a UV light after every performance.
(iii) The venue is cleaned daily.
(iv) The venue receives a medical grade clean once a week.

The premise of the guidelines is simple yet effective. Adapt operating protocols to promote hygiene and vigilance to minimise risk of spreading Covid-19.

Thanks stagemanager that's really interesting. Well, all power to ALW's elbow - when he's ready to sell tickets, I'll definitely be in the queue to be a guinea pig audience member. Good on him for trying something instead of waiting for the govt to show an interest.

With you in spirit and it's commonly used phrasing, but people practicing sound personal risk management choices is not necessarily synonymous with living their life in fear. Not suggesting you're making that specific assertion, but some who use the phrase most definitely are: "If you aren't willing to do XX, you're just living your life in fear."

For all of history people have weighed the costs and benefits of various options. We now just have another set of risks and variables to factor into our decision-making about which rewards are worthy.

Please forgive my ignorance, baguette, about the French pop scene, but was it just solo performers, or were groups and bands also performing?

Soloists and groups,  plus some acts even had backing dancers.   


You could see they were trying to keep to 1m social distancing but they kept wandering towards each other - at which point the social-distancing Twitter police would start sounding off!  

Here's 30 seconds of the tribute to Jonny Hallyday (gives you the flavour of the night!) - there are cut aways to the socially-distanced audience.

ETA    The big surprise to me was how close the singers are to each other....