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Post by talkingheads on Jul 1, 2020 19:32:07 GMT
The Government are basically in trouble either way. If they do nothing then obviously that's awful. Any financial package short of a blank cheque isn't going to be enough based on the fact that nobody knows when theatres will be able to reopen.
That's not a defence of the Government by the way, they have acted awfully all the way through.
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Post by sf on Jul 1, 2020 19:48:58 GMT
Even if they don't give a toss about the arts, surely the govt's property developer friends will be screaming about this? Who will want to buy flats in those skyscrapers that are shooting up everywhere in a city centre with no nightlife? Did you notice that yesterday's spending plan, among other things, makes it easier for premises to be rezoned from one use to another? |
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Post by crowblack on Jul 1, 2020 19:53:01 GMT
makes it easier for premises to be rezoned from one use to another? I still don't see why that would make them more or less desirable (?). |
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Post by xanady on Jul 1, 2020 20:22:48 GMT
Absolutely gutted for the REX...the theatre that got me ‘into’ theatre as a banquette-sitting young student...so many memories of seeing the likes of Vanessa Redgrave,David Threlfall,Kate Winslett,Tom Courtenay and many others....my God,what next?  Despair! |
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Post by Jon on Jul 1, 2020 20:31:40 GMT
Wouldn't the optics of that be a bit crap if the point of investment is that theatres are forced to be closed for longer than other sectors? Why support an industry that's sorting itself out? If they want a staged photo op for an announcement I'm pretty sure any theatre would let itself be used in exchange for some decent package for the sector! One of the key points of the roadmap is to have indoor pilot productions to work out how to make venues safe and given the London Palladium is going to be one of those testbeds, they would likely want to be able to showcase how it'll potentially work. |
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Post by sf on Jul 1, 2020 20:43:03 GMT
makes it easier for premises to be rezoned from one use to another? I still don't see why that would make them more or less desirable (?).
The point, which I suppose I should have made more clearly, is that if venues go under it will make it much easier for developers to repurpose their premises, which means once a theatre is gone, it's probably gone.
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Post by crowblack on Jul 1, 2020 22:27:42 GMT
if venues go under it will make it much easier for developers to repurpose their premises, which means once a theatre is gone, it's probably gone. I can't see that happening to the RX - it's a unique space and a listed building. Nearby is the huge, once very prestigious Kendal Milne department store that is already, retail-wise, something of a white elephant, and if the situation goes on much longer many city centre shops and venues will be closing. The buildings in my home city are constantly being redeveloped/demolished to make way for 'student housing', but that has relied on the appeal of the city's vibrant nightlife and on ever-increasing student numbers, including Chinese students (1/5 of the student population, I think) and both of these are now under threat in the current situation. We're already seeing reports of househunters looking to relocate from London to somewhere with more green space. It looks like this period will speed up the switch to online working and shopping, and movies released straight to streaming, so if city centres want to carry on attracting people in, they're going to have to provide something special - live theatre, concerts etc.. |
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Post by sf on Jul 1, 2020 23:29:52 GMT
I can't see that happening to the RX - it's a unique space and a listed building. Um, yes I know. I grew up in Greater Manchester and have been going to the Exchange fairly regularly since the late 1970s. It's more a general point. THAT SPECIFIC space is unique and difficult to repurpose as something else. Theatres like the Coliseum in Oldham, on the other hand - or any number of other regional performance venues whose architecture is less distinguished than the Exchange - are ripe for redevelopment as something else if the company occupying them at the moment goes under. |
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Post by crowblack on Jul 2, 2020 8:28:59 GMT
ripe for redevelopment as something else I really think we'll see a sea-change in attitudes to city-centre living after this. Many in my generation deferred starting a family and stayed living in small flats and houseshares, socialising in pubs and bars, working hand-to-mouth in insecure jobs and thinking we had years of good health ahead of us, and maybe parents who could help with childcare when the time came. That has been shattered, I think. And many of the migrant workers who cheaply staffed city centre shops, cafes and bars and lived in overcrowded housing have gone home - will they come back in such numbers after this, or will they be thinking along the same lines? |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2020 9:44:53 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2020 9:47:06 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2020 10:30:10 GMT
Had a random thought this morning. Singing is meant to be higher risk than talking for transmitting the virus. And believe me, anyone front row at The Gielgud for the Les Mis concert really was in the splash zone. Anyway, for musicals actors need to sing (obvs!) and they need to be, at times, very close to each other.
I therefore wondered if a solution might be to develop some kind of transparent, very easy to breath in through, but able to catch exhaled droplets, mask. That would be invisible to people beyond the first couple of rows. Would clearly need to be quite technologically advanced to fulfil these criteria and not interfere with the sound picked up by the hairline mics. But surely some creative inventors could come up with something.
Could be one way to move towards opening without social distancing?
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Post by duncan on Jul 2, 2020 10:45:08 GMT
I hope they checked with him that he doesn't have the word muted |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2020 11:33:49 GMT
I therefore wondered if a solution might be to develop some kind of transparent, very easy to breath in through, but able to catch exhaled droplets, mask I predict an increase in the number of musicals about welders, astronauts and divers who are also bank robbers and totally into cosplaying mummies. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2020 11:44:59 GMT
I therefore wondered if a solution might be to develop some kind of transparent, very easy to breath in through, but able to catch exhaled droplets, mask I predict an increase in the number of musicals about welders, astronauts and divers who are also bank robbers and totally into cosplaying mummies. Ha! You know there's a gap in the market.... |
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Post by stevej678 on Jul 2, 2020 11:47:45 GMT
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Post by Jon on Jul 2, 2020 12:00:42 GMT
That kills my suggestion that a package announcement will be at the Palladium.
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Post by talkingheads on Jul 2, 2020 12:04:16 GMT
It's nice he's acknowledged theatre. But that is one of the most financially successful and largest theatres with the most resources. In the scheme of things buildings like the Palladium account for so few theatres I'll be interested to hear his plans for the majority.
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Post by zahidf on Jul 2, 2020 12:07:25 GMT
MP is Jeremy hunt
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2020 12:08:58 GMT
No use introducing safety measures if the theatres cant afford the staff to open.
The lack of financial support is decimating the industry.
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Post by basdfg on Jul 2, 2020 12:13:28 GMT
Will any journalists ask about theatres at it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2020 12:48:48 GMT
TBF to Oliver Dowden, most people seem to be annoyed that he has not announced a financial package. But I don't think he is responsible for this. Would it not need to be sanctioned by Boris or Rishi Sunak?
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 2, 2020 12:49:17 GMT
Some good news on this page of this thread, with Mr Dowden attending the Palladium trial and seeming positive about it and the news that the Chancellor is set to announce a financial package next week. I do believe actually that someone said it would be announced in early July several weeks ago on here, so we already had that inside info and it's proven accurate.
Personally I never believed the government, and especially Mr Dowden, was ignoring the issue or didn't care, the only thing I've been puzzled about and frustrated with is how long it all seemed to be taking.
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Post by sf on Jul 2, 2020 12:50:47 GMT
Since they're touring the Palladium specifically in order to look at safety measures, it is inexcusable that nobody in any of those pictures is wearing a mask. No, they're not the only thing we can do, but masks ARE one of the major steps we can take to keep each other safe in enclosed public spaces, and the fact that neither Mr. Dowden nor anybody else present could be bothered to wear one speaks volumes.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 2, 2020 12:53:26 GMT
TBF to Oliver Dowden, most people seem to be annoyed that he has not announced a financial package. But I don't think he is responsible for this. Would it not need to be sanctioned by Boris or Rishi Sunak? That is correct. He only has power over the departments existing budget. Any financial package for theatre because of Caronavirus would be down to the Chancellor. Oliver Dowden's job would simply to be communicate the need for the money and how much is needed and then ultimately would be responsible for putting that into place once the funds have been made available. This is why I've always cut him some slack because I'm not entirely sure people quite understand that it's not actually up to him if there is a finical package and how much is in it, or indeed when that happens. |
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