Getting recreation and leisure up and running again.

Interesting thinking about what theatres will feel constitutes sufficient distancing. In the Donmar they did feel they had to leave a row empty as in the circle there are only 2 rows and only one was in use. Looks to be the same at The Bridge from the seating plan. 

Really important video to be seen here, not sure if theres been much attention thrown over to the #WeMakeEvents campaign here.
For the majority of the major theatres, productions and the whole live music industry, there is no sign of shows restarting and as a result the production industry that makes these shows happen is on the brink of collapse.
Bluntly put, furlough stops shortly for hundreds of thousands of freelancers, including theatre makers and when that happens chances are, to survive they will have to find work in alternative industries. When they're gone, theres no-one to staff these shows.
This applies to actors across the board too. How long can they continue to support themselves on nothing?
This video, whilst slightly centric to Liverpool gives a really helpful insight into this.

Please spend some time watching this video and think about what you can do to help. This affects theatre profoundly!

www.facebook.com/Adlib.co.uk/videos/343853353449236/?refsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2Fstory.php

Very surprised to see that the audience for the snooker aren’t wearing masks and are not distanced. Under what rules do they not have to do that?!

Maybe they've all been tested?

But not a good advertisement to show on TV, as it makes other people think they have the right to do what they want.

We’re now required to wear them at a very large number of indoor places irrespective of whether distancing is in place (which having got a better look I can see the audience is actually distanced) including ‘visitor attractions and entertainment venues’ which I would have though that counts as. www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

Interesting also to see that even if it’s not required I haven’t seen a single person who has chosen to wear one.

ETA I've just looked on the ticket seller's website which says spectators are only required to wear masks when entering and walking around around the venue. When they're in their seat they are welcome to remove their masks. Sounds very unusual and not at all in keeping with the law...

Ah right. I only wondered because of the mixed messaging from a few places, especially cinemas where even now when asked can't say if you wear your mask through the film or not.

The Government announced yesterday that fines are going to increase for non compliance of mask wearing, which All sounds very good and well, but like everything else with this dreadful Government it isn’t policed, the only time things are policed now, if you commit a crime against the great and good of this country. Speaking to my neighbour who is Moroccan told me if you are caught not wearing a mask in public, in his country, no ifs and buts, it is a 3 months prison sentence and they enforce it.

I still cannot fathom how they allow to reopen theatre, but have no contact tracing in place.

I'm sorry i'm getting aggravated by this snooker thing. Firstly, social media is up in arms and circulating pictures that aren't even from this years event. Secondly, whilst I don't get the who mask thing, that is a strange thing, there WAS social distancing, the capacity was reduced to 300 from 900, anywhere it looks like a lot of people are sitting together then that is a social bubble. Thirdly about the outcry that they have the audacity to put this test event on in a theatre.....The Crucible has housed this championship and others for getting on 50 years and is far more globally famous as a snooker venue than as a playhouse...... Finally, Theatre is literally allowed to do the same thing/ and not just as a test like this was, but as standard (minus the mask wearing for some reason) and is doing so from next week with the Sleepless musical.

I'm all for speaking out about getting theatre back and any injustices that impacts that but can we actually make sure we know the facts before kicking off, or at least not spreading false pictures and information?

I want to think positively. If the snooker is a success it will help there be more trials. It is easy to pick photos where everyone looks close together or it looks barren to help your case

www.rbb24.de/kultur/thema/2020/coronavirus/beitraege_neu/2020/08/empfehlung-charite-berlin-abstandsregeln-opern-konzerte-publikum.html

Yes, this article is in German but I've checked and Google Translate does a reasonably decent job with English.

The gist is that classical concerts and operas should be allowed to happen at full capacity again as long as the audience wears masks and all the other rules (social distancing in the foyer, etc.) are observed. They also say that orchestras can be seated normally again, even wind instruments.

It tallies with what I've been saying for weeks - that you can't compare the audience at theatres (or classical concerts) with that at rock/pop venues or sports events, where people will shout, sing along, etc. But who knows if the advice will be heeded...

Friend of mine reckons that the audience were actually paid to be in the audience for the zzzzznooker to create an atmosphere.Surely untrue as it would encourage a profusion of loud snoring and upset the wizards of the green baize 😂