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Post by Mark on Apr 9, 2021 9:48:20 GMT
Interesting discussion on 'The Week in Art' podcast today about vaccine passports that have been developed in Denmark and Israel. In Denmark you are eligible if you have been fully vaccinated, have had the virus between two and twelve weeks ago or have a negative test in the last 72 hours and you seem to need it to do anything non-essential. This seems reasonable to me and wouldn't exclude anyone because I'm assuming, being Denmark, that testing is free and readily available. Israel has a 'green pass' but museums are exempt from this so there are obviously much wider exemptions. I don't know how I feel about the idea of passports. On one hand I really don't think segregation of any kind has ever proven helpful (although being really honest part of me would love to punish antivaxxers for abdicating their responsibilities) but on the other hand it's vital to protect those people who can't be vaccinated and the population as a whole. Vaccines are only properly effective if levels of virus in the population overall is low. If there were enough unvaccinated people that the virus was able to circulate at a higher level vaccinated people remain at risk. I was also reminded by my CEO at work yesterday (hospital) that we are tested for hepatitis B on appointment and if you don't have antibodies you are required to be vaccinated in order to work there. So there is definitely precedent for excluding unvaccinated people in certain circumstances. Certainly makes sense, just wonder how they would use LFT at home for this purpose as it would be easy enough to self certify incorrect results if you wanted to. |
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Post by baguette on Apr 13, 2021 11:07:55 GMT
Long interview in the Telegraph with National Theatre's Rufus Norris about the outlook post-COVID. www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/half-budget-musical-year-national-theatre-faces-future/ (£) Main points were summarised in Whats on Stage www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/national-new-programming-musical-year_53782.htmlUnsurprisingly, budgets have been slashed 'Hammered by months of closure and shaken to the core by some 550 job losses, the theatre is slashing its production budgets in half in an effort to balance the books (they won’t be doing shows in rep for a while either, for the same reason). The building will make the most of people, and the least of costly materials.' It's worth a read, but their plans for full seating are cautious 'The first show to open in the Olivier main-house in this new “period of distillation” will be Under Milk Wood, from June 16, ....... which will play in front of a maximum audience of 500 people per performance (in contrast to the Olivier’s new non-distanced capacity of 1,300), fits well in the round.' Meanwhile, in the Dorfman, the National’s studio theatre whose capacity has been reduced from 400 to 120, Norris is staging After Life. .....“A lot of people will be sitting next to empty seats, and that absence will have a poignancy to it. I think it will really resonate,” he says. The Lyttelton, the 900-seat proscenium-arch auditorium, remains dark – it being judged financially unfeasible to open under social-distancing rules.... There are two versions of a planned programme to the end of the year, one with social distancing, the other without. Norris says: “If there’s another lockdown that takes us into a whole other world of woe, but I would say there is an air of cautious optimism. If we do open in June, then with a fair wind, I hope we should be building out from there. I’d hope that by the end of the summer, we’re selling all of the Olivier’s 1,300 seats. I want all the auditoria full.” So does that sound like he thinks September is the start of full seating? |
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Post by lynette on Apr 13, 2021 15:12:35 GMT
Sad it has taken a pandemic to close the Lyttleton, a theatre you cannot hear in from half way back and which has a stage so wide it literally suits nothing except Russian plays set in apartments with lots of iron windows.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Apr 13, 2021 15:22:15 GMT
Long interview in the Telegraph with National Theatre's Rufus Norris about the outlook post-COVID. www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/half-budget-musical-year-national-theatre-faces-future/ (£) Main points were summarised in Whats on Stage www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/national-new-programming-musical-year_53782.htmlUnsurprisingly, budgets have been slashed 'Hammered by months of closure and shaken to the core by some 550 job losses, the theatre is slashing its production budgets in half in an effort to balance the books (they won’t be doing shows in rep for a while either, for the same reason). The building will make the most of people, and the least of costly materials.' It's worth a read, but their plans for full seating are cautious 'The first show to open in the Olivier main-house in this new “period of distillation” will be Under Milk Wood, from June 16, ....... which will play in front of a maximum audience of 500 people per performance (in contrast to the Olivier’s new non-distanced capacity of 1,300), fits well in the round.' Meanwhile, in the Dorfman, the National’s studio theatre whose capacity has been reduced from 400 to 120, Norris is staging After Life. .....“A lot of people will be sitting next to empty seats, and that absence will have a poignancy to it. I think it will really resonate,” he says. The Lyttelton, the 900-seat proscenium-arch auditorium, remains dark – it being judged financially unfeasible to open under social-distancing rules.... There are two versions of a planned programme to the end of the year, one with social distancing, the other without. Norris says: “If there’s another lockdown that takes us into a whole other world of woe, but I would say there is an air of cautious optimism. If we do open in June, then with a fair wind, I hope we should be building out from there. I’d hope that by the end of the summer, we’re selling all of the Olivier’s 1,300 seats. I want all the auditoria full.” So does that sound like he thinks September is the start of full seating? [br Strange to close the larger Lyttleton which you could cram more socially distanced punters into than the Dorfman |
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Post by sph on Apr 13, 2021 15:40:26 GMT
I suspect that even though non-distanced seating is expected to be allowed from June 21st, many producers are going to err on the side of caution and hold off on full-capacity seating until later in the year.
I didn't go into Soho last night, but from what I've seen online there was something of a carnival atmosphere. Good to see, but it also brings out those who are again predicting the end of the world. I can see their point that the crowds could lead to a rise in cases, but at the same time we do have a vaccine and a population desperate to get out of the house again.
A middle ground would be nice. People going out again, but not going too crazy JUST yet.
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Post by n1david on Apr 13, 2021 15:43:08 GMT
Strange to close the larger Lyttleton which you could cram more socially distanced punters into than the Dorfman I think the problem is likely to be the long rows in the Lyttleton and the number of people who would have to squeeze past each other. There are more aisles in the Olivier so access should be easier. |
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Post by zahidf on Apr 15, 2021 8:13:13 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2021 8:42:45 GMT
So as we move nearer, the long running musicals that have declared seem to have their openings spaced out pretty evenly between end of June and (thus far) October. Certainly there isn't a rush to open in June. I think out of these, only Tina and Hamilton and then the new musical Cinderella are planning June starts (someone correct me if I am wrong).
Having been quite sceptical at Boris's last announcement (confirming the April restrictions ease) I now actually think that June 21st WILL happen and shows will be allowed to open without distancing. Things do seem to be going very well in the UK (at last!)
My main concern now, is that as yet, with London so so dependent on tourists (for the big musicals I'm referring to) there isn't really the audience to sustain all these shows being open. There may also be a factor of older people and more anxious people not being ready to return. (This isn't the case with anyone I know, but of course one most look outside of one's "social bubble") Anyway, perhaps that is why shows are not in a rush to open.
There also seem to be increasing mutterings and rumblings on the covid status certificates. My hunch now is that they may well come in for theatres. That will probably take some organising. And I guess if they become mandatory, theatres will need to offer refunds to patrons who refuse to partake as they booked tickets without thinking this would be the case.
Anyway, I am pro the certificates if it helps theatres open. But moreover, I think they will help theatres STAY open next Winter if and when we have the next wave. And I think that is key. If there is one thing I really hope we learn from all the current research, it's how we can keep things safely open while numbers are rising. For at least as long as the hospitals are coping.
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Post by Roxie on Apr 25, 2021 15:18:47 GMT
It’s a tricky one. I personally think masks will be here to stay for a while, and I’m fine with that to be fair but I’m not a glasses wearer, I can see how people wearing glasses get annoyed with them. I hope restrictions will ease significantly by the summer and social distancing is gone, fingers crossed!! Vaccine certificates is a tricky one. I can understand why some people think they’re a good idea, but I worry that unless they wait until everyone has been offered a vaccine, it creates risk of a 2 tier society. Also, I would hope they aren’t mandatory for people to do things like go to the shops, go to work etc, things that everyone needs to do. Otherwise, it’s coercing people to get a vaccine. And while I am pro vax, and hope most people take it up, ultimately people should be able to decide for themselves if they get vaccinated or not and it shouldn’t be a condition of going to essential places.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2021 15:27:41 GMT
It’s a tricky one. I personally think masks will be here to stay for a while, and I’m fine with that to be fair but I’m not a glasses wearer, I can see how people wearing glasses get annoyed with them. I hope restrictions will ease significantly by the summer and social distancing is gone, fingers crossed!! Vaccine certificates is a tricky one. I can understand why some people think they’re a good idea, but I worry that unless they wait until everyone has been offered a vaccine, it creates risk of a 2 tier society. Also, I would hope they aren’t mandatory for people to do things like go to the shops, go to work etc, things that everyone needs to do. Otherwise, it’s coercing people to get a vaccine. And while I am pro vax, and hope most people take it up, ultimately people should be able to decide for themselves if they get vaccinated or not and it shouldn’t be a condition of going to essential places. Yes I am also happy wearing a mask in the theatre, certainly for the time being. I hope there will be more studies into the evidence base for this though. And if and when circulating levels of the virus are very low, they certainly shouldn't continue to mandate them for the sake of it. The certificates are vaccine or antibodies or negative test. Assuming the latter is free, no issues re two tier society. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2021 16:21:58 GMT
I personally think masks will be here to stay for a while, and I’m fine with that to be fair but I’m not a glasses wearer, I can see how people wearing glasses get annoyed with them. I'm a glasses-wearer and I've found it's not much of a problem apart from some misting up for a minute or so when entering a warm building from cold weather outside, and that's something I often had to deal with anyway. Some draught-excluder tape along the top of the mask cuts out much of the fogging up, and as summer approaches the problem goes away.
Oh, and there's also the problem of removing the mask because the right-side ear loop always seems to manage to hook itself round that arm of the glasses. That keeps catching me out.
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Post by lynette on Apr 25, 2021 22:09:23 GMT
I think we will be masking up regularly in the winter, as they do in say Japan where they mask up if they think they have a cold because they come into close proximity of eachother in for example the commuter trains.
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Post by stagemanager on Apr 26, 2021 0:32:59 GMT
There are a variety of reasons why a lot of producers are not rushing to open their shows on 21st June. Aside from the confidence in the Government roadmap one of the ones that hasn’t been mentioned here is the logistics. Under the current rules and the ones in place assuming the next step is met on May 17th you can’t rehearse a show non socially distanced until after the 21st June. So as most shows will need several weeks if not months of rehearsals to be ready for performance it was always inevitable that most shows were going to not open immediately in June, unless you were directing your show to be distanced.
The producers are also hedging their bets because there is also a problem with track and trace. The government has not announced (or even mentioned) if track and trace will still be in place after June 21st. If it is, it’s a major headache for the shows as it only takes one person in the company to test positive and the whole company would need to go into isolation (assuming a non socially distanced show). There is a behind the scenes push for there to be a system to test your way out of isolation (something that I think should have been in place for a long time). This would mean that in the event that one person tested positive you could test the rest of the company (if required daily) to catch any other positives but the company would not need to isolate.
The producers also want a window of time before their shows open to build up a box office advance but some polling I have seen implies that whilst people are keen to return to the theatres (especially among the population who have been vaccinated), people are not willing to book until they are sure that the shows will be allowed to open. Consequently Producers are expecting people to start booking from after 21st June and have left some time for the advance to build.
I can also say as someone who is caught up in trying to plan in this environment the biggest problem is not knowing what the rules will be. A lot of the rules for the West End are going to be affected by the results of the trial events but as the last one doesn’t take place until 15th May, we are not expecting some guidance until early June. So that is another reason for a delay in reopening dates so that the Producers have time to adapt to whatever rules are set.
All of these things I know are weighing on the minds of the Producers and why they are allowing a window of time before opening dates to see what happens.
My personal view is that we will re-open to be non-socially distanced on 21st June, but some restrictions will stay in place. I think masks “where possible” will still be in place until the majority of the world is vaccinated. So I expect to wear one whilst sitting in the stalls of theatres for a while longer and also on the tube into town, but probably not whilst drinking in a pub. I think vaccine passports or testing will be in place for at least a few months after the June re-opening for potential super spreader events (so I am assuming Large theatre shows but probably not fringe or day to day things like shopping). I can tell you that most West End shows currently have plans in place to continue testing all their staff and casts until September, but are waiting the results of the Government testing events at The Crucible and Wembley etc.
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Post by danb on Apr 26, 2021 5:28:55 GMT
So as we move nearer, the long running musicals that have declared seem to have their openings spaced out pretty evenly between end of June and (thus far) October. Certainly there isn't a rush to open in June. I think out of these, only Tina and Hamilton and then the new musical Cinderella are planning June starts (someone correct me if I am wrong). Having been quite sceptical at Boris's last announcement (confirming the April restrictions ease) I now actually think that June 21st WILL happen and shows will be allowed to open without distancing. Things do seem to be going very well in the UK (at last!) My main concern now, is that as yet, with London so so dependent on tourists (for the big musicals I'm referring to) there isn't really the audience to sustain all these shows being open. There may also be a factor of older people and more anxious people not being ready to return. (This isn't the case with anyone I know, but of course one most look outside of one's "social bubble") Anyway, perhaps that is why shows are not in a rush to open. There also seem to be increasing mutterings and rumblings on the covid status certificates. My hunch now is that they may well come in for theatres. That will probably take some organising. And I guess if they become mandatory, theatres will need to offer refunds to patrons who refuse to partake as they booked tickets without thinking this would be the case. Anyway, I am pro the certificates if it helps theatres open. But moreover, I think they will help theatres STAY open next Winter if and when we have the next wave. And I think that is key. If there is one thing I really hope we learn from all the current research, it's how we can keep things safely open while numbers are rising. For at least as long as the hospitals are coping. ‘Hamilton’ moved to August now. |
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Post by Jan on Apr 26, 2021 6:07:02 GMT
Somewhat disappointed to see Simon Russell-Beale and assorted theatre luminaries demanding Covid passports be brought in. Only on a "temporary basis" he says. Temporary until when exactly ?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2021 7:03:41 GMT
Somewhat disappointed to see Simon Russell-Beale and assorted theatre luminaries demanding Covid passports be brought in. Only on a "temporary basis" he says. Temporary until when exactly ? Why are you disappointed? Eminently sensible move provided there are exemptions for those who cannot have any of the vaccines for medical reasons (certified by a doctor only) or for people who can prove a negative test (which you can get for free). I've yet to see a credible argument against them. |
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Post by maggiem on Apr 26, 2021 13:40:22 GMT
So as we move nearer, the long running musicals that have declared seem to have their openings spaced out pretty evenly between end of June and (thus far) October. Certainly there isn't a rush to open in June. I think out of these, only Tina and Hamilton and then the new musical Cinderella are planning June starts (someone correct me if I am wrong). Having been quite sceptical at Boris's last announcement (confirming the April restrictions ease) I now actually think that June 21st WILL happen and shows will be allowed to open without distancing. Things do seem to be going very well in the UK (at last!) My main concern now, is that as yet, with London so so dependent on tourists (for the big musicals I'm referring to) there isn't really the audience to sustain all these shows being open. There may also be a factor of older people and more anxious people not being ready to return. (This isn't the case with anyone I know, but of course one most look outside of one's "social bubble") Anyway, perhaps that is why shows are not in a rush to open. There also seem to be increasing mutterings and rumblings on the covid status certificates. My hunch now is that they may well come in for theatres. That will probably take some organising. And I guess if they become mandatory, theatres will need to offer refunds to patrons who refuse to partake as they booked tickets without thinking this would be the case. Anyway, I am pro the certificates if it helps theatres open. But moreover, I think they will help theatres STAY open next Winter if and when we have the next wave. And I think that is key. If there is one thing I really hope we learn from all the current research, it's how we can keep things safely open while numbers are rising. For at least as long as the hospitals are coping. ‘Hamilton’ moved to August now. When in August? I can't see anything on the DMT website. |
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Post by danb on Apr 26, 2021 13:55:15 GMT
I had an email I think...from about the 20th I think? Might have been on twitter or an email because I have something booked.
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Post by danb on Apr 26, 2021 14:36:52 GMT
I really can’t remember. Pretty sure I didn’t dream it.
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Post by fluxcapacitor on Apr 26, 2021 16:03:11 GMT
There are a variety of reasons why a lot of producers are not rushing to open their shows on 21st June. Aside from the confidence in the Government roadmap one of the ones that hasn’t been mentioned here is the logistics. Under the current rules and the ones in place assuming the next step is met on May 17th you can’t rehearse a show non socially distanced until after the 21st June. So as most shows will need several weeks if not months of rehearsals to be ready for performance it was always inevitable that most shows were going to not open immediately in June, unless you were directing your show to be distanced. The producers are also hedging their bets because there is also a problem with track and trace. The government has not announced (or even mentioned) if track and trace will still be in place after June 21st. If it is, it’s a major headache for the shows as it only takes one person in the company to test positive and the whole company would need to go into isolation (assuming a non socially distanced show). There is a behind the scenes push for there to be a system to test your way out of isolation (something that I think should have been in place for a long time). This would mean that in the event that one person tested positive you could test the rest of the company (if required daily) to catch any other positives but the company would not need to isolate. The producers also want a window of time before their shows open to build up a box office advance but some polling I have seen implies that whilst people are keen to return to the theatres (especially among the population who have been vaccinated), people are not willing to book until they are sure that the shows will be allowed to open. Consequently Producers are expecting people to start booking from after 21st June and have left some time for the advance to build. I can also say as someone who is caught up in trying to plan in this environment the biggest problem is not knowing what the rules will be. A lot of the rules for the West End are going to be affected by the results of the trial events but as the last one doesn’t take place until 15th May, we are not expecting some guidance until early June. So that is another reason for a delay in reopening dates so that the Producers have time to adapt to whatever rules are set. All of these things I know are weighing on the minds of the Producers and why they are allowing a window of time before opening dates to see what happens. My personal view is that we will re-open to be non-socially distanced on 21st June, but some restrictions will stay in place. I think masks “where possible” will still be in place until the majority of the world is vaccinated. So I expect to wear one whilst sitting in the stalls of theatres for a while longer and also on the tube into town, but probably not whilst drinking in a pub. I think vaccine passports or testing will be in place for at least a few months after the June re-opening for potential super spreader events (so I am assuming Large theatre shows but probably not fringe or day to day things like shopping). I can tell you that most West End shows currently have plans in place to continue testing all their staff and casts until September, but are waiting the results of the Government testing events at The Crucible and Wembley etc. I also think a big factor is that many theatres and producers got their fingers bitten in December. Restrictions were lifted gradually, they were given the go ahead to open having plunged money into covid-proofing their venues and productions, they rehearsed, went into previews (some opened) and then - BOOM - the government suddenly shut them down again. It was warranted, granted, due to the second wave. But I can understand heavy caution in investing any more into this second promised re-opening. |
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Post by christya on Apr 26, 2021 16:04:52 GMT
I was booked for June and haven't had anything, but I went onto the website randomly and noticed June was offsale. I'm not surprised, since they never told me May was offsale either. I'm not actually convinced they have a real reopening date yet.
Aaand edited to add: I've actually just been back onto the Hamilton website and June is back onsale. No clue what's going on here then.
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Post by marob on Apr 26, 2021 20:54:18 GMT
I was quite pleased to see my local theatre’s just announced a new season of socially distanced shows over the next few months. Then I took a look at the seating plans, and some shows only have tickets in pairs, others only in groups of three and four.
While I’d kinda expect it from ATG or some London theatres, I’m a little surprised at the lack of provision for solo theatregoers.
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Post by steve10086 on Apr 26, 2021 21:26:59 GMT
I was quite pleased to see my local theatre’s just announced a new season of socially distanced shows over the next few months. Then I took a look at the seating plans, and some shows only have tickets in pairs, others only in groups of three and four. While I’d kinda expect it from ATG or some London theatres, I’m a little surprised at the lack of provision for solo theatregoers. Probably the only way they can make it financially viable. A single seat in a socially distanced venue eats up a lot of space and revenue. |
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Post by talkingheads on Apr 27, 2021 7:00:28 GMT
I won't support anywhere that doesn't provide for solo theatregoers (not that I have much choice if they won't sell me a seat!)
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Apr 27, 2021 7:06:07 GMT
To be fair though, most theatregoers aren’t solo and as annoying as it may be to those of us who do attend as a single I don’t really expect to be accommodated with 3 seats when I’m only paying for one of them. As soon as the SD is allowed to be dropped theatres will drop it. It won’t be long now.
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