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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 5, 2020 7:47:33 GMT
To be honest I'm getting pretty annoyed with some stagey social media types. I want theatres to open as much as the next person, I want theatres to get money so they can survive as much as the next person, both of these things are clearly vital and it means an awful lot to me. However, what I do find annoying is the people who are clearly preferring to carry on moaning and completely just ignoring the fact that we know theatres will be told when they can open next week and also that it's pretty much certain a financial package will be announced next week. If you just went on some peoples comments on twitter and places you'd honestly think neither of those things were happening and we were still in complete limbo with no hope whatsoever. Look, pop off in this time next week we are in the same boat and i'll be joining you, but let's also be optimistic and happy when we get some good news and movement. I honestly think some people just like the being up in arms aspect of this, whether something is being done or not.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 5, 2020 7:38:47 GMT
The public will be to blame if there is second wave or there is a bit of a spike due to the pubs and other services being open. That is because we have been told we can do these things if we follow the social distancing guidelines and are responsible citizens. The scenes in Soho and other scenes around the country are people not doing either of those things, they are people being selfish, reckless and just wanting to get lashed. People know the situation, or they should, so sorry, but in my book when people turn up and join in with this kind of thing instead of deciding to walk away and be responsible, it's on them, not the government. If it then means that there is a second wave and other sectors suffer, it's on them, not the government.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 3, 2020 16:19:54 GMT
I believe, unless i heard wrong, the PM announced just now that he'll outline next week when sectors currently not up and running will be allowed to open again. I'm unclear if this will include Theatres ect as technically he already said they could open from tomorrow. Confirmed in the answer to the first question that it does! Also a vague hint there might be some form of support in the interim before the proposed reopening date. Though he still said about getting them open "covid secure", which, unless what that term means changes, would seem to point to no actual change in the situation? So, we can only hope that the ALW trial impressed enough to make them agree to a different version of "covid secure" than before. Also I notice beyond saying that "we will do everything we can to support the events and arts industry in the meantime" he didn't, again, specifically promise a financial package.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 3, 2020 16:09:31 GMT
I believe, unless i heard wrong, the PM announced just now that he'll outline next week when sectors currently not up and running will be allowed to open again. I'm unclear if this will include Theatres ect as technically he already said they could open from tomorrow.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jul 3, 2020 4:19:01 GMT
If they aren't stepping in to save the Albert Hall then what chance does any other theatre have? Do we know they definitely aren't? We have been told a package is being announced for theatre next week, which could, potentially, include financial support for places in the position that the RAH find themselves in? We will have to wait and see.
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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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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 HereForTheatre on Jul 2, 2020 9:33:09 GMT
I really like Waitress but some of the songs are not that easy on the ear, especially in the show itself because some of the most awkward songs are also some of the songs with the most energetic choreography. I'm talking about When he see's me and both of Ogi's songs. Melodically I really don't think they sit well and to make matters worse, the actors are all over the shop dancing about in all those songs and it honestly can be a bit painful, even if the actors can actually sing, which as we know with Waitress, isn't always a given. I do like Sara's music and there are some beautiful songs in Waitress but some of that score feels really awkward to my ears.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 30, 2020 18:34:35 GMT
Having had a few days of absence from Oliver Dowden regarding his plans to help the theatre industry he has posted this tonight - In light of his so called "roadmap" that he tweeted a few days ago, I would love to know what exactly he is doing every day to help support those in the arts sector. The fact that he seems more elusive than Lord Lucan in wanting to appear in front of the cameras or on radio in providing reassurance and details for any financial support and action plans for those in the arts sector I really do wonder despite his claim that that he understands the seriousness of the situation, does he fully understand what is actually involved in getting theatres and other arts venues up and running again? Also, why isn't the Shadow SoS for DCMS and the Parliamentary Select Committee for DCMS being more vocal and applying pressure to get Dowden to be a little more proactive? As a SoS for DCMS, I've certainly not been impressed by his lack of action during this crisis and rather than spending time tweeting stuff about the 2022 Commonwealth Games and Disinformation over the last few days, I would love to see him actually deal with the immediate issues of protecting t he sector that he is actually meant to be overseeing.
I agree that he should be talking about the current crisis in theatre a lot more and that financial packages should already be in place, indeed I'm not entirely sure he's particular competent in the role, but it's not the department of the Arts and Theatre, it's the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. I'm not certain everyone is grasping that. He can't be criticised for talking about and working on the other sectors that he is also responsible for. ETA: Just following up talkingheads comment above, yes we could have someone with an arts management background, but then why not someone with a Sports background? Or TV/Radio background? Or Online media background? Or Tourism background? It's a role encompassing the entirety of 3 general and wide ranging sectors, not simply The Arts. Why should someone with a history in theatre be chosen in particular? I mean it would be great for us if we did have a DCMS sec who fitted that bill but why would we and I'm sure in that case it wouldn't go down too well with the other sectors they would also be responsible for. Look i'm not saying that hes doing a good job or that he'e doing enough for theatre, he clearly isn't, but i just feel like people aren't quite grasping the vastness of the role and all the other areas the DCMS sos is responsible for and are focusing it down to only the thing we happen to care about. It might be all we care about but it's not their job to only care about that.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 30, 2020 8:34:12 GMT
Exciting for everyone who's been able to go. Unfortunately i don't drive and nobody in my household or family are interested.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 27, 2020 16:21:57 GMT
Well for me it's much better for my mental health and enjoyment levels than either the pub or the cinema, but i can understand why it was said in a sense. Going to the pub and the cinema are, for the majority, i guess a far more common and mainstream way of spending leisure time. That is no excuse to ignore theatre though, as it still highly important and beneficial.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 24, 2020 13:25:29 GMT
How awful. I was holding out hope for this one.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 24, 2020 13:08:54 GMT
Curve have cancelled their Christmas musical this year.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 23, 2020 13:16:08 GMT
I'm somewhat baffled by the outrage on twitter about todays relaxations in relation to the none relaxation of Theatre. Surely nobody expected theatres to suddenly just be allowed to open and put shows on? That's why everything has been postponed. I'm a bit confused by the response. Plus he did specifically mention Theatre and trying to get it back up and running ASAP, which i thought showed an acknowledgement of the importance.
I believe that he has said that theatres can open, but not put on live performances, now this to some used to going to the west end or working in the West End might seem contradictory but many regional theatres and other London venues are far more than their auditorium and far more than putting on a panto or musical, so the building being allowed to be physically open and being allowed to start up some aspects of all the other things they do, is good news.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 22, 2020 8:38:39 GMT
To be fair the show was running was a social distanced audience anyway, by the sounds of it!
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 19, 2020 20:48:07 GMT
I'll always binge too, but that's the issue. I wish i didn't have the option, because i will always binge, it just happens, but there is something rather unfulfilling and anti climactic about being excited to watch a new series or the next series of your fave show for ages and it then be over within a couple of days, or even hours, depending on how extreme you binge! I kind of wish the power was taken out our hands and we did have to savour a show over 3 or 4 months instead. It seems a much more sensible way of consuming the form, so it gives you entertainment over a longer period as well.
The trouble of course with trying to even eek a show out and maybe watch just a couple of eps a week or something is that loads of others will have just binged and spoilers and articles and pictures will be everywhere...so it ends up being pointless trying! It was kind of good when everyone would just watch something all at the same time and pace.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 19, 2020 13:17:37 GMT
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. Erm, what about the people that need to get off?
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 19, 2020 12:22:43 GMT
My issue isn't the existence of streaming, it's the specific issue of the way that entire seasons of new shows are now dropped in one go rather than weekly. This is relatively new, even streaming services such as netflix used to release episodes one at a time.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 19, 2020 9:56:59 GMT
ALW was on the Today Programme this morning. He's going to start the trial at the Palladium next month and hoping to demonstrate to the government that theatres can operate safely without social distancing. Mentions things like temperature testing, disinfection, special door handles ect.
He seems rather more proactive than CM who's simply decided to just close everything till next year and seemingly given up.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 18, 2020 15:50:26 GMT
I've been thinking recently how I dislike the trend lately, with the rise of streaming services, of full seasons of tv shows being released all in one go. I miss the old days when you'd be eagerly awaiting a new episode of your favourite tv show every week and having the story play out over 3 or 4 months and be part of your routine for a long time. The problem is now is if you wanted you could watch an entire show in a day. Which is me btw, especially in lockdown. I don't have the will power to pace the shows out when they are there ready to view. I want to go back to being forced into how often i can consume something and be forced to savour it! I don't know, it just feels very instant and disposable now, which ends up just leaves you wanting more, which won't come for probably another full year, and new shows to constantly find to constantly replace things. It loses the sense of event that tv used to have and it's part in your routine. Maybe it's just me thinking this but please say it isn't! haha!
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 18, 2020 11:45:14 GMT
Sorry guys I missed By Jeeves off by mistake.
Also i notice now i missed off TWOO but to be fair he only added a few new songs to an existing score, so.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 18, 2020 8:30:59 GMT
I never felt that attracted to ALW shows I must say but over the last few years I found a new appreciation after slowly working my way through them.
This year was supposed to be a bumper year for ALW shows for me because I think I was due to see 6 of his shows for the first time, however it looks like I'll only have managed one, which was the Phantom tour just before lockdown, rather luckily now one of only a few people to have actually seen it.
I voted for Sunset.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 18, 2020 7:40:20 GMT
Please vote and discuss
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 18, 2020 7:33:29 GMT
Given the state theatre will be in when it re-opens it seems unlikely many actors will refuse offers to stay in their current shows, even if they were planning on leaving beforehand.
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Post by HereForTheatre on Jun 17, 2020 16:42:20 GMT
I feel very downcast today. I genuinely never believed that we'd see the year out without shows being back, but unfortunately i'm starting to now think that I've been too optimistic. Unfortunately, whilst i can see theatre being back in some way, these big musicals at the end of the year i was genuinely thinking i would still be seeing up to the last few days...i now cannot see going ahead.
I don't know what that will mean for the local theatres that i have huge personal connection to if they cannot put on their big Christmas musicals and pantomimes, which i now accept is increasingly inevitable . I dread to think.
The thought of not seeing any major theatre until next year, the thought of not stepping foot in my local theatre until next year, the thought of what could be the disastrous result of all this, it's getting to me today. For the first time. The optimism has gone.
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