The Xmas pantos are being cancelled

[TBHno]

1st world problem , I know...

My local theatre has just cancelled their Xmas panto

Panto is something I look forward to every Christmas. As a kid, I even performed in them a few times. Seeing one in the run-up to xmas is a big part of the hype for me. Seeing the kids get all dressed up and excited is great too.

It's one of those things that has to be live because the participation is a big part of it.

Xmas just won't be the same.

[MaudesMum]

Also @IDSNeighbour - a lot of amateur theatres own their own buildings and are still having to pay maintenance costs, power costs, insurance etc even when closed. Those that go and perform in other people's theatres - often professional ones or local authority ones - are presumably concerned that those theatres won't be available in the future because financial pressures will have caused them to close. Closing a theatre and "mothballing" it until it can re-open still involves costs, sadly enough.

[Sheknowsaboutme]

Sad in a way, but with their ridiculous high price, id rather take the family out for a meal and come home with change in my pocket

[ToffeePennie]

We have also suffered some water damage in floods before covid, which has meant our performance space has had to be rebuilt. Due to covid, the space hasn’t been fully rebuilt and we were hit with several storms which have caused even more delays as people have had to go and mop up loads of water again. We have had the majority of our scenery destroyed due to the floods and anything that wasn’t flooded ended up vandalised by youths.
We luckily all had our costumes at home with us, but all our junior and teenage cast costumes will need replacing as they have been destroyed too.
It’s not just about covid, but the stuff that happened prior to lockdown that has had a massive knock on effect.

[AlecTrevelyan006]

Birmingham hippodrome confirms Panto cancelled

//www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-birmingham-53672274

[IDSNeighbour]

Ah, if you have your own theatre that makes sense. I've never been in a group that had that.

We haven't had to pay for rehearsal space because we use schools and community centres which have all been closed. We had also already paid show fees/membership and I don't think anyone will dare ask for a refund! So, afaik, no significant costs to being closed.

[Pliudev]

I'm sad about this if theatres are going to close because of it. But I think we may as well assume Christmas won't be anything like the same. In fact we will be lucky not to be in the middle of a second wave that requires us to lockdown again. Sorry if that's pessimistic but nothing I've heard makes me think otherwise.

[ilovemyrednosedaymug]

I am expecting our local theatre to cancel ours, it is the only thing left that I have tickets for that hasn't been cancelled or rearranged.

We went for the first time on Christmas Eve last year, to ring the changes after losing my last grandparent (always visited them on Xmas Eve).

We enjoyed it so much that we booked tickets for this year, so we will be disappointed if it is cancelled. We do totally understand it though, and would rather be safe than sorry.

[EveryDayIsADuvetDay]

Of all the things I'm missing and yearn to do, Panto is not one of them

[SengaStrawberry]

It’s inevitable but still sad. The final skid mark on an utter fucking turd of a year.

[jjnineone]

But I think we may as well assume Christmas won't be anything like the same. In fact we will be lucky not to be in the middle of a second wave that requires us to lockdown again.

I'm more or less resigned to Christmas being fairly dull and nothing being the same this year, but it's heartbreaking to think that the world might be a hugely different place whenever we come out the other side of the pandemic. Lots of theatres and arts organisations lost or severely reduced, lots of creative and technical jobs lost or people who can no longer afford to work in the arts industry in such reduced circumstances. I won't miss panto, but I will certainly miss all of the things I do like to see at theatres/arts centres which are partly subsidised by a sellout panto season.

[SengaStrawberry]

@MagicSummer

In a way, I think it will be a good thing to go back to a simpler, more traditional Christmas this year. There won't be office parties, huge get-togethers or pantomimes, or huge piles of plastic tat given to kids who look at it once and then throw away. Maybe people could think about what Christmas is really about and it is a religious festival, whether you like it or not (and no, I am not religious!).

And we probably won’t even be able to celebrate the birth of Jesus properly either, for those who are religious

[TesticleMeElmo]

Speaking as someone who is actually IN the Christmas Panto, please believe the cast are also absolutely gutted to not be performing

[pollymere]

Elgiva Theatre in Chesham have changed their panto so it's safe for the actors and are going ahead with Panto Season. They have already reopened for films with appropriate measures in place.

[Dizzybet74]

It's so sad isn't it, but inevitable of course. I also realised the other day that my DD will miss out doing her nativity play this year as they always do them in yr2. I don't think it'll bother her but I'm quite sad she'll miss out on the experience.

[Nanalisa60]

It’s just another blow to normal life , no Pantomime at HMT Aberdeen this year, do Not think there is much chance of Christmas market!!. Edinburgh have cancelled Hogmanay, and I think also the winter festival!! And Christmas markets.
Doubt there will be any 5th November fireworks This year.

All the charity balls I usually go to have been cancelled for this year.

Can’t see many works Christmas party’s going ahead as most companies are struggling to keep afloat.

As I keep saying all the fun is being sucked out of our lives.

It all just so depressing, and yes I know I’m well,
But I’m getting very bored, as I’m one of those people who liked to have things to look forward two.

Only thing I can look forward to is getting bloody COVID-19 at some point this winter because I can’t see a vaccine that works coming soon.

O god we’re is the gin!!

[Zoejj77]

Can’t believe this is even a post

[manicinsomniac]

Speaking as someone who is actually IN the Christmas Panto, please believe the cast are also absolutely gutted to not be performing sad

To be fair, you (and the associated crew and theatre based industries) are the ones almost everyone on this thread is concerned about.

People aren't so upset about missing one trip to the theatre that they're calling it tragic and devastating - it's the arts industry and the actors etc that people are so sad for.

[MyWitzEnd]

How will you cope?

[Drivingdownthe101]

@Zoejj77

Can’t believe this is even a post

Why? You think an entire industry losing its main income source, resulting in thousands of job losses, plus people being upset about the loss of a loved tradition isn’t worth posting about?

[PhilSwagielka]

Not a theatre, but the Zanzibar in Liverpool has closed down. It's a small gig venue, I've seen a couple of local bands there and I'm pretty sad because it was a nice venue, and Liverpool's got some great smaller venues. The Lomax and the Picket have already gone (although I think the Lomax was something to do with drugs?) and it makes me wonder how many more small gig venues will survive. And in Manchester we nearly lost Gorilla and the Deaf Institute, though luckily they were saved by financiers.

Like I said, it's not just pantos that'll suffer - it's entertainment as a whole.

[AlecTrevelyan006]

CONFIRMED THEATRE REDUNDANCIES as at 5 August 2020

Ambassador Theatre Group – 1,200
Belgrade Theatre Coventry – 21
Birmingham Town Hall and Symphony Hall – 35
Birmingham Hippodrome – 62
Birmingham Rep – 47
Bristol Old Vic – 20
Canterbury Marlowe Theatre – 30
Edinburgh Traverse Theatre – 11
Exeter Northcott Theatre – 35
Guildford – Yvonne Arnaud – 10 (another 4 possible)
Horsham Capitol Theatre – 4
Horsecross Arts Centre – 168
Kings Cross Arts Venue – 10
Manchester Royal Exchange – 96
National Theatre – 250+
Newcastle Theatre Royal – 44
Nimax Theatres – 130
Norwich Theatre 172 (incl 59 on zero hrs contracts)
Nuffield Southampton Theatres – 86
Oxford Playhouse – 12
Pitlochry Festival Theatre – 42
Plymouth Theatre Royal – 110+
Theatre By The Lake Keswick – 38
Tobacco Factory Theatres – 25
Southbank Centre London – 400
Wales Millenium Centre – 250
Wiltshire Creative – 40% of staff
Worthing Theatres – 86

SUB TOTAL 3367+

[EmpressoftheMundane]

It’s dreadful but predictable.
We started out using lockdown and social distancing to keep numbers at a level that the NHS could manage. Now we seem to be going for total eradication even while keeping our borders open.
This attitude about the balance of risks will bankrupt us all.

[Fishfingersandwichplease]

Ah that is really sad OP, l love the Christmas panto

[Localocal]

We have always taken the kids to a panto on Christmas Eve, followed by a Carol service at a beautiful church -ridiculous to the sublime, or sublime to the ridiculous, depending on your point of view. Sorry to miss out on our tradition this year.

But as an ex-stage manager I am even more sorry to see the panto season disrupted. It's the one time of year when everyone in theatre works.

[CallmeBadJanet]

Is this sad? Oh no it isn’t!😂