Theatres

[VinoBianca]

I have three theatre shows booked this month. How are these still being allowed to go ahead? They're all fully booked venues, no distancing. I think I'm too anxious to go but it was a real investment for the kids and the loss of the money is really hard to take. Im torn about this because if they're going ahead surely the powers that be consider this to be a risk that's potentially fine to take? Basically I'm confused by the messaging and rubbish at making a decision

I've read this thread with interest. I worked in theatres front of house for 20 years. My husband is backstage and still is.

Last year the industry completely shut down, most staff are on 0 contracts or are casual staff so they didn't get a penny. So many staff left the industry. My husband worked a couple of days a week keeping the venue ok, it cost tens of thousands to reopen after so many months stagnant.

All the staff are so happy to be be back, they want everyone to have a great time. Masks are back as is lft before entrance. Most cases of covid at theatres have been cast or crew because they are working in such close proximity to each other. We haven't seen that much evidence of audiences picking it up. If you are masked and are generally facing the same way, your chances of getting it are probably rather low.

But the staff are weary. They are worried. They are fed up with people having a go at them over social media just for trying to keep themselves going by putting procedures in place. They are working long long hours to try to keep their industry going. Theatres were the first to close and one of the last to reopen.

I totally understand people's trepidation. If you have kids though you are more likely to get it through their school. The worry of isolating over Christmas is understandable though. I hope that hubs doesn't bring it home and put an end to our Christmas.

If you really don't feel comfortable, please consider asking for credit note or to move your tickets rather than a refund. Please keep your money in the industry.

Have a lovely Christmas and happy panto to all xxxx

We went to a Pantomime on Sunday. It was our rescheduled tickets from December 2020 that were booked before Covid began.

To be honest it was pretty stressful and not at all Covid safe. I wouldn't be going to anywhere like that again for a while. We also had the special family in front of us where all 5 if them were exempt from mask wearing. It was even more delightful that one turned around to tell us that she simply didn't have the time to get vaccinated either - although going to a pantomime clearly didn't prove so difficult.

I was at the theatre in the West End last night. Compared to busy bars it felt quite safe. Almost everyone in masks and once you're in your seat, you're not actually that close to many people.

There were lots of empty seats at what I'd have expected to be a sell out show though, so some people must be deciding to stay away.

I'm meant to be going to a libertines gig on Saturday - 2,300 people & I'm not picturing many masks!

If it's not cancelled we'll probably go if we get negative lateral flow tests.

Seems crazy that people are not doing small gatherings when stuff like gigs, theatre and football (& winter wonderland) are still on.

We have two theatre shows booked in the next week. Most of my family have recently had covid so that helps mindset a bit (I haven't and booster is today), but have bought ffp2 masks and going to go and hope for the best.

We have theatre booked for Sunday and will definitely be going if it goes ahead. I’m so excited about it - it’s a Christmas treat for all 5 of us.

If no one goes to the theatre they’ll be no theatre to return to. A devastating thought.

We're going at weekend. I've had three jabs, I'll wear a mask and use hand sanitizer. They do offer credit to rebook but honestly what's the point? This is going to go for years.

@ThinkAboutItTomorrow ooh- I’m seeing them on Sunday!

‘ It’s not a fear of getting Covid so much at this point, as not being able to spend Christmas with family. Aren’t even those not interested in restrictions bothered about that? we’re prioritising staying clear of people from now, because we really want to be with family’

So no one in your household works out of the home, is in school or childcare, shopping, meeting anyone indoors?

No, not at this point. School has finished now. We will get online food deliveries and are working from home. And we will revert to the dull walks, but can do those with other people.

We realise we are fortunate to be able to isolate like this.

I was working outside the home until last week. This did involve being in a building with lots of people, but I would consider it to have been safer than being in a crowded pub or theatre though. Some kid of distancing measures were still in place.

Fully appreciate people have to go to work right up until Christmas Eve or over cHristmas too. Would you say though, that or needing to shop in person are as risky as being in a busy pub or theatre?

Also understand that for lots of people, friends are the big priority over cHristmas. Lots see family all year or don’t have any or aren’t bothered.

I agree it’s about prioritising what matters to you. If it’s friends, fair enough. To me it seems we can’t have everything though. So it’s not possible to see lots of friends next week and also feel sureish the family Christmas Day with elderly relatives can go ahead. It feels like one or the other this year. I guess that at least we can choose which matters most to us.

We're due to go to the theatre on the 22nd. Taking my 76yo mother with us too. Still planning on going. Will all wear FFP type masks and DM and DH are both triple vax'd (I'm double vax'd). I accept there's a risk but at this point it's a risk we're willing to take. I can see not everyone would be comfortable with the risk. FWIW we're going to a modern theatre with a proper air filtration system and it's not a panto. I didn't send DD on her panto trip last weekend because it was a much older theatre and I wasn't comfortable with the thought of all the unmasked, unvaccinated kids shouting. Shame though as I really love the panto.

The theatre where dd works is now closed until next week. She got diverted to another venue the first day, but now has now work and won't get paid.

Our performance of Cabaret has been cancelled the weekend due to some of the company having covid.

@marmiteloversunite aaargh tonight’s performance of Cinderella cancelled as due to Covid restrictions don’t have enough performers ! Hoping Saturdays panto and Sunday’s jazz club still go ahead

@MissDollyMix

We're due to go to the theatre on the 22nd. Taking my 76yo mother with us too. Still planning on going. Will all wear FFP type masks and DM and DH are both triple vax'd (I'm double vax'd). I accept there's a risk but at this point it's a risk we're willing to take. I can see not everyone would be comfortable with the risk. FWIW we're going to a modern theatre with a proper air filtration system and it's not a panto. I didn't send DD on her panto trip last weekend because it was a much older theatre and I wasn't comfortable with the thought of all the unmasked, unvaccinated kids shouting. Shame though as I really love the panto.

Even with properly fitted masks and state of the art air filtration you’re taking an unnecessary risk with your DM. In 6 days the cases will be through the roof, please don’t be cavalier about this, just cancel it for all your sakes.

@PurpleFlower1983

Our performance of Cabaret has been cancelled the weekend due to some of the company having covid.

I saw that on Twitter but at the time, the sources were dodgy.

Sorry to hear that.

Thewiseone "Even with properly fitted masks and state of the art air filtration you’re taking an unnecessary risk with your DM. "

It's her decision though? I admit, I sometimes say jokingly to my parents (80s) to do as they're told but you can't really tell an adult what to do.

I think dad was up a ladder last time I said it 😂

@DaisyNGO

Thewiseone "Even with properly fitted masks and state of the art air filtration you’re taking an unnecessary risk with your DM. "

It's her decision though? I admit, I sometimes say jokingly to my parents (80s) to do as they're told but you can't really tell an adult what to do.

I think dad was up a ladder last time I said it 😂

Yes this exactly. If @MissDollyMix ‘s mother understands the risks and wants to go ahead, it’s not up to anyone else.

At the rate this one is spreading I doubt many people will be able to avoid it for long. It’s about prioritising the things you want to do. I went to the theatre last weekend and I wouldn’t regret it even if I’d caught Covid.
I would regret doing something less enjoyable and catching Covid if it then meant I couldn’t do the next thing I had planned if it was something I was really looking forward to.

We’re in a position now where I think all of us are in pretty good possession of the facts. We know what lockdown was like. We know what last Christmas was like. We can also balance that with what we know about Covid and, frankly, must 70 and 80 year olds will likely know someone who has died from it so they won’t be naive.

[quote bengalcat]@marmiteloversunite aaargh tonight’s performance of Cinderella cancelled as due to Covid restrictions don’t have enough performers ! Hoping Saturdays panto and Sunday’s jazz club still go ahead[/quote]
How did you find out it was cancelled? Did they email you?

Book of Mormon in Manchester has been cancelled the last 3 days. I'm not hopeful for tomorrow.

Email and a text notification of cancellation

@WombatChocolate

For us we've made the decision that the play we have booked for Tuesday is worth possibly having to drastically change our festive plans. If we test positive we'll stay at home and isolate - snuggle up under the duvet on the sofa, hopefully feel well enough to do a barbecue and open a bottle of champagne! If we don't test positive we'll visit family as planned. We're OK either way.

Smashingbaubles. Fair enough. You’ve weighed up your priorities and made an informed choice. Hope you get see the show and it’s brilliant. And hope your remain Covid free and can do the other things you’d like to as well.

We managed to get through to ATG and they very kindly moved our Cursed Child tickets to June. Bless them. I feel so bad for not going.

On the other hand my DD is a chef and they're currently planning to be closed for all of January...

We are going ahead with The Nutcracker at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh but 86 year old mum has pulled out. Theatre will give us a credit note for her ticket