Britain's West End Theatres Reopen in October- Page 1

[Owen22]

Posted: 9/13/20 at 7:40am

Well, six of them anyway. And only one starting in October.  The theatre that house Harry Potter will not reopen until social distancing is done away with. But Everybody's Talking About Jamie will be reopening with social distancing in place.

This makes seven I think as The Mousetrap is reopening this fall as well.

https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/nimax-theatres-to-open-all-six-west-end-theatres-in-sequence-from-october-22nd-2020-with-social-distancing-under-covid-19-secure-government-guidelines/

Updated On: 9/13/20 at 07:40 AM

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 9/13/20 at 8:18am

Wow, I hope it goes well !!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/13/20 at 9:11am

Very good news. There are many more West End theatres that are scheduled to reopen in November/December as well so this gives me hope. Those other theatres have been selling seats for quite a while now using no distancing at all, so it will be interesting to see what happens there. Hopefully I’ll be able to get over there by the new year, now...

[RW3]

Posted: 9/13/20 at 9:51am

Same Jordan. I am trying to schedule a trip to London for July 2021 so I will be keeping my eyes on the West End like a hawk.

[Owen22]

Posted: 9/13/20 at 10:15am

Well the problem going to London at the moment (and god knows how long, The UK seems to be maybe entering into a second wave) is the 14 day required quarantine upon arrival.

[Owen22]

Posted: 9/13/20 at 10:15am

Well the problem going to London at the moment (and god knows how long, The UK seems to be maybe entering into a second wave) is the 14 day required quarantine upon arrival.

[DrewJoseph]

Posted: 9/13/20 at 10:19am

I had a trip planned for december, but all my booked shows have been canceled. Very interested to see what, if anything, will be on.

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/13/20 at 10:20am

Social distance for the audience? What about the cast and crew?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/13/20 at 10:31am

Owen22 said: "Well the problem going to London at the moment (and god knows how long, The UK seems to be maybe entering into a second wave) is the 14 day required quarantine upon arrival."

Not sure where you are but there’s a proposed move by the USA & the UK for travel between New York and London to not require a quarantine, since infection rates are low in both. You can google it and stay up to date on where it’s at but sounds like it is in the works.

[Kad]

Posted: 9/13/20 at 10:34am

This is an odd thing to announce when a prohibition against more than 6 people gathering together goes into effect in the UK tomorrow.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/13/20 at 11:03am

London's R rate is now significantly over 1.0 and reports are that new cases in the UK are doubling weekly. I would not hold my breath on any reopening. 

[BizBuzz]

Posted: 9/13/20 at 5:33pm

There is a ban on 6 people plus meeting collectively, therefore can only sell in quantities of no more than 6. Bubble burst seating tech will mean when people book the seats around will also go, meaning people stay within the guidelines and social distancing. It has been approved by council. It will mean most venues can only play at 35-50% capacity max.

UK positive tests are increasing and have imposed more stricter rules following this. Death rates remain very low. Theatres, thanks to ALW pilot, will be secure and as COVID safe as can be. Additionally it is hoped reopening venues safely can provide test and trace. 

There will be exciting news tomorrow on a show that will reopen at one of this groups theatres. 

Providing death rates don’t increase dramatically , this will go ahead and is a great first stage to the reopening of theatre. One to be applauded, supported and encouraged. 

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/13/20 at 6:02pm

BizBuzz said: "There is a ban on 6 people plusmeeting collectively, therefore can onlysell in quantities of no more than 6. Bubble burst seating tech will mean when people book the seats around will also go, meaning people stay within the guidelines and social distancing. It has been approved by council. It will mean most venues can only playat 35-50% capacity max.

UK positive tests are increasing and have imposed more stricter rules following this. Death rates remain very low. Theatres, thanks to ALW pilot, will be secure and as COVID safe as can be. Additionally it is hoped reopening venues safely can provide test and trace.

There will be exciting news tomorrow on a show that will reopen at one of this groups theatres.

Providing death rates don’t increase dramatically , this will go ahead and is a great first stage to the reopening of theatre. One to be applauded, supported and encouraged."

So the cast and crew will also social distance on and off stage? Or what will they do when a full company gets infected?

Not to burst the bubble but it sounds terrifying for those doing the shows.

[Kad]

Posted: 9/13/20 at 8:22pm

BizBuzz said: "There is a ban on 6 people plusmeeting collectively, therefore can onlysell in quantities of no more than 6. Bubble burst seating tech will mean when people book the seats around will also go, meaning people stay within the guidelines and social distancing. It has been approved by council. It will mean most venues can only playat 35-50% capacity max.”

This is delusional and all available evidence suggests that indoor gatherings remain risky and sources of super spreading events. Multiple groups of six in one indoor space is a mass gathering, regardless of the space- which is at a premium in West End theaters- between them. 

This is not to be applauded. This is jamming a square peg in a round hole and pretending it’s solving things. The UK’s case numbers are not promising and not improving. And things like this are not going to help.



 

Updated On: 9/13/20 at 08:22 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/13/20 at 10:08pm

Kad said: "This is delusional and all available evidence suggests that indoor gatherings remain risky and sources of super spreading events. Multiplegroups of six in one indoor space is a mass gathering, regardless of the space- which is at a premium in West End theaters- between them.

This is not to be applauded. This is jamming a square peg in a round hole and pretending it’s solving things. The UK’s case numbers are not promising and not improving. And things like this are not going to help."

While I was walking around Trader Joe's a week or so ago minding my own business, I was confronted by a man wearing a space helmet. (Really.) As I was waiting to check out, it dawned on me that this was the solution to the problem of reopening Broadway. We would produce an outerspace musical (think Return to the Forbidden Planet) and we would give each audience member one of these helmets. (The cast, of course, as well.)  

This is not delusional (is it?) and certainly not risky. We would have multiple groups of one! We could have thousands in the same place. There would be no jamming of square pegs in round holes, just roundish heads in round orbs. 

 

[Owen22]

Posted: 9/14/20 at 2:46pm

https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/six-musical-announces-new-temporary-west-end-venue_52385.html

Updated On: 9/14/20 at 02:46 PM

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/14/20 at 2:58pm

Owen22 said: "https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/six-musical-announces-new-temporary-west-end-venue_52385.html"

I feel awful for the performers. Having to choose between their health and safety and their careers/jobs. Russian roulette.

[binau]

Posted: 9/14/20 at 3:22pm

I would hope/assume that the production would not hold grudges against anyone that chooses not to work to protect their health. On the flip side, those without work who are not in a high-risk category (and who do not come into contact with a high-risk category) may be happy that they can work*

* More likely is the whole thing is going to collapse from a 2nd wave and no one will work. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/14/20 at 3:25pm

blaxx said: "I feel awful for the performers. Having to choose between their health and safety and their careers/jobs. Russian roulette."

I don't feel that bad yet because I don't think this has a snowball's chance in hell of happening. I used to think my UK theatre friends had their heads screwed on pretty securely, but not any more. Maybe it's Brexit, but whatever it is this pandemic has triggered some sort of delusional disorder epidemic. 

And London's growth rate is now between +2 and +4 with an R rate well over 1. Sad.

[Impossible2]

Posted: 9/16/20 at 7:05am

HogansHero said: "blaxx said: "I feel awful for the performers. Having to choose between their health and safety and their careers/jobs. Russian roulette."

I don't feel that bad yet because I don't think this has a snowball's chance in hell of happening. I used to think my UK theatre friends had their heads screwed on pretty securely, but not any more. Maybe it's Brexit, but whatever it is this pandemic has triggered some sort ofdelusional disorder epidemic.

And London's growth rate is now between +2 and +4 with an R rate well over 1. Sad."

The Bridge Theatre is open already and playing to socially distanced crowds and according to those who have been it is all very well done and runs like clockwork.

Jesus Christ Superstar has been on in Regents Park for nearly a month now too tho it is outdoors so a little different.

Sleepless has also been on for a while in a huge socially distanced theatre.

These 6 theatres are being gutted and having every other row of seats removed and there are large spaces between groups of people with temperature checks, compulsory masks and all other safety precautions in full force. 

Cameron Mc. has thrown his toys out of the pram this morning again and isn't willing to do any of that or take any precautions. He just wants to re-open and 'bring the tourists back'.

Like you say, I doubt very much it'll go ahead either, but I don't see how it is any different to travelling on the tube which 100,000's of people are doing again daily because our PM has all but ordered office workers back to work.

Updated On: 9/16/20 at 07:05 AM

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/16/20 at 7:19am

Impossible2 said: "Like you say, I doubt very muchit'll go ahead either, but I don't see how it is any different to travelling on the tube which 100,000's of people are doing again daily because our PM has all but ordered office workers back to work."

Because the people in the tube don't belt directly to each other's faces without a mask while doing complex choreographies, or do they? Maybe that's what's different?

[Impossible2]

Posted: 9/16/20 at 7:25am

blaxx said: "Impossible2 said: "Like you say, I doubt very muchit'll go ahead either, but I don't see how it is any different to travelling on the tube which 100,000's of people are doing again daily because our PM has all but ordered office workers back to work."

Because the people in the tube don't belt directly toeach other's faces without a mask while doing complex choreographies, or do they? Maybe that's what's different?"

Well Six is moving to a MUCH bigger theatre, therefore a bigger stage, proper dressing rooms so they can be socially distance properly. I imagine they will have to re-work some of the choreography so they don't touch each other etc but I don't see how it would be that difficult for that particular show.

This wasn't my idea btw so you could keep the sark to yourself. OBVIOUSLY they have thought of these things before making the decision, unfortunately I am not on the team so I can't fill you in on the full details.

I do know that every one of the girls contracts were up bar one, so they certainly haven't been forced back to work and 3 of them were known to be leaving so they've obviously changed their minds. I imagine if they were moving onto other shows that is clearly not happening for a while so they are staying on.

The touring cast are playing Manchester for 2 months.

Updated On: 9/16/20 at 07:25 AM

[Impossible2]

Posted: 9/16/20 at 7:37am

Owen22 said: "Well, six of them anyway. And only one starting in October. The theatre that house Harry Potter will not reopen until social distancing is done away with. But Everybody's Talking About Jamie will be reopening with social distancing in place.

This makes seven I think as The Mousetrap is reopening this fall as well.

https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/nimax-theatres-to-open-all-six-west-end-theatres-in-sequence-from-october-22nd-2020-with-social-distancing-under-covid-19-secure-government-guidelines/"

Jamie is returning 'in due course', it is not re-opening until everything else re-opens.

Six is the only 'big' show opening because they can socially distance properly on stage, the rest of the shows will be new 'special performance' pieces probably much like the Bridge Theatre is doing with their Talking Heads performances one would imagine.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/16/20 at 11:04am

Impossible2 said: "Like you say, I doubt very muchit'll go ahead either, but I don't see how it is any different to travelling on the tube which 100,000's of people are doing again daily because our PM has all but ordered office workers back to work."

The major difference is that people are only on trains for a few minutes, and can easily move if they are confronted with an uncomfortable situation. Science tells us that time is a critical factor in these infections, and sitting in a theatre with 100s of others for a couple of hours is much worse than being on the tube or subway etc.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 9/16/20 at 11:18am

Sleepless in Seattle seems like a bigger show than Six, no?