Can theatres in the East reopen with social distancing rules in place?

  • Watch a report from ITV News Anglia reporter Kate Prout

Theatres have been told they can re-open for indoor performances from the beginning of August, so long as strict social distancing measures are implemented.

However, many theatre bosses in the East of England have told ITV News Anglia they simply can't afford to put on shows if only a third of their seats can be sold.

They say that despite the promise of more than a billion pounds from the government, they will struggle to stay open. 

Musicals like Matilda are the money-spinners for provincial theatres. 

But two or even one-metre social distancing rules will make it difficult for venues like the Theatre Royal in Norwich to re-open.

Stephen Crocker, CEO of Norwich Theatre Royal Credit: ITV Anglia

Stephen Crocker, Chief Executive at Theatre Royal Norwich said: "In order to make people safe, which is the most important thing right now, that reduces our capacity down to about a third.

"The cost of opening this building even down to a third doesn't change and when you take into account the additional measures to make us 'Covid-secure', very unfortunately while social distancing remains in place this building will have to stay closed."

It could be a long time before large scale productions return to the stage. A show like Les Misérables, for example, will have to re-cast and rehearse performances again. The process will take months.

Will theatre-goers have the confidence to return, even for smaller shows?

One woman in Norwich told ITV News Anglia: "I'm not in a particular rush, but I would like to see theatres open. At the end of the day, I want to be safe, but can you make them pay if we're all spaced out? I don't know.

"We want to support them, but I don't know how we can do that, unless there are outdoor performances."

A 'drive-in' Horrible Histories performance at a Northampton car park. Credit: ITV Anglia

The circumstances are tricky, but the arts world is never short of creative ideas. Horrible Histories has transferred from the West End to car parks like Franklins Garden in Northampton.

"Instead of clapping, the audience beep their horns and sometimes flash their lights if they're really excited," Neil Franklin, an actor in the production said.

"Apart from that, it's exactly the same."

Directors at New Theatre in Peterborough feel it's too soon to return to treading the boards.

David Hutchinson is the CEO of Selladoor, the company that manages New Theatre. He told ITV News Anglia: "At the moment, we are exploring cinema here at New Theatre in a social distancing capacity so we can at least start building our revenue up and our audience back in."

Ultimately, it seems that thinking outside of the royal box is what will keep the curtain up at all our arts venues.

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