With live theatre still paused, Sky Arts Freeview channel is taking the opportunity to re-screen some of the shows which have been enjoyed on their channel. Here are the first shows, updated as more information becomes available.
Early birds and insomniacs can take early morning theatre to a new level when Sky Arts screens THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE! on Saturday 27 March at 6.10am Similarly, dance lovers can set their alarms early on Sunday 28 March to catch Northern Ballet’s CASANOVA at 6.30am And in the evening on Sunday 28 March you can enjoy BILLY ELLIOT:THE MUSICAL at 9.00pm
On Easter weekend, you can see the National Theatre’s acclaimed ROMEO AND JULIET on Sunday April 4th at 9.00pm
West End sensation (originally from Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre) EMIL!A is again available online until March 31st.
1609. I AM EMILIA. WRITER. WIFE. LOVER. MOTHER. MUSE.
400 years ago Emilia Bassano wanted her voice to be heard. It wasn’t. Could she have been the “Dark Lady” of Shakespeare’s sonnets? What of her own poems? Why was her story erased from history? Emilia and her sisters reach out to us across the centuries with passion, fury, laughter and song. Listen to them. Let them inspire and unite us. Celebrate women’s voices through the story of this trailblazing, forgotten woman. Stand up and be counted.
You can again watch online the archive recording of the ground-breaking, Olivier Award nominated, West End transfer of EMILIA.
Tickets are available on a Pay What You Can basis, starting at just £5.
Captioned and Audio Described recordings are available.
The Emilia company says “We want you to be able to enjoy this recording of EMILIA, regardless of your financial circumstances. So we are inviting you to pay what you can, from as little as £5.
If you can pay more, please do.
Proceeds will be shared by the brilliant, hard-working team of people who made this show, including actors, designers, backstage crew and a brilliant, all-female creative team whose jobs have disappeared with theatres across the country closed indefinitely.
So please, pay what you can.
Thank you.”
Please note: This is an archive recording using a two-camera setup which was not specifically designed for public broadcast, so please be understanding if any technical limitations or shortcomings become apparent.
Guidance: Please note that the production contains strong language and covers the subject of infant mortality.
Here’s a great opportunity for all of you who, maybe like me, are feeling a little cooped up waiting for this blasted pandemic to ebb. So here’s a great opportunity to go exploring one of the UK’s most historic theatres – without leaving your sofa.
Morecambe Winter Gardens have recorded a comprehensive and very interesting guided tour of this listed but still at risk building.
For just £5, you can sign up to be a Friend of the MWG for a year, and as a special perk you’ll get the guided tour thrown in! It’s well worth the tiny price.
TO ACCESS THE TOUR, visit the theatre’s website here and click on the heading Virtual Tour Join on the top right of the screen
Well, here we all are at an anniversary we never thought we’d see. One year ago today, the bustling West End, together with most theatres across the UK, still shell-shocked from the advice given by authorities, and with no firm government instruction, found themselves reluctantly turning customers away and closing their doors, with no return in sight.
With everyone wanting to get their tuppence worth in on this topic, I thought I’d spare you my ruminations which in essence won’t be that dissimilar to other, more informed sources, and instead give my space over to SOLT/UK Theatre, who have done far more than most to keep theatre alive.
“A year ago, on 16 March 2020, theatres across the country closed their doors due to the pandemic.
Today, survey results collected by Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre from across the theatre sector paint a picture of an industry that has struggled to survive the past 12 months and faced huge financial strain – but remains resilient and adaptable.
The survey was completed by 944 theatre venues, venue groups, non-venue theatre businesses and individual theatre freelancers.
Over 95% of surveyed theatre organisations around the UK reported being worse off because of Covid. 53 of the 186 theatre organisations answering a question about financial loss due to Covid reported a loss of over £1m each – this includes 16 organisations who have lost over £5m each. The total loss of those 165 organisations able to provide figures is estimated at nearly £200m so far.
The survey also reveals that many of the highly skilled freelance theatre workforce have been forced to take alternative jobs during the pandemic, or even leave the sector altogether. One in four of the freelancers surveyed said they had gone out of business or ceased trading due to Covid. 270 alternative roles were sought within performing arts, and 456 outside the industry.
Almost a third of theatre venue respondents said they have had plans to create an outdoor performance space due to Covid – despite the fact that the majority (61%) will operate at a loss. Almost half are developing a revenue-generating digital space or product.
For England-based theatre organisations, 60% are planning to restart trading from 17 May (Step 3 of the Government Roadmap), and 83% said they would resume from 21 June (Roadmap Step 4).
Julian Bird, Chief Executive of SOLT and UK Theatre, said:
‘At that fateful moment a year ago when we were forced to close theatres, we could never have imagined that venues would remain closed today. It has been a year of incredible challenges, and would have been even bleaker were it not for Government support schemes including the Cultural Recovery Fund, furlough and SEISS.
‘It has also been a year in which we have truly witnessed the resilience, creativity and community-mindedness of theatre, from digital innovations allowing streamed productions to reach a global audience, to theatres creating educational and wellbeing resources, and venues offering themselves as vaccine centres or hosting pioneering scientific research on measures to prevent Covid spread.
‘We look forward to continuing to work closely with Government and industry partners, welcoming audiences safely back into theatres and playing a part in the national economic and social recovery.’
Despite the recent Government roadmap and Budget announcements, thousands of freelancers in the theatre industry are in crisis right now, and face weeks and months of uncertainty before theatres can fully reopen.
To mark 16 March, a host of famous faces are joining colleagues from across the theatre industry today in highlighting the plight of freelancers and raising awareness for the Theatre Artists Fund, using the social media hashtags #16March, #TheatreArtistsFund and #FirstInLastOut – referencing the fact that theatre workers were first into lockdown and will be among the last to return to work.
Created last July by director Sam Mendes, SOLT and UK Theatre, the Theatre Artists Fund provides emergency financial aid to the freelancers who make up an estimated 70% of the theatre sector. Eligible freelancers in need can apply for an individual grant of £1000 to help pay bills and put food on the table. The latest round of grant applications has opened today (16 March) and will close on 30 March. Full details of eligibility and how to apply are available on the Theatre Artists Fund website.
Sam Mendes, director and co-founder of the Theatre Artists Fund, said:
‘The immense level of support for the #16March Theatre Artists Fund campaign illustrates that while theatres may be closed, the spirit of the theatre community is well and truly alive. I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the campaign, and all those who have shown their fantastic support for the Fund. It has helped enable fellow members of our community stay afloat during these extremely difficult times.’
Those who have lent their support to the #16March campaign include Joe Alwyn, Ellie Bamber, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Cate Blanchett, Hugh Bonneville, Michaela Coel, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anne-Marie Duff, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfie Enoch, Michael Fassbender, Claire Foy, Hugh Jackman, Ruth Madeley, Ian McKellen, Liam Neeson, James Norton, Sophie Okonedo, Weruche Opia, Andi Osho, Elaine Paige, Maxine Peake, Simon Pegg, Eddie Redmayne, Imelda Staunton, Juliet Stevenson, Mark Strong, David Walliams, Harriet Walter, Zoë Wanamaker, Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Ruth Wilson and Kate Winslet.”
To donate £5, £10 or £20 to the Theatre Artists Fund, text THEATREFUND followed by the amount you wish to help with. You can also donate at www.theatreartists.fund. This is also where artists themselves can apply for support from the fund, which has reopened today. (Texts cost one standard message cost plus the amount you have chosen to donate)/
If you are a creative freelancer living or working in the Culture Mile area, here’s a chance to dialogue and connect with other local creative freelancers, network and refine your skills.
(If you’re further afield, don’t get discouraged – read on to the end!)
Culture Mile invites you to join them as they host a series of online workshops & spaces of exchange for freelancers working in the creative and cultural industries to develop their skills, creative practice and wellbeing in these unsteady times of pandemic.
COVID-19 has brought change, uncertainty and new ways of working for all sectors and we recognise this has significantly impacted freelancers in the creative industries. Questions need to be answered, such as what have we learned and where are we now?
Culture Mile invited freelancers, artists and facilitators to share their experience, knowledge and tools across the following sessions:
What’s changed in the arts funding landscape over the past year? Where can creatives go to look for funding, and what are some of the key things to include or avoid in your applications? Freelance project developer & bid writer Sarah Waldron gives us her guide navigating fundraising in our current situation.
What tools are available online to help artists and freelancers present and share their work? From hosting interactive live performances to collaborative discussion spaces, this session will give a quick overview to some of the useful platforms available.
How does an artist authentically move a live experience to virtual? How might a creative idea grow directly from digital material? Curator Jenn Ellis and performance, video & participatory artist Paula Varjack share their creative practice and artistic process, moving between digital and ‘real’ space.
From negotiating fees to personal branding: Kei Maye, a digital content creator, creative consultant and Founder of Social Enterprise Creative Champs will take you through a crash course with practical tips and guidance on how to conduct yourself as a creative business online.
“With greater self-knowledge comes greater understanding”. Join freelance artist and facilitator Lizzie Reid in this explorative workshop utilising the tool of self-reflection. Delve into understanding WHY you do what you do to develop your practise and produce more meaningful and authentic work.
11 May Putting Reflection into Action – in partnership with and led by Guildhall Coaching Associates, part of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
How do you move from reflection to action? Begin outlining the steps to make things happen and take away tools to help you continue on your way.
Think through what your business might practically need to thrive, working your way through a business model canvas. Explore how you might adapt and support your work in these ever-changing times.
8 JuneSME support within Culture Mile: How Can We Help? A session with Culture Mile, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, City Business Library, Barbican Centre, Museum of London, Corporation of London
A chance for introduction and exchange with the core partners of Culture Mile.
All sessions take place on Zoom between 9:30am – 11.00am, including networking from 10:45am.
Spaces are free but require booking in advance. You may book for individual sessions or all of the them. Please note that priority will be given to those living and working in the local area, with some tickets held for those from further afield.
