‘The energy of a shared heartbeat’. That is how Mike Tweddle, Artistic Director of the Tobacco Factory Theatres describes the experience of being part of a theatrical event. Of course that is difficult at the moment while all theatres have gone dark since lockdown. However, that doesn’t mean that theatre cannot come back to thrill, entertain and delight audiences in the future.
It is difficult to see when theatres can open again until both audiences and performers are able to be safe. The immediate physicality of theatre is both its greatest strength and, in these strange times, its greatest weakness. Physical distancing might be possible in some sectors, but the tight margins for theatre companies mean that houses have to be around 70% full to reach break even and adequate spacing will not allow for those numbers, even if performers could rehearse within strict limits.
Most companies in Bristol receive very little subsidy; the Tobacco Factory Theatres for example gets a small grant from the Arts Council and Bristol City Council which only makes up 5% of operating costs. It is due to celebrate 20 years since its opening next year, but is desperate for financial assistance to make sure that this becomes a reality.
You would expect creative people to think differently and this is exactly what is happening. Mike Tweddle has paid tribute to theatre goers who have already donated money or not requested refunds for tickets already sold. ‘Audiences have kept us alive in a new way’, he said, ‘and a renewed application to the Arts Council could make a bid difference’. If it is granted. He has pointed to acts of individual assistance, including from actor Dan Wheeler who himself contributed £100 from the assistance he received from the Self Employed income scheme. Almost all staff across the Bristol theatre scene is furloughed on the Job Retention scheme, but there is real concern about what happens when that ends, unless there is additional assistance offered to the broader hospitality and entertainment sector.
Tobacco Factory Theatres is collaborating with the Cube Microplex cinema to provide bursaries to members of the arts community individually affected, with grateful assistance from Gane Trust and applications are still open until 6th June.
Meanwhile, as already reported in StageTalk, the Bristol Old Vic has been adventurous is launching online screenings of some of its recent shows, offering an online audience the opportunity to recapture the thrill of theatre going. Artistic Director Tom Morris says that his team are “peeping out from our shuttered doors to find new ways to entertain you” with shows as part of the wider Bristol Arts Channel, an innovative collaboration between amongst others, BOV, Colston Hall, St Pauls Carnival, Trinity, Spike Island and St George’s. The current programme includes The Messiah from 29th May, itself the subject of a 5 Star review from StageTalk Magazine. He says that he wants to recreate for audiences ‘a little taste of the magic they may experience when they step into our theatre on King Street, from arriving at the bar to taking your seat as the lights go down. It’s that transformational feeling of surprise and delight that we want to share and celebrate.” Each of these shows has extremely high production values and can still demonstrate the power of connection which is the essence of theatre.
The Wardrobe Theatre is in a similar predicament with little funding and relying on the goodwill of audiences. They celebrate being 10 years old in 2021 and details of the website for donations is given at the bottom of this article.
The Bristol Hippodrome is owned by the national Ambassadors Theatre Group and suffers equally. The group say that ‘the arts has inspired, educated, entertained and enriched the lives of audiences for hundreds of years but has never been challenged like this.’ while pledging to ‘come back faster and stronger than ever before.’
The Old Vic has pledged that they will still be here for audiences and hope to serve for another 254 years.
We all look forward to the day that lights go back on in our theatres and to what Mike Tweddle calls ‘a collaborative, collective coming together’. One thing is for sure, on that night there will be resounding standing ovations in theatres across the city.
In the meantime, please consider donating to any of the theatres or read about their plans through the links below: Bryan Mason 27th May 2020
BOV: https://bristololdvic.org.uk/support-us
Wardrobe: https://thewardrobetheatre.com/support/
Tobacco Factory Theatres: https://www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com/important-update/ or through their box office.
Hippodrome: https://www.atgtickets.com/coronavirus-info/
Gane Trust bursaries: https://www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com/the-gane-trust-hardship-fund/
