Derry Daily
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Friday 14°CSaturday 15°C

Derry Daily Derry Daily Derry Daily

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
CoronavirusDerry CityEntertainmentNews

Coronavirus: Theatres prepare for socially distanced reopening

written by cassoscoop July 10, 2021
ShareTweet

The Playhouse in Derry could open to the public on July 26

THE Stormont Executive has given the indicative date of July 26 for the next relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions.

The proposal was agreed on Thursday and must be ratified on July 22 when Stormont ministers meet again.

Theatres and concert halls will also be allowed to reopen on 26 July.

Social distancing of 1m (3ft) will remain in place after theatres and indoor seated venues reopen later this month.

Aine McCarron, programmer at Derry’s Playhouse Arts Theatre, said social distancing will mean audience numbers are limited.

She said the theatre holds 146 people but even with audience members sat 1m apart, she predicts it can hold 20-30 people at a time.

“We’ve lost count of how many performances we’ve postponed, changed dates or adapted for,” she told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme.

“I normally plan nine months or a year in advance but that’s all out the window.”

She said the Playhouse had been producing and streaming performances online throughout the pandemic.

“It’s the news we’ve been eagerly awaiting and we’ve been planning for the eventuality of audiences coming back at any stage,” she said.

“We just needed the green light and we just have to adapt really.”

She said before the pandemic, the theatre had an unreserved seating plan but social distancing meant it would have to move to assigned seating.

“People are really keen to support the arts, they see what happened to the industry,” she added.

Oliver Corr, arts development officer for Craic Theatre and Arts Centre in Coalisland, County Tyrone, said his industry had been “left in jeopardy”.

He said the theatre had several shows ready to go as well as touring companies booked to perform, but the changing guidance had caused issues.

“Our theatre is only a 200 seater and to make it viable we need to be getting a full house,” he said.

Cast of Anything Can Happen 1972: Voices from the heart of the Troubles at the Derry Playhouse

He said it was “incredibly difficult” to plan future performances because “we are a small theatre and for us to reduce the capacity in any way would hamper us”.

“If a show is cancelled or if the restrictions are extended last minute, it’s money we would find hard to recover,” he added.

In England, face masks will no longer be legally required and distancing rules will be scrapped when the final coronavirus restrictions end on 19 July.

Mr Corr said the “mixed messages coming from government” have made it tough for the theatre industry in NI.

He said if social distancing remained in place in theatres in the long term “it’s going to have a devastating effect financially for the whole sector”.

“There’s real dangers here of jobs being lost and companies going out of business,” he said.

He added that a potential solution would be for audience members to prove they have been fully vaccinated before being allowed into a theatre.

“If we can’t open safely and fully, we need support because we’re going to lose the arts sector,” Mr Corr said.

“The arts sector here is a very important and vital part of the economy but people don’t seem to believe that it generates huge amounts of revenue every year.”

Earlier this year, the Department for Communities announced £10m of funding for the arts and creative sector.

Mr Corr said further emergency revenue support for arts organisations “needs to be made available immediately”.

Related Topics

Coronavirus: Theatres prepare for socially distanced reopening was last modified: July 10th, 2021 by cassoscoop

Tags:
Aine McCarronCO TYRONECoalislandCoronavirus: Theatres prepare for socially distanced reopeningCraic Theatre and Arts CentreDEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITIESDerry CityPlayhouse programmerThe Playhouse Derry
ShareTweet
cassoscoop

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

‘Inaction on Foyle Bridge barriers and mental...

12 hours ago

Two charged over huge cannabis haul seized...

18 hours ago

Sadness as child dies and three others...

18 hours ago

PSNI discover huge cannabis factory near border

20 hours ago

Major investment in Capital Projects approved by...

1 day ago

Mayor looking forward to All Ireland Pipe-Band...

1 day ago

Mayor hosts Guardian of the Sperrins event

2 days ago

Durkan calls for urgent traffic calming measures...

2 days ago

Harkin: Stormont Executive must act now to...

2 days ago

Harkin: MPs must vote down punitive welfare...

3 days ago

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Email

Features

  • Sun, sea, spectacular views, historical charm and fabulous food. Tunisia of course

    April 5, 2024
  • Magical trip to see Santa from Belfast

    December 20, 2023
  • DD Travel Feature: Cork’s amazing The Montenotte Hotel

    April 18, 2023
  • Derry cancer survivor Noeleen McMorris reveals importance of awareness

    July 25, 2022
  • Competition! Win tickets to Northern Ireland v England Women’s Euro 2022 match

    June 17, 2022

Courts

  • Two men in court after £1.2m cannabis find near border

    July 3, 2025
  • Two charged over huge cannabis haul seized in North West

    July 3, 2025
  • Two men to face Derry court over driving and drug offences

    July 2, 2025
  • Former Derry coach Rory Gallagher launches High Court action against GAA

    July 1, 2025
  • Derry man jailed over house burglary offences

    June 26, 2025

Donegal Daily

    Read More

    • News
    • Sport
    • Courts
    • Jobs
    • Features
    • Business
    • Politics

    Information

    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Advertise WIth Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    Derry Daily

    © 2025 Derry Daily. All rights reserved.


    Back To Top

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy