The Performing Arts industry has been one of the worst effected Cultural and Creative arts sectors from the COVID-19 pandemic. As a form of cultural expression that necessitates the presence of an audience, live performance venues and theatres were among the first to shut.
Growing at almost twice the rate of the wider U.K. economy pre-pandemic, the £84.1 billion creative arts sector generated 1.9 million jobs across the country, and was instrumental in attracting tourists from both inside and outside of the U.K.
Throughout the lockdown, live stream performances were available online for audiences as an alternative to going to theatre, though it is questionable whether they measured up to the real deal.
Regular theatre goer, Lewis Southall, Middlesbrough said: “I would go to some sort of theatre three to four times a month depending on what was on. This would range from amateur to touring productions and studio theatre.”
“I’ve tried with some streamed performance’s, some of the BBC Iplayer stuff has been good- Macbeth a particular favourite.
“But in general this isn’t and alternative for me. Live in front of you is always best.”
With lockdown restrictions beginning to ease, it is still unknown whether theatres will re-open with a full or reduced capacity.
If reduced capacity is the case, there could be a potential inflation in ticket prices.
Lewis believes theatres should only open when they can operate at full capacity.
He said: “The industry needs support, and if that means more expensive tickets in order to keep theatre alive, then so be it.”
Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber spoke with MPs late in 2020 about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the arts.
He said that the industry is “at the point of no return” and that it would be economically “impossible” to run venues with social distancing, whilst also stating to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committe “I am absolutely confident that the air in the London Palladium and in all my theatres is purer than the air outside”.
It is currently estimated that around 55,000 jobs have been lost in the arts sector since March 2020, according to ‘The Stage’.
The office for National Statistics data displayed a decline in the number of UK workers in performing arts, falling from 200,000 people in the January to March 2020 period, to around 160,000 between April and June 2020.
It is said that this is one of the worst declines in job losses among all creative and cultural industries.
Vanessa Barwick, a graduate of the Midlands Academy of Dance & Drama (MADD) and professional performer from the North East of England was among those in the performing arts industry to have a her work contract cut short due to lockdown restrictions.
She said: “Before the pandemic I was working out in Tihany Circus, Touring in Brazil as a dancer.”
“I’d been out there for seven months of my year contract.
“When we first found out about the virus certain restrictions kicked in immediately, like social distancing in shops and hotels slowly started closing (including the one we were staying in).
“After a few meetings at the Circus with the cast and two weeks of no shows it was decided that we were coming home.
“I was disappointed as I had such a fantastic time performing out there and met so many beautiful friends from around the world, unknowing if I was going to see them again.
“I feel like no one expected the pandemic to last this long though, we thought we would be home for a month or two before flying back out there”.
Many other performers who found themselves in the same situation as Vanessa, including those still in training, had to adapt to a life of online classes and teaching.
The financial burden also began to take it’s toll.
Vanessa said: “Financially I was left with no job so ended up finding and creating my own self employed work, dance teaching online – zoom has been everyone’s new best friend this year, including mine.
“Over the last year, as well as teaching online, I’ve also taken a lot of classes myself on a platform called ‘Magnetic Studios’, ran by Lindsay Atherton and Alex Christian, so I could keep training.
“I have also taught myself circus skills over the last year such as Poi and I’ve also completed an online Aerial Hoop teaching course to give myself further work for when things start to reopen.”
For performers, there are both pro’s and con’s to the new way of online training. It has have given opportunity for many to attend classes hosted by professional West End choreographers, from the vicinity of their own home and without the worry of expensive commutes.
Vanessa said: “Pre-recorded classes have been fantastic to really focus on detail when learning choreography as I have had so much more time to go back and recap sections to make sure I’ve picked up on all the details that have been mentioned throughout the class.
” I have preferred live classes as I’m able to ask questions, receive corrections and connect with new people. I think there is something so beautiful about being able to dance together yet all in our own safe spaces.”
“In person classes differ as I feel everyone can receive more in-depth corrections.
“Being in a studio means having so much more space to perform a routine without whacking a hand off a light or a TV.”.
October 6 2020, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, gave an interview to ITV News in regards to the Creative and Cultural Arts sector.
He said in the interview that musicians and other people within in the sector should “retrain and find other jobs”.
The interview went viral and sparked huge controversy among those working within the creative field.
Although a £1.5b cultural recovery package was administered to relieve the struggle the industry had foreseen, it was said that this would not be enough to save all jobs.
Vanessa said: “It was very frustrating that an opinion from positions of influence within the country suggested the profession to not be viable leading to animosity and insecurity as to the future of performing arts”.
The theatre industry itself took matters into their own hands in early 2020 when they established a campaign called ‘The Show Must Go On!’ to help theatre workers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The campaign released photographs of a host of stars including Amanda Holden, Patti Lupone and Michael Ball wearing their ‘The Show Must Go On!’ merchandised T-Shirts.
The theatre support fund took over 400,000 orders for its merchandise and raised over £500,000 for the cause.
Vanessa said: “A lot of fundraising has gone ahead in the last year to ensure there is a future for our our industry – ‘The show must go on!’ Along with our industry taking part in raising funds for many other charities to support them throughout this time”.
With the possibility of restrictions being fully lifted in the UK by June 21 2021, auditions and rehearsals for productions to re-open are currently in full swing.
Vanessa said: “After many zoom auditions for different shows across the year, unknowing when they were able to reopen, I feel so grateful to say that I am starting a new job in Circus Extreme as a dancer touring the UK starting in May.
“I am super excited to get back out on a stage performing with so many incredible acts.
“The feeling of being in front of an audience again making people happy will just be a dream come true. I can’t wait to meet new people, get back into a rehearsal room and be apart of this amazing show!”.
It was announced as recently as April 22 2021 that the Apollo Victoria Theatre, home to Wicked in London will re-open September 15 2021.
Although, many fans of the show expressed their disappointment having bought tickets for the show for as early as July and August of this year, it is expected that other theatres will follow suit and shortly announce their re-openings.
Albeit not as early as some may have hoped, it is a positive affair to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and the curtain will soon be lifted.
- Third year journalism student
- Rave Reporter @ Capital Dance
