Sardines Editor, Paul Johnson

Have you seen BBC One's up-to-date remake of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads yet? With all twelve 'episodes' (two new ones were added to ten originals by Bennett last year) now available on iPlayer, the series - ever- popular with amateur theatre companies - can be enjoyed by all. Starring the cream of today's acting etablishment, the contained nature of Bennett's monologues have allowed the opportunity to tell timely and relevant stories while following the latest government guidelines on safe working practices during Covid-19. If you have already seen some of the new series, hopefully you will appreciate the acting masterclass given by each performer. The Talking Heads series (specially written for television by Bennett) was first broadcast on BBC One in 1988 and starred Alan Bennett himself, Maggie Smith, Julie Walters, Patricia Routledge, Thora Hird, David Haig, Eileen Atkins, Penelope Wilton and Stephanie Cole. Bennett's long-term collaborator, lead director and producer, Nicholas Hytner, said: "Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads are among the masterworks of one of the very greatest writers in TV, film and theatre history. It has been a profound and fascinating experience to work out a way of making them again, this time with a company of phenomenal actors who are the equal of those who first made them; with a group of leading theatre directors, colleagues and friends of long standing; and with a team behind the camera that represents the best of the British TV and film industries." The new series of Talking Heads - now on iPlayer: [in alphabetical order] 1. Jodie Comer in Her Big Chance (1988), directed by Josie Rourke 2. Monica Dolan in The Shrine (2019), directed by Nicholas Hytner 3. Martin Freeman in A Chip in the Sugar (1988), directed by Jeremy Herrin 4. Tamsin Greig in Nights in the Garden of Spain (1998), directed by Marianne Elliott 5. Sarah Lancashire in An Ordinary Woman (2019), directed by Nicholas Hytner 6. Lesley Manville in Bed Among the Lentils (1988), directed by Nicholas Hytner 7. Lucian Msamati in Playing Sandwiches (1998), directed by Jeremy Herrin 8. Maxine Peake in Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet (1988), directed by Sarah Frankcom 9. Rochenda Sandall in The Outside Dog (1998), directed by Nadia Fall 10. Kristin Scott Thomas in The Hand of God (1998), directed by Jonathan Kent 11. Imelda Staunton in A Lady of Letters (1988), directed by Jonathan Kent 12. Harriet Walter in Soldiering On (1988), directed by Marianne Elliott It's all here You Couldn't Make it Up! Click the video to watch the Sardines Editor, Paul Johnson So… theatres can legally re-open from Saturday, 4th July, just as long as none of them produce any live performances. Yes, folks, you read that correctly. If we’re not mistaken live performances are the very purpose of all theatres – whether they are in the West End or open for a three-night run in a village hall. Ironically, this may well favour a large portion of the amateur theatre sector. While this year’s panto season becomes more and more doubtful – most notably for December’s professional calendar – at least the social aspect of non-professional theatre societies and companies may see 'one-metre+' socially-distanced events organised for members to take part in… live and away from Zoom, for a refreshing change. For those amateur companies fortunate enough to have some sort of premises or rehearsal space to manage, this could take the form of (non-performance) play-readings, safely managed rehearsals or even properly arranged social evenings and quizzes in the bar. At least it would allow members to see one another ‘in the flesh’ again and make some tentative, initial moves to reinstate the status quo. For the life of me I can’t see the benefit of the big professional theatres opening – such as those in the West End – if they can’t put on any live performances and, let’s face it, while social distancing is still hanging over us all it’s highly unlikely that any of them will be lifting their curtains at all. And I can’t see them opening just for bar services; theatre prices are hardly competitive are they!? When it comes to the performances themselves, the recent Government directions may seem bizarre and somewhat out of touch with the arts industry (you only have to look at the recent suggestion aimed at musical productions advising them to consider removing the singing!) but, looking at your responses to last week’s mini-survey, it looks like many of you are ahead of the curve anyway. We asked a couple of very straight-forward questions: So if most of YOU don’t think amateur theatre can restart until social distancing has been completely removed, then it doesn’t really matter what the Government decides to allow – performance-wise – when it comes to reopening does it? The really worrying aspect is that such a large proportion of you are also of the mind that the next amateur panto season won’t go ahead at all. This might signify that many of you envisage social distancing – causing financial restrictions and/or a lack of public & membership confidence – keeping our doors closed for some time to come. To delve a little deeper, we’ve posed just three more questions to you this week. They’re just as simple and will only take a few seconds to answer, but we hope it might give us a clearer idea of your approach to the current situation. Again, you don’t need to leave any details and it’s all completely anonymous. Answer the Questions... Theatre in the Telegraph The Telegraph published the following summary of the latest situation on Wednesday (24th): English theatres will be able to re-open from July 4, although live performances will not yet be allowed. In practice, theatre insiders have told The Telegraph that the autumn is the industry's general target for re-opening. In America, Broadway will remain closed until September 6 at the earliest. Cameron Mackintosh, the producer of Les Miserables and owner of eight West End venues, has suggested that the difficulties involved in preparing a production mean that many theatres are already facing closure until 2021. Christmas pantomimes are unlikely to happen this year. Mackintosh has also warned that the idea of social distancing in the auditorium "doesn't add up" financially. Even under "one metre plus", theatres will need to accept significant reductions in audience numbers. Some major theatres have been streaming videos of their past productions during the pandemic. To continue doing this with new work, however, would be a financial strain that few venues could bear. 50% of Charity-Run Small Theatres on the Brink Due to the Covid-19 crisis and temporary closures of theatres, 57% of small theatres in the UK could fail without government support. Theatres Trust warns that as many as 136 small local theatre operators could go into administration in the next three months. In response, Theatres Trust has announced a package of additional support for small theatres to help them survive the impact of Covid-19. At this critical moment, the national public advisory body for theatres is increasing its support for these smaller theatres including: ▪ Taking on an additional adviser to help small theatres with business planning, budgeting and cashflow, fundraising and essential building maintenance. ▪ Creating a new Theatres Trust Skills Bank to match theatres with experts willing to offer pro bono advice on preparing to reopen including hygiene and social distancing needs and general property management. ▪ Repurposing its small grants programme to support theatres to cover the additional costs of reopening after several months’ closure, including making adaptations for increased hygiene and social distancing measures. The UK has a world-leading theatre industry and the small local theatres across the country are vital not just as places of entertainment but as community centres. Theatres Trust is lobbying the government and providing additional support to ensure that theatres are still there for communities around the UK to return to when the crisis is over. Local theatres include venues which are at the very heart of their local communities like Market Theatre Ledbury, Sheringham Little Theatre and Settle Victoria Hall, the oldest music hall in the world which has become a true community centre delivering shopping, prescriptions and making PPE during the Covid-19 crisis. The role of Theatres Trust is to ensure everyone can access live performance where they live. Almost 40% of the UK’s theatres are small local venues and more than half of these – around 240 – are run by small charities. 38% of these have only one month’s reserves and 19% only have three months’ reserves. Without additional government support, including the full continuation of the Job Retention Scheme, many will have to permanently close their doors. Theatres Trust Director Jon Morgan comments, "These are tough times for the theatre sector and we are talking to the government about the additional support theatres need, but we hope that with these resources we can help more theatres to survive the current crisis. We have already seen some operators go into administration and unfortunately others are likely to follow, but Theatres Trust has a strong track record of supporting theatres to be saved and returned to cultural use and is working to ensure that no theatres are permanently lost due to Covid-19. Jon Morgan sits on the Entertainment and Events Working Group which is working with DCMS and health officials to determine how theatres can reopen with minimised risks to staff, performers and audiences.

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