YOUR NEWS – LETTERS
In response to our website post:
“Theatre Companies receiving a share of Arts Rescue Package announced”
(www.sardinesmagazine.co.uk/opinion/theatre-companies-receiving-a-share-of-arts-rescue-package-announced/)
From: C. Benstead
“We are delighted to have received £87,000 for the South London Theatre. We are an amateur company who reside in a Grade II listed building. The money will cover our overheads ensuring we can keep the building open. It means we can restart our youth group with the support of a new post. We will also be able to offer our members some additional training. The funding means we are able to benefit the community outside the building with a large scale community project for Christmas and let’s face it – we are all going to need something to look forward to.”
In response to our newsletter post:
“Pantoland at the Palladium Mixed Feelings?”
(https://madmimi.com/s/bb54611)
From: P. Robinson
“It was great news to hear about the Palladium Panto, but you may wish to encourage your readers to check the T&C’s carefully when booking tickets. If the promoter cancels this production because of further lockdown restrictions, customers who have bought tickets will get not a single penny back!”
In response to our newsletter post:
“Pantoland at the Palladium Mixed Feelings?”
(https://madmimi.com/s/bb54611)
From: S. Blackham (Folkestone & Hythe Operatic & Dramatic Society)
“Well Said ! When we registered as a charity, it was understood that the takings from our Panto and summer musical would cover potential losses on other shows – things of artistic merit which would probably not attract a large audience eg. Pinter. Local schools and groups like the Brownies come to us because they think we’re good, they can’t afford the ticket prices for professional pantos and they get a kick out of sometimes seeing their own teacher up there as baddie or good fairy. We have groups who almost book for next year as they are leaving this year’s show.
Panto is wonderful training for any potential entertainer as it requires real rapport with your audience and sometimes direct interaction when you are being heckled.
The panto at the Palladium means the audience having to travel by public transport, being in central London where we’ve all seen pictures of large groups not wearing masks, having to get there very early in order to be seated in a socially distanced manner, with a similar problem to get out of the theatre afterwards. And children usually need to go to the loo during a show – how do you manage that if it means passing other people in the same row?
As you say, no doubt Julian Clary will drag out an old schtick and it doesn’t feel as if Diversity have been off our TVs during lockdown.
While our stalwarts, on stage, backstage and front-of-house are languishing.
When lockdown came we were just weeks off opening a full-length comedy and a one-act (I lost a lot of money on the posters, publicity and props etc) and we had just started rehearsals for our summer musical.
Then we were told theatres could re-open and we chose The Audience (as it only has three actors on stage and they can be distanced) and we were off-books, costumes bought, props being assembled…. and the plug was pulled again.
I now have three scripts and their costumes, tucked away, wondering if they will ever see the lights on stage.
No, I can’t get excited about Pantoland at the Palladium.
Trying to keep positive and trying to keep those lines in my head so I’m ready-to-go when we get the go-ahead.”
In response to our newsletter post:
“Hands Up Who’s Looking Forward to Tier II?”
(https://madmimi.com/s/571c611)
From: C. Gailer (Pirbright Players)
“Hi, I have got all the members to record a 5-minute only video of a song, dance, recitation or sketch, whichever they choose, then send it to me and I will put it all together for the whole company to watch at their leisure on YouTube. We need to keep the society together! We also have a Zoom quiz night based on theatre. Thanks for your input each week, much appreciated, Carole Gailer.”