Covid: Theatres wary despite first capacity audience since pandemic

The first capacity indoor audience in Wales since the beginning of the Covid pandemic is set to watch comedian Jimmy Carr perform on Tuesday.

Formal social distancing rules have ended in Wales under Alert Level Zero.

It means theatres, which have been closed for 18 months, can now sell out for shows and performances.

However, the performing arts sector admits it faces a difficult challenge balancing the need for ticket sales with audience confidence.

Jimmy Carr, the host of TV show, 8 out of 10 Cats, will perform at St David's Hall in Cardiff later after the original show was postponed last November.

More than 1,600 people are expected at the first full capacity show at the theatre, with the manager saying the venue had done everything it could to make people feel "as safe as possible".

While those working in the industry, which has been on hold since the first coronavirus measures were introduced in March 2020, have welcomed the return, Welsh theatres have warned many may not be able to reopen.

While recouping huge losses from the last 18 months is critical, Creu Cymru, which represents most of Wales' professionally run theatres, arts centres and producing companies, said "building audience confidence is imperative" for the sector to survive.

Director Louise Miles-Payne said many shows had bypassed Wales to go to English venues due to rules being relaxed earlier there.

"They know they can get full capacity there because English venues have been open for a lot longer, and so there's a lot more confidence within English audiences and venues there," she said.

She said with most shows being booked months or years in advance and audiences not being comfortable sitting next to strangers after months of social distancing, many theatres were facing huge challenges."Just because theatres can open, it doesn't mean that they can, either because of financial pressures or for safety of audiences, staff, and the performers on stage," she added.

"So, were seeing full capacity tonight, but many theatres are taking a cautious approach,"

However, this can put venues in a difficult position with promotors of shows that had previously sold out.

"Trying to reschedule previously cancelled shows that had sold out at full capacity is difficult as many venues may still feel a way off fully reopening their spaces," said Angela Gould, programmer and audience development manager at RCT Theatres.

"They need to honour contractual agreements while doing what they feel is best for their audiences, while still making the show financially viable."

Marketing and promoting has also become problematic with dates regularly changing, sometimes with little time to get the word out to ensure enough tickets are sold to make a show financially viable.

"Managing perceptions of both promoters and the public will be unchartered territory for many venues," said Ms Miles-Payne.

"Some people will have an expectation that everything is resuming and working to normal, and [others] may be shocked when performances are not going ahead and can't understand why things get rescheduled."

National Dance Company Wales has offered outdoor performances to venues, as well as increasing the number of shows later in the year to allow for some social distancing.

"It's clear we need to continue to be agile in this period," said chief executive Paul Kaynes.

"Many venues were building stages in their car parks and green spaces and we had an exciting programme to offer outdoor audiences, especially those new to dance.

"This is the stepping-stone for many audiences to access live performance again before we ask them to take the leap back indoors."

Theatres must also manage different attitudes from audience members, Creu Cymru said, particularly towards measures such as face masks.

Audiences are being encouraged to use free lateral flow tests before attending shows.

St David's Hall has introduced a new ventilation system that replaces the air inside the auditorium six times every hour, among a series of Covid-19 safety measures that also include a one-way system in place.Giles Ballisat, arts and theatres manager for Cardiff council, said people were also being advised to wear face masks during the performance.

He added trying to put a show on while social distancing laws applied would have cut audience numbers to less than 200, meaning it would not have been financially viable for producers.

"[Producers have] been waiting for us to be able to have full houses, so that it makes it financially viable to be able to go on the road with their tours," he said.

Cardiff council's cabinet member for culture, Peter Bradbury, said: "We are delighted the first live show with a full indoor capacity audience in Wales will be at St David's Hall.

"Over the last 18 months, we have missed live entertainment so much and come to realise what a crucial part it plays in our social lives."