Theatre Outings
CORONAVIRUS Epidemic and Theatre Outings Group
Based on the Government advice at the Prime Minister's press conference on Monday 16th March, due to the Coronavirus epidemic, Questors and the other theatres we visit are currently CLOSED. That means that any further Theatre outings we had planned are CANCELLED for the foreseeable future.
The latest news for those who had purchased tickets from Rosemary for performances which were subsequently cancelled is as follows:
- To those who bought tickets to Love, Love, Love at the Lyric Theatre, Rosemary has received a refund and will pass it on to you when we get back to normal.
- Questors are not giving refunds at present but hope to reschedule Hangmen for next year.
- The Orange Tree has refunded money to Rosemary who will pass it on to you when we get back to normal.
The Lyric Theatre have sent the following info about an interesting development:-
Lockdown Theatre Festival as part of BBC Culture in Quarantine to include ‘Love, Love, Love’
Lockdown Theatre Festival was created by actor Bertie Carvel in response to the closure of theatres amid the coronavirus crisis. On the weekend of the 13 and 14 June, it will bring to BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4 stage plays that had their scheduled runs cancelled or cut short by the pandemic, including our production of Mike Bartlett’s Love, Love, Love directed by Rachel O’Riordan.
Bertie said: “I want to create a cultural snapshot for posterity, because who knows what the future holds? Theatres up and down the country are facing an existential crisis. If I can find a way, every single production that has been forced off the stage because of the lockdown will find a new platform at this festival!”
Rachel said: “I am delighted to be part of Lockdown Theatre Festival. Our production of Love, Love, Love by Mike Bartlett had opened at the Lyric on Wednesday, and ran till the Saturday night. On the following Monday the 16 March, the cast arrived for work, and I told them we had
to stop. The production never got to find its full expression; because that only happens as the company builds their relationship with an audience, over time, in performance. This chance to share our production is really special. Theatre is a live art form; the Lockdown Festival is an attempt to express the energy of a stage performance. We make theatre for audiences, for a shared space: we can’t right now, but this feels like a great reminder of how much fun we have together, and will again.”
Love, Love, Love will air on BBC Radio 3, directed by Rachel O’Riordan with composition and sound design by Simon Slater. The cast from the theatre production all return for the recording which includes Nicholas Burns, Patrick Knowles, Isabella Laughland, Mike Noble and Rachael Stirling.
The festival will also include the Orange Tree Theatre production of The Mikvah Project by Josh Azouz on Radio 4, directed by Georgia Green with sound design by Lex Krosanke. The Royal Exchange, Manchester production of Rockets and Blue Lights by Winsome Pinnock on Radio 3 directed by Miranda Cromwell with sound design by Elena Pena & music by Femi Temowo. The Royal Court Theatre production of Shoe Lady by E. V. Crowe directed by Vicky Featherstone with sound design by Tony Gayle and music by Matthew Herbert.
Further information will be published on this page regarding when the Theatre outings will restart.
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Theatre Outings
Normally, Rosemary will be organising visits to Questors Theatre, Mattock Lane, Ealing several times a year whenever there is a production in the main theatre that takes place on a weekend matinee.
Tickets are also occasionally arranged for other theatres around West London - these will always be for matinee performances, usually weekend days.
Tickets for Questors Theatre, usually at a discounted rate of £10, will be available to all Ealing U3A members.
Questors has a number of productions coming up in the latter part of this year - see details in 'Dates for your Diary' below.
Convener: Rosemary Hart, tel - 07919 080035, or email through the blue bird above