Edited by Martha Evans and Picture Edit by Tom Guyton-Day
Credit: Matthew Macquarrie
Last week the government think tank that proposed the Eat Out to Help Out scheme argued for similar initiative to help theatre, sports and live events in general get back on their feet.
While offering discount it's a good idea in principle and will increase access to the biggest West End shows when they reopen. The benefits to local theatrical and touring productions of various shows could be a lot more muted.
Unlike restaurants the barrier of entry in a typical theatrical show is lot higher compared to a restaurant visit. This is in part thanks to the industry being one of the most labour intensives across the arts sector, but it is also partially due to the inherently greedy practises of the biggest shows.
Individual productions set ticket prices and those marketing the shows will be very aware of audience demand and how much they can get away with charging to the more desperate audience members. Even with a discount ticket prices could still restrict entry into the biggest shows thus defeating the point of the proposed scheme.
It could be argued that for schemes like this theatres and restaurants are in a similar position. Individual participants are limited to what is in their local area. While this is the case there will be much greater choice of restaurants that cater to several different tastes, price ranges and expectations.
Local theatre outside the West End has anywhere from 1-3 productions going on at any one time. These productions may well satisfy pre-existing fans or regular theatregoers but may have trouble enticing any new audiences to give them a go. Unless free tickets were offered, you are not going to get general audiences to go and see smaller scale productions that have had limited promotion.
The question still remains of whether scheme like this would even be feasible whilst social distancing is still in place. Even more so than other arts and hospitality sectors, every seat sold impacts the show’s bottom line. This is one of the industries where social distancing has a potentially crippling impact regardless of discount being offered.
There is also the question of what productions theatres can realistically offer if they do reopen with limited capacity. Most local theatres have cancelled 2020 entirely including pantomime season which is where local scenes make much of their money from the widest possible audience. Offering a Seat Out to Help Out scheme at these locations have a smaller impact in multiple senses of the word as there is no guarantee any productions will consider it safe enough to book a run under current circumstances.
The West End and touring musical Six has been the highest profile example of productions attempting to resume performances with social distancing. Having seen the touring production of this show just before lockdown it is one of the few examples of a show that can clearly be adapted for a certain level of success under the circumstances. Incredibly short at 70 minutes and essentially a concert with a very loose narrative. The show also has a ravenous global fanbase which certainly helps matters.
Seat Out to Help Out scheme is a good idea in principle for the productions and venues that don't have in inbuilt or existing fanbase the potential for some interest but could result in continued losses with social distancing in place.
While offering discount it's a good idea in principle and will increase access to the biggest West End shows when they reopen. The benefits to local theatrical and touring productions of various shows could be a lot more muted.
Unlike restaurants the barrier of entry in a typical theatrical show is lot higher compared to a restaurant visit. This is in part thanks to the industry being one of the most labour intensives across the arts sector, but it is also partially due to the inherently greedy practises of the biggest shows.
Individual productions set ticket prices and those marketing the shows will be very aware of audience demand and how much they can get away with charging to the more desperate audience members. Even with a discount ticket prices could still restrict entry into the biggest shows thus defeating the point of the proposed scheme.
It could be argued that for schemes like this theatres and restaurants are in a similar position. Individual participants are limited to what is in their local area. While this is the case there will be much greater choice of restaurants that cater to several different tastes, price ranges and expectations.
Local theatre outside the West End has anywhere from 1-3 productions going on at any one time. These productions may well satisfy pre-existing fans or regular theatregoers but may have trouble enticing any new audiences to give them a go. Unless free tickets were offered, you are not going to get general audiences to go and see smaller scale productions that have had limited promotion.
The question still remains of whether scheme like this would even be feasible whilst social distancing is still in place. Even more so than other arts and hospitality sectors, every seat sold impacts the show’s bottom line. This is one of the industries where social distancing has a potentially crippling impact regardless of discount being offered.
There is also the question of what productions theatres can realistically offer if they do reopen with limited capacity. Most local theatres have cancelled 2020 entirely including pantomime season which is where local scenes make much of their money from the widest possible audience. Offering a Seat Out to Help Out scheme at these locations have a smaller impact in multiple senses of the word as there is no guarantee any productions will consider it safe enough to book a run under current circumstances.
The West End and touring musical Six has been the highest profile example of productions attempting to resume performances with social distancing. Having seen the touring production of this show just before lockdown it is one of the few examples of a show that can clearly be adapted for a certain level of success under the circumstances. Incredibly short at 70 minutes and essentially a concert with a very loose narrative. The show also has a ravenous global fanbase which certainly helps matters.
Seat Out to Help Out scheme is a good idea in principle for the productions and venues that don't have in inbuilt or existing fanbase the potential for some interest but could result in continued losses with social distancing in place.
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