RSC announces it will not be able to fully open until next year
ONE of the Midland’s most popular venues has announced that it won’t fully reopen until 2021.
And a consultation has begun with employees as the theatre looks to secure its long term future.
It has not been confirmed how many jobs are at risk.
The Royal Shakespeare Company won’t open for full productions before next year, a statement on the venue’s website has confirmed.
Online and outdoor activity has already recommenced and in a joint statement, artistic director Gregory Doran and executive director Catherine Mallyon said they will be looking to provide other events and online activity for their audience.
The RSC, based in Stratford-on-Avon, celebrates the town’s most famous son and his work, performing Shakespeare plays as well as work by his contemporaries and the writers of today.
As well as performing in Stratford, they tour in the UK and worldwide and have an education programme, reaching out to hundreds of thousands of children and young people.
Matt Western, MP for nearby Warwick and Leamington, described the news as a “blow to the local area”.
He added: “I urge the government to step up and support key industries that are stil struggling in order to save jobs.”
In a joint statement, Mr Doran and Ms Mallyon said: “Despite our wish to re-open our theatres by the end of the year, it is now clear that the ongoing pandemic and the continued need for social distancing mean that we will not be able to stage full RSC productions in our theatresbefore 2021.
“Despite our theatres being temporarily closed, our acting company continue to work on events and activity, including our programme of outdoor Shakespeare in Stratford.
“We will look at what other events, and online activity we can continue to provide for our audiences in the autumn and winter. Our work in partnership with teachers and schools to support children and young people as they return to school is ongoing, with communities across the country and alongside our regional theatre partners.
“We very much hope that the government review of social distancing measures in November will bring positive news for the industry, and provide a timeline for when we can welcome our audiences back into our theatres again.
“It is with great sadness that we have now reached the stage where a formal consultation process with employees must take place to safeguard the long-term future of the Company.
“We had hoped that things would have become more positive by now, but this has not been the case.
“With the end of the CJRS in sight, today we gave advance notice to our trade union partners and our employees of a formal consultation process, which will begin in October.
“We also confirmed that, as there will be no work available from 1 November, wewill be unable to pay casual worker colleagues and those employed on variable hours contracts.
“Variable hours colleagues will remain employed, and casual workers will stay on our books,for when work opportunities return in the future.
“Every one of our colleagues makes the RSC the Company that it is, and every one contributes to its success.
“They show exceptional talent, professionalism, skill, commitment and care at all times and we thank them for their ongoing support.”