Corn Exchange keeps connected
THE Corn Exchange, with its Learning Centre, 101 Outdoor Arts and The Base, along with many other theatres and arts centres across the country, closed their doors to the public last March. It was unable to deliver its usual programme of live performances, film, classes and workshops, but it kept the community engaged in creative activity, by moving activities online, with a series of live sessions, blogs and pre-recorded workshopsthanks to amazing support for the Keep Newbury Creative fundraising campaign.
As lockdown eased in July, the venue was permitted to open to the public again, but without ‘live’ events.
Once the Government announced to the beleaguered arts sector that openair gigs, festivals and theatre shows could resume, as long as they had a limited and socially-distanced audience, people were invited to Goldwell Park in September to experience Luke Jerram’s installation In Memoriam from within its red and white flags or from a distance. Created from bed sheets, it formed a giant red cross, a place of reflection in tribute to those who lost their lives in the Covid19 pandemic and all the NHS and care workers.
The Corn Exchange reopened its doors on Saturday, September 5, with Unlocked and Unbolted, a new piece of theatre about the experiences of young people during lockdown, shared at three sold-out performances for limited capacity, socially-distanced audiences, then broadcast as-live, based on the thoughts and ideas of 14- to 21-year-olds shared during online conversations hosted by the Corn Exchange in July. The 11 young performers, aged 16 to 18, rehearsed via Zoom and in physically distanced rehearsals.
Still on offer was a range of classes and workshops, some online and others in person, along with a programme of films, broadcast screenings and live performances, all delivered in a Covid-secure manner.
The Base at Greenham opened its doors for the first time since lockdown with an exhibition featuring the work of illustrator Quentin Blake and his long-time collaboration with writer John Yeoman. October brought some welcome news as the Corn Exchange received £240,045 as part of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund.
Despite reducing costs wherever possible and utilising government schemes such as furlough, the Corn Exchange still faced a loss of income in 2020 of £750,000. It launched its Save Your Corn
Exchange: Fund the Future campaign with a target of raising £100,000 to protect the future of the arts centre. By January the appeal had raised a whopping £126k in three months. In December, replacing the traditional Festival of Light procession, the town centre was illuminated by stunning intricately designed and crafted lanterns in a spectacular trail along the canal path – more than 3,400 visitors enjoyed this magical Winter Lantern Trail, created at the 101 Outdoor Arts Creation Space.
And against all odds, Newbury’s first socially-distanced panto opened with Aladdin and his friends taking the audience on a magic carpet ride adventure. Written and directed by Plested and Brown and with a cast of West End performers, it was full of traditional Corn Exchange pantomime fun – plus a few surprises.
The auditorium seating was rebuilt to increase capacity while still adhering to social distancing measures, with more space between rows, the new seats have individual arm rests and each household group kept separate using dividing Perspex screens.
But then came Tier restrictions, followed by lockdown, the run was cut short and the Corn Exchange was devastated to have to close once more.