Much-loved theatre to stay closed until 2021
ONE of Wales’ best-known theatres has taken the difficult decision to remain shut until next spring due in a bid to ensure it survives the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sherman Theatre has confirmed the majority of performances which were originally planned for this autumn have been rescheduled for 2021, including its Christmas productions A Christmas Carol, and The Elves and the Shoemaker.
The Cardiff theatre’s artistic director Joe Murphy said: “It has been over three months since we have been able to welcome audiences in to the Sherman.
“And it is a heart-breaking decision to extend that period of closure until 2021. But the situation we face is a real and existential one.
“By keeping the building closed we are doing everything we can to ensure the survival of the Sherman and the Welsh theatre sector – tough decisions now will hopefully avoid having to make even harder ones in the future.
“Through our interval/egwyl project I have been blown away by the resilience, creativity and compassion of our audiences, artists, stakeholders and participants.
“It is with that spirit of defiance that we are launching the Heart of Cardiff Project: a love letter to our city and to the people who make it such an extraordinary place.
“We would not have survived the last few months without the generous donations of our audiences and communities, and the ongoing investment from our funders, particularly that of Arts Council Wales whose continued support makes our autumn programme possible.”
Staff from the theatre will be contacting ticketholders for rescheduled and cancelled performances.
Performances have been – and will continue to be – rescheduled in nearly all cases including those moved from spring 2020 when the lockdown began.
Sherman’s announcement comes during a torrid time for the arts in the capital.
Only yesterday, the Echo reported how Chapter Arts Centre in Canton won’t be reopening until later this year.
Organisers at the popular centre – which hosts films, plays and live music alongisde a cafe and bar and which generates 82% of its own income through sales – said it “must not take any financial risks” as it works to ensure its long-term future.
Earlier this week Welsh-language youth organisation the Urdd, which has a base in Cardiff Bay, said 80 jobs were at risk as it faces a £14m drop in income over two years.
And last month, Wales Millennium Centre said 250 jobs were at risk after all shows were cancelled until the end of the year as a result of the lockdown.
Meawnhile, although its doors will remain closed, Sherman Theatre said it will build on the foundations laid during the Interval/Egwyl season.
Thanks to stabilisation funding from Arts Council Wales it will continue to create for its audiences and nurture and support Welsh and Wales-based theatre makers through Heart of Cardiff.
The Heart of Cardiff season, a series of audio theatre experiences written by the writers of Cardiff for the people of Cardiff, will run throughout the autumn.
Heart of Cardiff will see the Sherman connect with communities and areas throughout the capital to find, empower and develop writers who have a story they want to tell about their city, and the theatre is now calling on the writers of Cardiff to submit pitches for the project.
■ For more information about the opportunities for the city’s writers for the Heart of Cardiff audio theatre season and to find out how to express interest, please visit shermantheatre.co.uk/news/sherman/call-outfor-writers-of-cardiff.