Don’t Rob us of a festive panto, pleads producer
A TOP producer wants us to ‘make some noise’ in a bid to save the pantomime at Newcastle Theatre Royal in the event of ‘crazy’ Tier Three restrictions.
Michael Harrison, at the helm of the theatre’s annual pantomime as well as others across the UK, fears all the hard work gone into creating a Covid-19-secure show will be wasted if - as feared - the region plunges into Tier Three restrictions today.
The award-winning West End producer said the closure of theatres - which have gone to great lengths to ensure safe, socially-distanced shows - would mean the loss of jobs and disappoint the
17,000 people who have snapped up tickets to see
Robin Hood at the Theatre Royal.
Wallsend-born Mr Harrison, who is managing-director of the world’s largest pantomime producer Qdos, has written to Boris Johnson asking that pantomimes be allowed to proceed this Christmas.
He has made his case in radio interviews too and is urging local MPs and councils to help in lobbying the Government, saying: “We need to some noise - and we are trying to find some solution.”
He said on Tuesday: “I have been on Jeremy Vine on Radio Two and I am going on the Today programme tomorrow and all I have been mentioning is the Theatre Royal.”
While Tier Two would mean the goahead for the Newcastle theatre’s plans for a short run of Robin Hood - a specially-created new show to part-fill the hole left by the cancellation, due to the pandemic, of its annual big pantomime - Tier Three would mean the opposite.
It would make no sense, suggests Mr
Harrison, given the theatre’s standards high of safety.
He added:“I think we are at risk of Tier Three.
“Theatres cannot function in Tier Three. It poses a great threat for theatres across the country and it poses a threat for Newcastle and anybody thinking of doing anything.
“I have written to the Prime Minister and the entire cabinet.
“It seems criminal to me non-essential retail can open in Tier Three but you cannot go to a socially-distanced show, wearing a facemask, in your own bubble, in a theatre where the capacity of 1,200 has been reduced to 450.
He added: “It seems crazy. Iti s not going on for months. We are asking for a limited number of shows.”
Mr Harrison said he would rather reduce capacity or the length of the run rather than have to cancel the show, due to star panto regulars Clive Webb and Danny Adams, completely - risking the jobs of all those involved.
He said: “Lots of jobs will be lost, and with 17,000 tickets already sold for the show it is clear people are eager for a pantomime outing, particularly in this pandemic year.
“It has become a North East institution. Clive and Danny have been at the Theatre Royal for 16 years.”
“People are looking for escapism and we should not underestimate what theatre can do for mental health.”
He wants to get across the message the theatre has all the necessary safety regulations in place, from front-ofhouse to back-stage and extending to the likes of keeping props sanitised.
A lot of money - and more time than on the actual show - has been spent on Covid precautions, he said.
Arrival times will be staggered for the 75-minute pantomime which is without an interval to avoid any audience interaction.