Applause all round as the theatre is set to reopen
Eat Me cafe moves into Stephen Joseph and programme of films to roll
Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre will reopen its doors to the public later this month – and will have a new cafe.
Eat Me, which is opposite the theatre stage door in Hanover Road, is moving into its barlounge space from Thursday July 30.
The cinema will be running from the middle of next month.
A programme of screenings will be presented in its McCarthy cinema from Tuesday August 20.
They include the new film adaptation of The Secret Garden starring Colin Firth and Julie Walters, and recorded streamings including Andre Rieu’s Magical Maastricht:
Together in Music, Michael Ball and Alfie Boe – Back Together, VE Day 75 Live and Mick Fleetwood and Friends.
Artistic director Paul Robinson is hard at work planning a programme of live theatre that can be presented in the Round auditorium safely and within current government guidelines as soon as is feasible.
Eat Me @ The SJT will open from 11am to 8pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Café owners Martyn Hyde and Stephen Dinardo said: “Eat Me Café has been closed since the beginning of lockdown, and we’re raring to get going again.
“But our current premises has 34 covers at quite close proximity – for the safety of our staff and customers, we wanted a temporary space where we can provide much greater social distancing.
“We have a long-standing friendship with the Stephen Joseph and they’re just across the road: their spacious bar lounge is just perfect.”
Stephen Joseph executive director Caroline Routhsaid: “We’ve always been proud of our role as a theatre rooted in Scarborough; in these difficult times it is even more important to us to do what we can to help support our community.
“Eat Me is a local institution and has been a brilliant supporter over many years so we’re delighted that we’ve been able to help them re-open in a way that we hope means they will continue to thrive for years to come.”
Mr Robinson said: “It’s a fascinating creative challenge to find shows that are enticing enough to bring audiences back into our building whilst simultaneously allowing us to adhere to social distancing guidelines, both on and offstage.
“We’re in discussions with a lot of old friends including Hull-born actor Maureen Lipman, and Scarborough’s own Simon Slater, our artistic associate and West End star of Mamma Mia!
“I’m confident that we’ve come up with some innovative and entertaining answers and we hope to be able to start announcing those in the very near future.”
Both Eat Me @ The SJT and the Stephen Joseph Theatre will be re-opening in accordance with current legislation and Covid 19-secure guidelines.