No Sunday best for Sammy
COST OF LIVING CRISIS IS BLAMED FOR POPULAR SHOW BEING CANCELLED
THE much-loved Sunday for Sammy show will not be going ahead next year - and the current economic climate is to blame, with organisers citing the rising costs of hosting the show and concerns over whether audiences could afford to buy tickets.
In news which will disappoint fans of the biennial Newcastle event, dubbed the ‘Geordie command performance’, Tim Healy has told of the decision to scrap the 2023 outing due to the cost of living crisis.
The popular actor, chairman of the Sunday for Sammy Trust which distributes funds raised by the charity show, explained the ‘reluctant’ decision to pull the plug in a video which was shared by Denise Welch, herself a regular member of its cast.
The show, which features North East stars in a line-up of music performances and comedy sketches, has not taken place since February 2020.
It was cancelled this year due to continuing concerns over Covid and postponed until 2023, when it was due to return for its usual two performances in one day at the city’s Utilita Arena.
This summer the usual A Sketch for Sammy competition, which invites local talents to pen a comedy sketch for possible inclusion in the show, went ahead but - with 2023’s return off - there is no confirmation of whether Sunday for Sammy will make a future return.
The Trust says an announcement will be made soon about new projects to help support up-and-coming performers, the ones to benefit from the funds raised by the show.
While those involved give their time for free, the show itself is said to cost hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Healy said: “We’re very much aware people are struggling with day-to-day living costs at the minute and are watching the pennies.
“Everything is becoming more and more expensive.
“That includes the costs of putting on a show the size of ours.
“The people on stage work for free but the equipment, lights, hiring the venue, it all adds up to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
“So we have reluctantly decided there won’t be a show in 2023.”
He added: “We’ve built up Sunday for Sammy over all these years and we really can’t in good conscience put on a show we aren’t 100% sure people can afford to buy tickets for.
“That would be wrong of us to risk your money you have so generously given us over the years.
“We would lose that vital cash that we need to help fund young performers in the region, which is why we do it after all.
“So we’re going to wait until the time is right.”
The Trust says it will soon announce two new projects which will support young performers and “help them to realise their dreams.”
To date, around £600,000 has been handed out to help local young people in the entertainment world and much of that money has come from ticket sales and DVDs of the shows.