Theatre closures and show postponements
London theatre news: Monday 16 March 2020
Coronavirus - London Fringe - London West End - Theatres
Catch-up with the latest about London theatre closures and show postponements in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
Well, it's been a massively busy day with a large number of announcements from London theatres about their response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
For most of the day, announcements trickled in mostly through Twitter about performances being postponed as well as some smaller theatres closing their doors.
However, since the Prime Minister's statement that "people are also being asked to work from home 'where they possibly can', and avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and social venues", the situation has changed markedly with the big theatres now taking action.
Official London Theatre tweeted earlier this evening ...
"We regret to announce that from this evening SOLT and UK Theatre venues have closed in light of official government advice.
Your box office/retailer from whom you bought your tickets will be in contact with regards to refunds and exchanges."
There's a full statement here.
In terms of the length of theatre closues, the statement says ...
"SOLT & UK Theatre member venues will remain closed until further notice and will re-open when possible, following government recommendations."
Below are more of the day's closure and postponement announcements ...
16 March
Love, Loss & Chianti at Riverside Studios
Producers and Riverside Studios have announced on Twitter that the performance on 22 March will be the final of the run for Love, Loss & Chianti.
You are advised to contact the venue for information about exchanges and refunds.
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Bush Theatre cancels performances
Bush Theatre has cancelled remaining performances of The High Table and Collapsible from tonight.
If you are a ticket holder for these cancelled performances, you will be contacted within 48 hours by the box office team.
Bush Theatre .
Soho Theatre suspends programming
Soho Theatre is suspending programming and closing Soho Theatre and its bar to the public.
The venue will be contacting all affected companies as soon as possible.
The Bread & Roses Theatre Closes
Clapham's Bread & Roses Theatre has cancelled all shows until 13th April 2020.
In a statement on its website the venue said ...
"After much contemplation and careful consideration, we have concluded, with a heavy heart, that considering the pandemic spread of Covid-19 and the associated dangers, we will sadly be closing The Bread & Roses Theatre and cancel all shows until 13th April 2020.
We will continue reviewing the situation on a day by days basis and see if it will be feasible to reopen after this date.
Like many fringe theatres, we have absolutely no public funding and rely on ticket sales but found this to be the most responsible decision for us to take at this stage to protect our staff, artists, guests and the wider society.
We will contact all ticketholders and offer the possibility to receive a full refund or donate their ticket money to the visiting company.
We would also like to ask further would have been audience members to consider contributing to a donation pot which would be going fully to the visiting companies (proportionally distributed based on how many nights they would have played).
We will also aim to reschedule events wherever possible."
The Bread & Roses website is here.
Menier suspends Indecent
Menier Chocolate Factory has suspended all performances of Indecent, effective immediately, up to, and including, 12 April.
The venue stated ...
"Our priority is the health and wellbeing of our company and our audiences.
We will continue to monitor the situation during this period, and adjust our plans as necessary in conjunction with our company's needs, and advice from the government.
We remain committed to the production - Paula Vogel's play is a rare and beautiful piece of writing, and we will be proud to share it with audiences at The Chocolate Factory when the time is right.
For those who have purchased tickets for this period, you will be contacted in due course by your point of sale to discuss options.
Like many in our industry today, as an unsubsidised venue, this will impact on us greatly.
If you are in a position to support us - and we understand not everyone can, by donating the cost of your ticket, that would be hugely appreciated."
The Respectable Prostitute postpones
Planned for a run from 20 May to 6 June at The Playground Theatre, The Respectable Prostitue has now been postponed until later in in the year.
Finborough postpones shows
Finborough Theatre has postponed two of its forthcoming productions.
Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad, originally scheduled for 31 March to 25 April 2020, will now play 2 to 27 February 2021.
Women Without Men, originally scheduled for 28 April-23 May will now play 11 August to 5 September 2020.
All ticketholders for the two postponed productions will be refunded.
The current run of Not Quite Jerusalem will continue its planned run as normal until 28 March 2020.
The Finborough plans to reopen on 26 May 2020 with the production of Bliss.
Neil McPherson, Artistic Director of the Finborough Theatre, said ...
"In close consultation with both companies, we have taken the decision to postpone our next two productions as a sensible precaution for the health and wellbeing of our audiences and all those who work with us.
We hugely look forward to their new runs here in the future."
The Finborough's announcement is here.
Park Theatre cancels La Cage aux Folles [The Play]
Due to members of the La Cage aux Folles company self-isolating as a precautionary measure, all remaining shows have been cancelled.
The box office team are contacting all affected patrons.
The Park's production of Corpse! is currently going ahead as scheduled.
Etcetera Theatre cancels show and postpones
This evenings show of Mark & Haydn has been cancelled.
The venue has also postponed The Sadness Shuffle that was due to play this weekend until May.
All other shows are still going ahead.
Lion & Unicorn Theatre postpones shows
The Lion & Unicorn Theatre has decided to postpone shows currently in progress and will advise audiences of new dates and possible refund options in due course.
You can .
Young Vic cancels performances of Nora: A Doll's House
On Saturday 14 March, both performances of Nora: A Doll's House were cancelled at the Young Vic as a precaution.
Since then, the venue has made the decision to cancel all remaining performances of Nora.
Although the performances are cancelled, the Young Vic building, box office and The Cut bar are set to remain open.
If you are a ticket holder for the cancelled performances, you will receive an email from the Young Vic team within the next 48hrs with further information.
There's also more information in the Young Vic's cancellation statement.
The Bunker - Morgan & Abi's Power-Share postponed
The Bunker - which has already announced that it will close on 28th March due to redevelopment of the site where it is located - has announced the postponement of Abi & Morgan's Power-Share week due to play at the venue from 16 to 21 March.
The venue will be offering refunds.
The Turbine Theatre - cancels performances until 18 April
Shows at The Turbine Theatre have been cancelled.
In a statement, the venue said ...
"We take the health and safety of our staff, performers and indeed audiences very seriously at The Turbine Theatre.
With this in mind we've taken the difficult but necessary decision to cancel all performances from 16 March to 18 April.
We will monitor the global situation closely and make a decision at a later date if we need to cancel further performances."
If you need a refund, you're asked to contact your point of sale.
15 March
Arcola suspends performances
The Arcola Theatre is suspending all public performances until further notice, in order to avoid contributing to the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus).
In a statement to its subscribers on 15 March the Arcola said ...
"The impact of COVID-19 is a critical threat to Arcola and to the livelihoods of all those who work in the arts.
Most of Arcola's funding comes from people like you, coming to see our performances.
Without these performances, the vast majority of our income is gone.
But we do not believe that it is practical or responsible for us to stage shows while people's lives are at risk.
We will be contacting affected ticket-holders shortly.
We are determined to survive, to retain our dedicated team, and to get our shows back on track as soon as possible.
So we need your help urgently.
Arcola Theatre , and any donation - large or small - will ensure that our theatre stays thriving, long after this crisis is past."
Old Vic suspends Endgame
The Old Vic has decided to suspend the presentation of Endgame in a double bill with Rough for Theatre II for the next two weeks, which is the remainder of its run.
There is currently no change to the schedule for 4000 Miles - read the Old Vic's statement here.
13 March
Show postponed at Charing Cross Theatre
The London premiere of Christopher Durang's Tony Award-winning Best Play comedy, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, due to start previews at Charing Cross Theatre from Saturday 21 March will not now go ahead as planned due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.
It wil be rescheduled for later this year.
Producer Steven M. Levy said ...
"We have been closely monitoring the developing situation surrounding Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The safety of our cast, staff and our patrons is paramount and so we have taken the very difficult decision to postpone the production to later in the year.
Obviously events are fast moving and changing day by day but when the crisis is passed we will announce a new opening date.
Patrons should consult their point of purchase for refunds."
The cast of 'Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike' features two time Olivier award-winner Janie Dee, Vincent Franklin, Rebecca Lacey, Michelle Asante, Charlie Maher and Lukwesa Mwamba.
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike was due to play an 8-week season at Charing Cross Theatre from Saturday 21 March to Saturday 16 May.
Christopher Durang's irresistible comedy was one of the most lauded Broadway plays of recent years.
The show blends Chekhov's famous ennui with the modern-day concerns of celebrity, social networking, planetary upheaval and the troubling onset of middle age, into a beloved comedy.
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