The Theatre Clwyd in Wales is to reopen with live outdoor concert and theatre performances, according to The Stage.
The performances will take place on a hill next to the theatre between 27th August and 27th September 2020.
The reopening is part of a trial that will inform the process for extending outdoor performances in Wales, with sporting events also being trialled as part of restarting the hospitality sector.
The programme of events includes Tim Price’s comedy English, an evening of spoken word and soul music by Alex Wright and Phil Grainger and a Welsh of the West End musical theatre performance.
The series of programmes will also feature live concerns from Tayo Aluko, Kidsmoke and Aleighcia Scott, among others.
They will be the first to take place since Theatr Clwyd closed in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, meaning its programme between April to December was cancelled.
The First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford has prioritised outdoor events due to the mild weather conditions and lower transmission of coronavirus outdoors, according to Leader Live. If the outdoor events are a success, the number of people allowed at such events may be increased.
Mr Drakeford stated that while “coronavirus remains effectively suppressed in Wales and cases continue to fall, the situation in the rest of the UK and further afield is still problematic.”
The First Minister also remarked that “coronavirus has not gone away and so, as we move out of lockdown and look to the future, it is important we do this in a careful and cautious way.”
The artistic director of Theatre Clwyd Tamara Harvey said how all they “want – all that we’ve been fighting for and working for day after day through all of this – is to bring people back up our hill for moments of hope and laughter, and to share in a collective joy.”
Ms Harvey also commented that “direct conversations and collaboration with government are vital to ensure the survival of the arts. These are baby steps but each step brings us closer to a future where we are all working together to create a truly vibrant and diverse cultural landscape in Wales and beyond.”
Throughout lockdown, Theatre Clwyd supported the most isolated through an online Together programme, distributing food packages and becoming a creative hub for vulnerable young people.
Open-air shows in England have been possible since July, with the Open Air Theatre’s Jesus Christ Superstar currently running, according to WhatsOnStage.
Words by Noah Keate.
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