Hello, and apologies for the silence of late - as I’m sure everyone already knows it’s a very strange and scary time for the theatre industry at the moment, and I’ve spent the past few weeks, like many others, waiting to hear whether a job I was booked for will even go ahead.
Due to the lockdown in response to Covid-19, Selladoor was forced to postpone the planned opening of Footloose The Musical, which we were due to start rehearsing on March 23rd 2020, the day that lockdown restrictions were imposed in the UK.
However, it seems that this show and the other productions slated by Selladoor for 2020 will indeed go ahead, albeit later than originally planned. See below for a copy of their recent press release with an update.
As soon as I have confirmed rescheduled dates for the tour, I will share them.
With best wishes, and stay safe.
Anna x
———
ANNOUNCEMENT: All Selladoor UK productions to postpone into 2021, with an extension of the temporary closure of our 3 venues until November
Selladoor Worldwide has announced that it will suspend its 2020 touring productions – shifting the majority of shows to start in 2021.
Major productions including Footloose The Musical, We Will Rock You, Madagascar the Musical, 9 to 5 the Musical and Bring It On The Musical will be postponed as a result of Covid-19.
The company who are behind productions such as Fame, Avenue Q and American Idiot – and operators of regional theatres in North Devon and Cambridgeshire, have confirmed they will temporarily close their offices during July and August to maximise government support during a period of extended inactivity.
Selladoor venues will extend closure until November with The Queen's Theatre Barnstaple, The Landmark Ilfracombe and New Theatre Peterborough planning to reopen pre- pantomime season.
CEO David Hutchinson says “It’s with a heavy heart that we’ve taken the decision to postpone the majority of our productions into 2021 both in the UK and internationally. It’s taken our production team, creatives and partners years to put these productions together and we were so excited to share them with audiences this year. However, the uncertainty on when theatres will reopen, married with questions on how we safely tour actors both in the UK and internationally; with consumer confidence compromised – mean we feel the odds are against us and we must prioritise sustainable production.”
“We have 100+ members of staff across our productions and venues operation and the priority at this uncertain time is to maximise our runway for relaunch, whenever that may be, and maintain as much resilience as we can. We are currently burning through our reserve cash at a scary rate and it’s completely unsustainable for a company mainly reliant on box office.”
Selladoor has confirmed the following production postponements:
Footloose the Musical, due to open in April 2020 at New Wimbledon Theatre, will now open at the earliest at Zurich Maag Music Hall in November 2020 – with UK dates commencing from January 2021.
We Will Rock You, due to open in August 2020 at Cape Town Artscape Theatre, South Africa, will now open in February 2021 at the Solaire Resort Manila, Philippines.
Madagascar the Musical, due to open in August 2020 at the Civic Theatre in Auckland, New Zealand, will now open Autumn 2021.
Bring It On the Musical, due to open June 2020 at the Birmingham Hippodrome , is now planning to open Autumn 2021.
9 to 5 UK Tour, due to open May 2020 at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, is now planning to open Spring 2021.