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The show must go on! Can the entertainment industry be saved?

Philip and David Williams, authors of the local 'Entertaining Ashton' series of books, look at the effects of Covid-19 on the entertainment industry, from the humble pub and club artiste, wedding events and major West End productions...

Last week 1,500 musicians, including The Rolling Stones, Dua Lipa, Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton, signed an open letter to Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden demanding support for the live music industry which has been severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. 

It stated: “With no end to social distancing in sight or financial support from government yet agreed, the future for concerts and festivals and the hundreds of thousands of people who work in them looks bleak.”

The letter continued: “Until these businesses can operate again, which is likely to be 2021 at the earliest, government support will be crucial to prevent mass insolvencies and the end of this world-leading industry.”

Of course, the same applies to theatres and all branches of the entertainment industry. 

The effects of the pandemic are also being felt locally with the ‘Handshake Group’, ‘Rumour Entertainments & Events’ and musician, singer-songwriter Dominic Halpin being amongst the hundreds that find themselves in limbo, prisoners of Covid-19.

For around 50 years, Saddleworth-based Stuart Littlewood (pictured below), from the Handshake Group, has been busy promoting, producing and managing live entertainments and events worldwide. Since lockdown and the closing of theatres, business has ceased.

Stuart told us: “The situation has been so devastating – we have had no income, neither have the artistes or anyone connected with staging our shows.” 

Handshake, whose touring shows included ‘Abba Mania’, ‘Oh What a Night’, and ‘Showaddywaddy,’ initially, back in March, tried to reschedule dates for later in the year. 

“That wasn’t an easy job for ourselves or theatres to do. We managed to rearrange some dates, but eventually the prolonged shutdown of the venues resulted in cancellations,” said Stuart. 

Over the years Handshake have produced and co-produced several West End musicals including ‘Buddy’ and ‘Abba Mania’. 

They have worked with countless stars including Cliff Richard, Lionel Ritchie, The Four Tops and Russell Watson. 

Stuart voiced his misgivings about Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden’s roadmap for getting theatres up and running again (before the announcement of the rescue package for the industry).  

“We need a proper worked-out plan. I don’t know what will happen regards the reopening of theatres,” he said.

Wayne and Alison Williams whose company ‘Rumour Entertainments & Events’ which will shortly be relocating to Ashton town centre from Audenshaw, are also awaiting government guidelines. 

With pubs, restaurants, clubs and other live venues having been closed, they have lost a major part of their income. 

Wayne said: “One day we had a string of artistes booked into various venues, then the next day nothing – all the jobs were lost. 

“The acts lost money, we lost income and as yet we have no idea as to when we will be able to resume booking out our artistes.” 

Wayne added: “We thought with the reopening of pubs and restaurants that this would enable us to also restart - but unfortunately this is not the case.”

Weddings

Alison, who runs the wedding arm of the business told us: “Since lockdown our business has come to a halt. As wedding planners all the bookings we had up to September were cancelled or postponed until 2021 or 2022.”

Nationwide approximately 80 per cent of 2020 weddings have been rescheduled for next year, with prime dates being limited. 

“There will obviously have to be more Monday to Friday weddings,” said Alison. 

At the moment government are allowing ceremonies to take place with no more than 30 people attending, there can be no food, music or artistes, in essence no reception. 

If and when normality returns to wedding ceremonies, the industry expects the trend to be for micro-wedding receptions. 

Alison continued: “Those who choose a micro-wedding will get to have more memories of dancing all night with loved ones, best friends, family and of course their other half, all without the guilt of not having said hello to some distant aunt or work colleague. 

“Of course, having a smaller reception wouldn’t mean couples couldn’t celebrate in style as by minimising the number of guests the cost savings could be spent on the honeymoon, wedding dress or entertainment.”

Stalybridge entertainer Dominic Halpin along with Ben Wiltshire, Matt Wells, Jonathan Price, Shelley Quarmby and Donna Marie, collectively known as ‘Dominic Halpin and the Hurricanes,’ have spent the last three years touring the UK.

Each night they have transformed provincial theatres into a buzzing honky-tonk bar in downtown Nashville for their show ‘One Night in Nashville’. 

Dominic helped to put the show together and chose all the songs, a mixture of material from country greats from the likes of Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson and Patsy Cline to the more modern output of Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town. 

Dominic said: “Until lockdown we were performing four nights a week. I would try and get back home to Stalybridge whenever I could, if not it was the likes of a Travelodge.” 


TOUR STANDSTILL: Dominic Halpin and the Hurricanes.

Home

Like most of us, the enforced time at home saw Dominic doing jobs that had been put off many times. 

“I managed to update my website, adding new songs for my fans to download and I’ve also been performing a live stream,” he explained.

Dominic has also just completed a documentary about ‘One Night in Nashville’ which will soon be available on YouTube. 

As for the future of theatres, Dominic is unsure how things can work out, especially with regards to social distancing. 

He said: “A great many of the country’s theatres are old buildings that simply don’t have the capacity to make it work. 

“The auditoriums, back stage areas, dressing rooms and foyers don’t easily lend themselves to social distancing. Many may not even reopen.”

Just last week, the Royal Exchange theatre in Manchester announced that it was looking at having to make up to 65 per cent of its staff redundant.

FLASHBACK: The Royal Exchange brought the community together in Ashton for a unique poetry event.

In a statement issued through its website, it said: “From the government’s recent announcements, there is nothing on the table which gives us confidence or clarity to be able to restart any activities in the immediate future...

“As a company we remain committed to our vital role as a key cultural organisation for Greater Manchester, the North West and the national theatre ecology.” 

Just last summer the theatre brought its ‘pop up’ Royal Exchange to Stalybridge for the enjoyment of Tameside residents, with 17 performances over a two-week period.

Bryony Shanahan, artistic director, said: “It is an awful time for us all, and it’s also hugely frustrating that government support simply hasn’t reached us in time, despite clear warning signals and cries for help.

“Access to culture for all should not be a luxury but a right, and so we must value it as such as we heal and move forward from this time.”

The effects of Covid-19 is being felt across the whole entertainment industry from the humble pub and club artiste, to wedding receptions and major West End and provincial theatres.


POP UP: The Royal Exchange staged performances in Stalybridge.

Too little, too late?

Just as we had put the full stop to this article last Sunday, Oliver Dowden announced a new £1.57 billion support package for the arts industry.

Although this is indeed a much welcome boost for the ailing sector it may unfortunately be for many too little too late.

Julia Fawcett OBE, chief executive of The Lowry, said: “The announcement of £1.57bn of emergency investment in the UK’s culture sector is welcome news, but we are fast running out of time.

“This lifeline will come too late for some organisations who have already been forced to close their doors for good or made valued employees redundant.”

On their Twitter feed the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre said: “This is hugely welcome, and recognises the vital role that arts and culture plays in society. We are grateful for such a major industry-wide investment and look forward to seeing the detail of this package.” 

However, while being mostly welcomed by many in the industry, it still does not address the obvious problem of social distancing in venues which urgently needs easing if shows are allowed to go on.

 

Main image:

David and Philip Williams: A chapter they never thought they would write.

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