Designers wrap up UK Theatres in Missing Live Theatre

#MissingLiveTheatre is a new project by #SceneChange aimed at wrapping UK Theatres with a positive message of hope and visibility to the industry.

Ambassadors Theatre London by Helen Maybanks

As much of the UK entertainment and hospitality industries open to customers from 4 July, theatres remain closed, unable to stage live performances. From early on in lockdown, the design community have been uncomfortably aware of the negative visual imagery and sadness around closed buildings. Theatres which are usually teeming with life feel stark and bleak, some even shut away behind hazard tape to prevent them inadvertently being places of gathering. On Friday 3 July, in collaboration with theatres across the UK, #scenechange launched #MissingLiveTheatre and wrap theatre buildings in a positive message of hope and visibility to the industry.

They began with the National Theatre, #scenechange, in conjunction with theatre staff, wrapping theatres with pink barrier tape reading ‘Missing Live Theatre’. The baton was then be passed from the National Theatre to Royal Exchange Theatre, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Lyric Belfast and Sherman Theatre across the day on Friday, and throughout the West End on Saturday. This week will see further theatres nationwide joining #MissingLiveTheatre, with over 50 venues already committed including the RSC, Sadler’s Wells, Theatr Clwyd, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Sheffield Theatres, Ambassador Theatre Group, amongst many others.

#scenechange said, “As businesses begin to reopen, the doors of theatres remain firmly shut, whilst we navigate a way back to live performance. We want to bring joy and colour to theatres across the UK and Ireland, whilst highlighting the ongoing impact of Covid-19, and what we as an industry and local communities are missing.”

#scenechange began as a small email exchange ‘Dialogue in Strange Times’ between a group of set & costume designers. Now it is a wide community of designers covering the breadth of the discipline and growing to over 1000 members, promoting ways of coming together in conversation and action in support of theatre.

VISIT THE #SCENECHANGE WEBSITE #MISSINGLIVETHEATRE GALLERY

Apollo Theatre London. Photo by Ali Wright

Hampstead Theatre London. Photo by Ellie Kurtz

Kiln Theatre London. Photo by Ellie Kurtz

Lyceum Theatre London. Photo by Johan Persson

Harold Pinter Theatre London. Photo by Marc Brenner

Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester

Sadler's Wells London. Photo by Johan Persson

Shakespeare's Globe London. Photo: Marc Brenner

Sherman Theatre Cardiff. Photo: Kristen McTernan

The Old Vic. Photo: Manuel Harlan

Theatr Clywd. Photo by Dafydd Owen

Theatre Royal Plymouth. Photoby Steve Haywood