FROME’S live entertainment venues have welcomed the news of the government’s £1.57bn support package to help protect the future of UK theatres and other cultural venues.
However, they have questioned how the money will be distributed across the UK – and has reserved judgement on how the support package will impact local venues, saying the money should not all benefit London and larger city theatres.
Merlin Theatre’s artistic director, Claudia Pepler told Frome Times, “I think that this is brilliant news, probably a little late in coming, but very welcome. I do hope that the money goes to venues, artists and freelancers that truly need the money, and that it doesn’t just stay in London.
“Hopefully it will be shared evenly and is not just ‘London-centric’ – which I do fear, as this is something that has happened in other sectors. But it’s very welcome news – it is very needed – and it will hopefully help to safeguard some jobs.”
Hospitality manager for the Cheese & Grain, Graeme Barry said “It’s great that the government has finally made this announcement – but until we see the small print and find out how the money will be distributed, we can’t really comment on how this will affect us.
“Whilst the announcement is welcome, it’s strange that they have not given a date for when more information will be available about how the money will be distributed. But for those that have campaigned hard for this, including the Music Venue Trust, this is hopefully some good news.”
Chairman of Frome Memorial Theatre Trust, Humphrey Barnes said, “We at the Frome Memorial Theatre, like all theatre groups throughout the country are, I am sure, delighted with today’s announcement from our government, that a large financial investment is to be made to our industry.
“As many of your readers know our theatre is run entirely by volunteers, so we have been able to survive over the past three months or so, albeit we still have financial outgoings each month that have to be fulfilled, which has been severely reducing our reserves. Let us hope the cash injection by our government will filter down to smaller and rural theatres like ours, but a huge thank you to government for this generous and much welcomed injection of cash.”
Prior to the announcement made this week, Frome’s theatres and venues faced an uncertain future with many frustrated about the lack of information about financial support and information about when live music and theatre can make its return – a question that still remains.
The Cheese and Grain, Merlin Theatre and Memorial Theatre had all spoken about the difficulties they faced as events were cancelled or postponed, and tickets refunded.
The Merlin launched a ‘Protect-the-Merlin’ fundraising campaign; the Cheese and Grain said that it can’t re-open until its financially viable, whilst the Memorial said the lockdown had been hard.
And in what would have been Frome Festival’s 20th year, organisers launched a fundraising appeal for next year’s festival and to safeguard the festival for years to come.
As lockdown restrictions continue to ease for businesses and other sectors across the country, the arts sector – including Frome’s theatres and venues – remain in limbo with uncertainly over when live music and theatres can safely reopen.
The government’s roadmap for the return of live theatre and music has been labelled as ‘meaningless’ and ‘inadequate’ by industry experts as it has no timescale for when the industry can reopen.
Frome Merlin Theatre’s artistic director, Claudia Pepler said, “We have plans to reopen for filmed theatre and films (which we are allowed to do from 4th July – but no live performances), and we are in discussions with companies for live outdoor performances on the ECOS amphitheatre. We are putting safety measures in place for staff, audience and performers.
“Although frustratingly, the government’s ‘ five step road map’ to reopen theatres has helpfully been issued without any dates! However as soon as we get the green light we are ready to open.
“It is with a happy heart that the Merlin Theatre, Frome announce the donations for its Protect-the-Merlin fundraising campaign has now reached just over £10,000! Thank you, thank you.”
“As the official guidelines for live performance remain hazy we are working towards ‘stage 2’ of our protection strategy and look forward to announcing our plans shortly. Even when the building is allowed to re-open, we envisage a future with reduced audience numbers for quite some time to come. Naturally, that presents huge challenges for our earned income as we cannot simply run a theatre with about 33% audience capacity but triple the ticket prices! So we are having to get creative and resourceful in our plans.
“Our brains, in partnership with other SW venues, other SW arts professionals and local Frome organisation representatives, are working on a new ways to continue to protect the future of the Merlin and to bring entertainment back to the town as soon as possible.”
Whilst the Merlin Theatre is planning a soft opening, the Cheese & Grain, have said that they cannot reopen until they are financially viable.
Chair of the Cheese & Grain board of trustees, Pepita Collins said, “The Cheese & Grain relies on income from well-attended live music events and a busy events bar. Almost all its other activities, events and uses, including markets, are subsidised by this income.
“The situation is under constant review, but it is likely that we will not be able to open until the live music events are both allowed by law and are financially viable.
“The Cheese & Grain is run by a local community organisation but most of the audience for the live music events come from outside of Frome, and most of those from outside Somerset. Crowded indoor events that draw people from a wide area risks spreading Covid-19. The Cheese & Grain will reopen only when it’s safe to do so.
“Customers can support the Cheese & Grain by attending the rescheduled gigs, by visiting the Cheese & Grain website and buying tickets for gigs in the autumn and for next year, by clicking on “membership” on the site and becoming a Friend, or by simply making a donation.”
At Frome’s Memorial Theatre, Francesca Cheeseman said, “Lockdown has been hard for Frome Memorial Theatre as it has been for all the performing arts. But we are staying positive and using this down time to give the theatre a little TLC.
“We would like to thank all our customers for their ongoing support and we hope to be providing entertainment for them again very soon.”
