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11
Aug 2020
Last Updated: 11/08/2020
District theatres support 'red alert' campaign to highlight crisis
The 'Red Alert' campaign aims to highlight the struggles of the live entertainment industry as coronavirus continues to delay its reopening. Harrogate Theatre and Frazer Theatre in Knaresborough are looking at ways they can light their buildings red to support the campaign.
Theatres across the district are looking at ways they can support a campaign to highlight the struggling live entertainment industry.
The #WeMakeEvents "Red Alert" follows months of closure for venues and a lack of work for freelance workers. Across the Harrogate district local theatres support the message but none have the facilities to light up red this evening.
Harrogate Theatre is looking into projecting red lights at a later date.
David Bown, chief executive of Harrogate Theatre, said:
"Of course we want to support the campaign it's keeping the plight of theatres in people's consciousness -our technicians are looking into it. The movement is to remind people of what is happening and the impact on the industry.
It's the health and safety that we have to be careful with, leaving lights on when no-one is in the building. I can't say for definite they are going to go ahead but it is something we are looking into."
Read more:
- Knaresborough theatre says social distancing measures make reopening too difficult.
- Pateley Bridge Playhouse is optimistic for its future after coronavirus having huge ramifications on its finances.
John Pearce, vice-chairman Frazer Theatre, said:
"It's something we are very much aware of, but unfortunately the Frazer doesn't actually have any way to light the exterior up red, so we're not able to join in. We completely support the campaign though, and do think it's a really effective way to highlight just how many wonderful spaces could be lost without support.
We absolutely hope it makes people think about what could be gone forever if funding isn't received urgently."
Both theatres have suspended their reopening until 2021 following doubts over making their return financially viable.
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