Theater Actors in England Left Unmasked After Months


Since England’s theaters reopened in July without restrictionsThere is one thing as remarkable as the action on stage: the lack of masks in the audience.

Unlike Broadway theaters, patrons here were not required to cover their faces, and many attendees chose to ignore pre-show announcements that encouraged them to mask themselves.

The few theater critics who came to visit were stunned. Laura Collins-Hughes He writes in The New York Times in September“In almost every production I saw, there were a lot of bare-faced people in the crowd who felt reckless and misleading,” he said.

Peter Marks, He writes in the Washington Post in Novemberdescribed theaters in London as “constantly shocking these days”. This has nothing to do with the action on stage, he added; it was all down to the lack of masks.

Now, that image may be about to change. On Saturday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson made it mandatory to wear masks in stores and on public transport In the UK, it is responding to the newly discovered Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

It didn’t make them mandatory in theaters, but a few venues now do so voluntarily. On Monday, the Royal Shakespeare Company said face coverings will be required at its theaters in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, unless an attendee is under the age of 12 or has a medical exemption.

“We want to do everything we can to ensure we don’t have to cancel performances and disappoint our audiences,” Catherine Mallyon, the company’s executive director, said in a press release.

Other theaters quickly followed suit. On Monday, composer and theater director Andrew Lloyd Webber quietly strengthened the rules for the six theaters he owns in the West End. Company’s website updated to say“All bystanders must cover their faces throughout their visit, except when eating, drinking or medically exempt.” Previously, these theaters demanded but not masks.

Tuesday, National Theater, NS Royal Opera House, NS English National Opera and old victim He also said that they will make it mandatory to wear masks.

Rules can only last a few weeks. The National Theatre’s website says the measure will be in effect until December 19.

So far, there seems to be little resistance to the changes. Kate Evans, spokesperson for the Royal Shakespeare Company, said that since her tenure was announced, 45 people have asked for a refund or exchange their tickets for coupons to watch a future show.The Sorcerer’s Elephant

“Most of the feedback we received about the decision has been very positive,” he said.



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