Confirmed Theatre Cancellations.

I've decided to accept all postponements and transferred tickets for the time being, even if I get a date clash, including Love Story at Cadogan Hall.

I'm sure it won't be a problem getting a refund nearer the time if the new date proves unsuitable.

Theatre by the Lake in Keswick has cancelled their entire summer season.


"We have taken the sad and difficult decision to cancel our Summer Season. The considerable work needed to prepare for the season, together with the significant costs involved, presents too great a risk during a time of huge upheaval and uncertainty.



"As you may know, the theatre is currently closed. We’re updating our position regularly and will communicate with you as the situation develops. This is a hugely challenging time and we’re now working out how we can safeguard our future so that we remain here for you.



"We’re asking ticket holders to consider donating the cost of their ticket to support the theatre at this time and are hugely grateful to the many people who’ve indicated that they are happy to do so. We cannot thank you enough."

I doubt if there will be any theatre or concerts until we are well through Coronavirus. Nobody will want to go to a show while even a slight risk exists.

I hope I'm wrong but I think we can write off the rest of 2020 theatre-wise.

I can't see how they can re-open this year - Autumn is optimistic, though I have booked a gig rescheduled to October. 'Lockdown' may 'flatten the curve' but even coming out of this, the disease is still out there and a sector that requires a lot of older people to sit in very close proximity for 2 or 3 hours is one of the highest risks, surely. And that's assuming people will still be in the mood to create and enjoy - I think the psychological effects of this are going to be devastating for many.

Unfortunately that attitude is only possible if you don't live with anyone with increased coronavirus vulnerability. I won't say to my mother "I'm going to the theatre. If I get coronavirus, pass it on to you & it kills you then tough luck." Therefore I'm not sure I'll be able to go to the theatre until an effective coronavirus vaccine is rolled out, if scientists manage to develop one that is. If not then I might be self-isolating with my mother for over 20 years, given both my grandparents lived to 93 & my mother is currently 72. Also, given how anxious I was yesterday about just dashing 200 years down the road to pick up some groceries from my aunt & uncle's house (left on the doorstep, no contact), I think I will find it very difficult after months/years of self-isolation to be in a big group of people. I imagine many others who, like me, find socialising quite difficult at the best of times will feel the same.

Picking up on the home viewing access point above, it's a shame we can't mention in the current circumstances some of what's already out there to view on a Smart TV or PC. I do understand the reasons and the bootleg/legality/Forum rules aspects but does anyone really care just now ?

Some of the best stuff is quite hidden but I've found and watched three full length shows in the last few days all in excellent quality, including the last incarnation of my all-time favourite musical , which I still hope will come to London but I never thought I'd get to see the full Broadway version. (hopefully this is sufficiently cryptic to be permissible!)

Barbican:

Received the following yesterday along with details of the impact on the closure on membership.

The Barbican will be in contact very soon with further information about the closure and issues like ticket refunds. As you can imagine there’s a lot to get through, so it’s taking a bit more time than usual. We'd really appreciate your patience.

Would be nice if they could update people on this! The website still says 



It's now the week after next, working from the point that web page was put up. Appreciate the difficulties they are working under, but they are the same difficulties faced by every other venue - it should have been possible for them to at least put some information about the refund process up by now I think.

Not theatre, but Queen have postponed their shows at the O2 by a full year to June 2021.

Of all the cancellations, though inevitable, this is the one that has depressed me the most on an already crap day.

Damn. In amongst all these cancellations, another one bites the dust.

With a lot of productions moving, such as Bond, already taking available slots later in the year it makes business sense to move them to next year when they'll have a clearer run at the box office than if they release them in an overcrowded market later this year.

AND it gives them the opening weekends next year if we are still under social distancing towards the end of this year. Bond got shunted six months, who knows if we'll have open cinemas at that point so if he has to move again he's got limited options as Sony have already pitched the tent.