Theatre-goers bustle into the warm auditorium, hugging their damp coats and fistfuls of confectionery as they take their seats amongst the wine fuelled chatter that floats around The Drum. A few doors down, ticket holders patiently wait in line for tonight’s band, a buzz of excitement trailing way beyond the doors and giggling queues of the Pavilion. Set back from the eclectic energy that seeps through the city centre, small groups gather to review their most recent book club read; a tricky dystopian page turner that appears worlds apart from our own.
I think back to the last time I went to the theatre – I caught a one woman show at the Barbican Theatre on a whim after lectures one evening; it was raining outside so I was very grateful to be in the dry refuge of the theatre walls. That night now carries an air of unfamiliarity in comparison to the COVID-19 induced new normal we now know. Dystopian worlds in those tricky page turners suddenly don’t feel so distant after all.
However, as the world shut down a few months ago, it became undeniable that the arts is something we couldn’t live without. We turned to film, television, music, podcasts and books for our entertainment, comfort and sanity. Collectively we went in search for the accustomed evenings spent with family and friends, but in a new world that prohibited such activities, many of us went online to reconnect.
Plymouth’s arts community, like many, ventured into the online world. From broadcasting shows on YouTube to delivering workshops via Zoom, and even bringing to life doorstep concerts, the community is delivering their mission: to keep spirits high whilst ensuring the arts rise again. Speaking to University of Plymouth alumnus and artistic director for Le Navet Bete, Nick Blunt, he noted the importance of the arts:
“Every single person benefits in some way or another from the arts. It has been astounding to see the amount of work, material and opportunities being created by theatre companies / venues / artists / creatives over lockdown to support people being at home. The arts are not just frivolous activities, they are a vital part of our society.”
Le Navet Bete never fail to sell out auditoriums and fill them with laughter from a fiery rendition of a well-loved tale on stage. Throughout lockdown, the Devon-based theatre company ensured this laughter and merriment continued long after the theatre doors closed all those weeks ago: “When we started this theatre company, our main ambition was to ‘just entertain everybody’ and this is still exactly the same.” Throughout the past few months, Le Navet Bete have released online material and received praise throughout the comment sections. The theatre company want to “keep people’s spirits lifted”, and for many, this is the perfect way.
Le Navet Bete didn’t confine themselves to traditional theatre to ensure this laughter either, especially when they held the worlds first “International Hot Pants Day on the 28th May for people to get involved with to support artists and the wider performance community.” The day was a reported success showing the support that much of the public have for the arts. Most of all, it was fun!
However, despite seeing lockdown restrictions slowly lift across the UK, there is still huge uncertainty around the future of the arts. On 5th July, the government pledged to support the arts with a £1.57bn emergency support package – but this is unlikely to save every job. Plymouth dance teacher and studio owner Simara Winter was very lucky to keep 85% of her students online stating, “I’ve had to re-think my lesson plans to fit in a small space, think more about health and safety, and more about the mental well-being of all of my students.” Just like Winter, Plymouth University’s own Amateur Dramatics Society asserted the importance of keeping spirits high within the arts community during lockdown, as they posed virtual challenges to their members, shared jokes and reminisced on recent showcases and the good times had over the year.
The arts and performance community rallied around and bared its strength in the masses during lockdown. They provided us with entertainment, escape and sanity in some very dark days and it is now our turn to help them. Le Nevet Bete’s Blunt suggested giving donations to “local theatres and organisations” and getting involved with them and keeping up to date with performances in your area. If you as a student, or a local Plymouth resident, don’t feel like enough is being done to support the sector, Blunt reminds us to get hold of our local MP to find out what they are doing and advocating for at Westminster to support the sector.
Although theatre and other organisations will not disappear over night, if we do not support them financially or at least through social media, they will disappear. There is too much at stake for this to happen. With our help, Plymouth’s arts community will rise out of lockdown and we will be entertained with fistfuls of confectionery again.