Loft theatre to reopen as a Covid secure venue

UPDATE 01/12/20: Following the news that Leamington is moving to Tier 3 after 2nd December, we have had to postpone rehearsals once again, so our reopening will be delayed. New dates will be provided once we know we can restart rehearsing. We are looking forward to opening our doors to you again as soon as possible.

 

After over nine months closed, the Loft Theatre is reopening in January 2021 with a socially distanced production of Alan Bennett’s The Wind in the Willows.

The theatre is proud to have been ‘See It Safely’ approved, meaning that Society Of London Theatre & UK Theatres has verified that the Loft is complying with the latest Government and industry Covid-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of staff, volunteers and audience members.

Over the past few months the team at the Loft (made up almost entirely by volunteers) pulled together to make sure the building was as safe as possible to reopen. Measures undertaken included having the building ‘fogged’ by Leamington company Fogging Now. Fogging involves using an organic, non-toxic, non-hazardous, alcohol and chemical free substance to deep clean and disinfect buildings. Other measures that have been taken are providing hand sanitiser for those arriving in the building, ensuring the wearing of face masks and implementing social distancing.

Kim Green, Production Manager at The Loft, explains how the cast and crew are keeping safe;

“The actors in the cast of the re-opening production, are divided into two teams of six, creating two ‘bubbles’. They rehearse in those bubbles, still maintaining social distancing. We have devised a strict one-way system for the cast and crew, which starts at the stage door, and doesn’t stop until they leave the theatre via the workshop door.

“Our actors have also been ‘colour coded’. They each have a different coloured plastic storage box, containing their script, a bottle of hand sanitiser (both also colour coded), and anything else they need to keep with them. Anything an individual actor needs moving on stage will be moved by that actor.”

Artistic Director, Sue Moore says;

“I never gave up on 2020 and the hope that we might reopen. I was keen that if we did, we should stage a full length, socially distanced production, but of course we needed a whole team who were prepared to engage with that idea. The way this reopening has been brought about is a testament to the character and spirit of this terrific theatre company.”

Chairman of the Loft, David Fletcher says;

“Lockdown has been a huge challenge for all theatres, but the Loft has taken the opportunity to make extensive improvements to our theatre. We will re-open with care and confidence, and with a renewed energy.”

For more information about the new safety measures in place at The Loft, please see the Safety Q&A page on the Loft website here

Everyone at the Loft is really looking forward to welcoming audiences back into the theatre for a family fun production to start the new year.

The Wind in the Willows runs at The Loft Theatre, Victoria Colonnade, Leamington Spa in January 2021. Tickets will go on sale as soon as exact dates are confirmed.