The organisers of Lockdown Theatre Festival are calling for a public conversation online about the future of theatre in the aftermath of COVID-19.
“We want to hear from everyone, from Artistic Directors and administrators to actors and (crucially) audiences,” said Bertie Carvel, who created the Festival.
Theatregoers are encouraged to post on social media using the hashtag #LockdownTheatreSymposium to join the debate.
The online forum will inform a panel discussion on Radio 3’s Free Thinking, broadcast at 10pm on 11 June, but is designed to be open-ended and self-organising.
“We want to use the Open Space, Town Hall model to gather as many ideas as possible from the widest range of stakeholders,” Carvel added. “This is an open invitation. To join in, post your vision for the future of theatre post-Covid and be sure to include the hashtag #LockdownTheatreSymposium so that others can share your thinking.”
Lockdown Theatre Festival will broadcast four theatrical productions that had their runs cancelled due to coronavirus over the weekend of 13 and 14 June on BBC Radio 3 and 4. The plays were recorded in isolation using innovative technological solutions, produced by independent production company Reduced Listening in partnership with Lockdown Theatre, as part of BBC Arts’ Culture In Quarantine initiative.
The weekend will also feature an isolation gala to mark the festival’s launch. Members of the public and celebrity guests are invited to post red carpet selfies from home, “arriving” at the opening night performance of Rockets & Blue Lights, which will air at 8pm on Saturday 13 June, on BBC Radio 3. Hashtags: #LockdownTheatreFestival #PressNightSelfie #RedCarpet
Broadcast schedule
- 10pm Thurs 11 June — BBC Radio 3: FREE THINKING: The Future of Theatre — https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000jvhz
- 3pm Sat 13 June — BBC Radio 4: SHOE LADY by EV Crowe — https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000k257
- 8pm Sat 13 June — BBC Radio 3: ROCKETS AND BLUE LIGHTS by Winsome Pinnock — https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000k1kj
- 3pm Sun 14 June — BBC Radio 4: THE MIKVAH PROJECT by Josh Azouz — https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000k1cw
- 9pm Sun 14 June — BBC Radio 3: LOVE LOVE LOVE by Mike Bartlett – https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000k26n
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