Concerts and theatre gigs in front of live audiences are returning from next weekend.
Music lovers and theatre fans will be delighted to hear that Minister for Arts, Catherine Martin, has announced that live events are back.
There was great disappointment when it was decided that live events in theatres or music venues would not be reopening under the new Level 3 Covid restrictions.
In the meantime it was ruled that other entertainment and cultural venues like cinemas, museums and galleries could open their doors again.
Many in the arts community felt this was unfair and Ms Martin has moved to address the anomaly with the decision to bring back music and theatre on a limited, trial basis.
The first two gigs will see the National Concert Hall (NCH) reopen next weekend for a special live performance from the Irish Chamber Orchestra.
And next weekend will also see special theatre performances recommence at the Abbey Theatre with new works from renowned writers like Roddy Doyle and Mark Rowe.
It is hoped that if the trials go well it will open the doors for other similar, Covid-safe gigs to start taking place nationwide from next month.
Ms Martin announced the good news for the arts sector this afternoon.
She said: “The reopening of galleries, museums and cinemas in recent days has shown us the ways in which arts and culture can enrich our lives and can do so safely and while operating to strict protocols to protect public health.
“I am acutely aware of the great importance of drama and music in all of our lives and these events are an important step in showing that these are controlled spaces which can operate safely at this time.”
Maura McGrath, Chairperson NCH and Simon Taylor, CEO NCH
“Bringing audiences back to live music and theatre will play such an important part for the arts and culture sector returning and we are delighted to be running this test concert with the Irish Chamber Orchestra on Saturday 19 th December.
“We very much welcome the support from Minister Martin and her colleagues in the Department, and we see this as an important step forward.
“We have been Live-Streaming concerts for a number of months and this will be our first opportunity since March to welcome audiences back into the National Concert Hall.
“Strict adherence to Covid-19 controls will be in place for performers and for a restricted-capacity audience of 100, and we will be asking those attending for their feedback to help in planning for future concerts.
“The concert will also be live streamed free on NCH YouTube and NCH Facebook channels.”
The concert at the National Concert Hall will be a special Christmas Celebration with the Irish Chamber Orchestra on Saturday the 19th of December.
Details of ticketing will be announced by the NCH in the coming days.
The Abbey Theatre will host “Theatre for One” comprised of six five minute plays by leading Irish playwrights (Marina Carr, Stacey Gregg, Emmet Kirwan, Louise Lowe, Mark O’Rowe, and Enda Walsh), with each original 5-minute play performed by one actor, for one audience member in a specially designed booth.
This is scheduled to run on the 18th , 19th , 21st , 22nd , and 23rd of December.
“Theatre for One (and a Little One),” for one adult and one child aged ten or under, would then run on the 29th , 30th and 31st of December, in co-production with the Abbey Theatre and featuring newly commissioned work by Roddy Doyle, Sonya Kelly, Louis Lovett and Pauline McLynn.
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