We’re hoping that 2021 is the year that theatre’s recovery can begin, but, after being closed for so long, how will the industry rebuild? And should anything be different to life before the pandemic? We’ve been talking to some of London’s theatre stars about theatre’s future, and why it matters.
This week, our How theatre will rebuild series will bring you a new conversation each day from people who have brought us some of the most exciting and influential shows of the last few years. We’re asking them what the past year has been like for them, and how they are feeling about what lies ahead.
Today we speak to powerhouse producer Francesca Moody, who was the original producer for Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag. Shortly before the nation went into lockdown, she was preparing to transfer Richard Gadd’s debut play Baby Reindeer to the West End - a production that’s now on hold, but went on to win an Olivier Award last year.
“Seeing this tiny little theatre show that we made in Edinburgh in 2013 sit on the state of the Wyndham’s Theatre in the West End, and actually, nothing had really changed - that’s a huge highlight,” said Moody about Fleabag’s stage journey.
She talked to us about how she got into producing, her work to support the freelance community throughout lockdown, how theatres can improve their digital offering after the pandemic, and how theatre acts as a source of talent for film and TV.
Next week, we’ll announce the twelve recipients of our Future Theatre Fund, in association with TikTok and in partnership with the National Youth Theatre. The £120k fund will be distributed to talents working across disciplines from directing to design, in order to support those struggling to break into the industry because of the pandemic.
