Last week, following government advice, Greenwich Theatre took the painful decision to suspend all performances in both the main house and the studio with immediate effect.
As most members of both the creative industry and audiences are now based at home, they are announcing the launch of Greenwich Connects, an online programme of interactive theatre opportunities for anyone and everyone to express and expand their creativity and engage with other members of the community through a series of weekly events.
Greenwich Theatre has announced the following events:
Monologue Mondays
Every Monday morning we’ll send out a theme or a style and invite performers to send in self-taped monologues, all of which we will stream across our social media channels the following day. Think of it as an online monologue slam which anyone can watch for free. As well as publicising this mini-glimpse of work to everyone who wants to check it out, we’ll invite casting directors and agents to take a look. They may not be able to see our hard-working performers in a show or take meetings, but that doesn’t mean they can’t see you!
Wednesday Wisdom
Every Wednesday, an expert from the theatre world will take over our Instagram account for a Q&A session. Want to find out how to run the perfect PR campaign, secure a festival booking for your show, get the most out of a fringe lighting rig or stage your own writing? Chloé Nelkin of Chloé Nelkin Consulting, David Byrne of New Diorama, James Hadley of Musical Theatre Network, Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment and Jemma McDonnell of The Paper Birds are all lined up to launch the programme. How to get involved? Simply submit your questions via Instagram and tune in every Wednesday for some words of wisdom.
Flashback Fridays
Watch some of Greenwich Theatre’s greatest past performances, including acclaimed productions of School for Scandal and The Duchess of Malfi. Tune in to Facebook every Friday for an evening show at 7.30pm and watch with friends and family. Have a production you’d like our followers to watch?
Simply share your show on social media or email it to [email protected] for the chance for us to share it with the Greenwich Theatre community!
Short Play Submission Sundays
Are you a budding writer with the thirst for creativity? Look no further! Every Sunday we will set a theme for a piece of short writing to be submitted by the following Sunday. Our top picks will have the opportunity to be performed once the theatre is reopened in a sharing event or even an online table reading. Themes will range from sight to memory to behaviour and should last no longer than 15 minutes. Simply share your show on social media or email it to [email protected] for the chance for us to share it with the Greenwich Theatre community!
James Haddrell, the theatre’s artistic and executive director, said: “We know that this is a global crisis, and people will have heard from many arts organisations about the impact the closures will have on all theatres and arts venues. For those that are unaware, at Greenwich Theatre less than 10% of our income comes from public funding, so 90% is generated through a combination of ticket sales, bar sales and hire fees – all of which have taken a substantial hit during this crisis. It has been through our community’s help and support over the years that we have not only continued to function but to thrive, but that is now under threat. For anyone who would like to support us during this unprecedented crisis, we are encouraging them to make a donation, to buy a Friends membership or to support our Buy a Brick campaign.
However, this initiative is not about income. This is about the fact that whatever the situation, Greenwich Theatre is here for both artists and audiences. We’re not saying ‘see you when this is done’. We’re saying whatever the situation, Greenwich Theatre is here and serving its users and its supporters.”
