THEATRE bosses have urged people to donate what they can to help the Mercury Theatre survive the winter.
The Mercury Theatre had been due to reopen to the public next month after undergoing a £9.9 million refurbishment.
The theatre building has been extended, modernised and made fully accessible, with more seats in the auditorium.
But plans for reopening are now on hold as the Government is yet to say when indoor venues can open.
And bosses say even when they can throw open their doors again they do not know what social distancing will mean for the future.
Read more >>> Mercury Theatre delays panto until 2021 due to pandemic
Executive director Steve Mannix said: “It is so ironic we should be experiencing this pandemic when we should be getting the building back at the end of this month and ready to open in September. 74 per cent of our income comes from ticket sales and overnight we lost £2.3 million.
“You can plan for an actor being ill or the roof falling in but no amount of planning can prepare you for this.”
Mr Mannix said Colcesterians’ love for the theatre and their support during the pandemic had been heartwarming.
He added: “It is the first time in 80 odd years we have been shut.
“I would like to thank everyone for their support.
“If people could think about making a small donation, the price of an ice cream they would have had in the interval or the merchandise they would buy, it would help.
“If the audience who came to last year’s panto did that it would get us through this winter and into next year.
“At the moment we are not planning any redundancies, we want to protect our staff, but we can’t do that indefinitely.
“We are now using our reserves we had put away for a rainy day.
“But it isn’t just raining it is pouring down.”
Mr Mannix said it is unlikely they will be able to stage any performances at their redeveloped site until next year.
He said: “We will not be putting on anything this side of the calendar year.
“Next year if it is possible we want to open – we want to show off our new building.”
Ryan McBryde, Mercury creative director, said it was difficult to know what restrictions would be in place.
If anyone got sick it would mean the theatre having to close down for two weeks.
He said: “For Steve and I it feels like the sand is shifting every day.
“We have four or five scenarios for when we can open the building and launching the new season.”
To donate:
• Text PANTO 3 to donate £3 (your interval ice cream) to 70085
• Text PANTO 10 to donate £10 (your interval drinks) to 70085
• Text PANTO 20 to donate £20 (your ticket price) to 70085
Or visit www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/support for other ways donate.
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