Striving to bring people back together Ruth Eastwood says Grand Theatre Blackpool is determined to rebuild confidence in live experience for audiences when the curtain rises

Theatre brings people together.

This is what directors of The Grand Theatre are working hard to do when the doors on the Grade II venue are given the green light to reopen.

Managing the 'fear factor' will be one of the hardest tasks the industry has ever faced, says chief executive Ruth Eastwood.

But behind the scenes, a team have been powering through to package an Autumn programme to inspire and give people something to look forward to. A live experience.

September is the new target and in the last week three big shows have been announced for the remainder of the 2020 season. Sales, Ruth adds are already going well.

She says: "Blackpool on a whole is lucky in what as a resort collectively it offers.

"We are lucky to have a variety of attractions from the Pleasure Beach to the theatre, promenade, the Tower, shows - there is so much for people.

"The closures were swift following that March announcement - here we spent a number of days just drawing up different contingency plans, first just to oversee the correct and safe closure of the building, given it's age, heritage and importance..

"All that early work means we're hopeful of an Autumn, September opening and welcoming some tremendous shows. Customers are buying tickets - Showstopper! and Sleeping with Beauty are doing well and it's wonderful to know we have the support and loyalty of audiences."

The reaction to lockdown for the attractions across the resort was swift following the Government detail and Ruth says management at the Grand were ready to adapt plans as restrictions lengthened.

This approach and a positive attitude Ruth Eastwood says has put the theatre in good stead in spite of a rocky climate for the entertainments industry nationwide.

Good working relationships across the resort venues and businesses and those in the wider theatre scene are cause for optimism.

Ruth adds: "It is what it is and we are working as much as we can to combat what we can control."

For now a majority of the staff around 50 are on furlough, aided by what Ruth says they a found relatively straightforward application to the jobs retention scheme. Four of the team, including Ruth continue in their efforts to get work done.

Advances from the Art Council and deferred VAT payments have been put in place to steady the financial ship.

However, there has been added difficulty with an insurance battle in spite of their higher premium to cover pandemics. It is a complication Ruth says the team could have done without but they are determined in their efforts to see it through even with the limitations.

"We have emergency funds to keep the business side of things to September - there will be other things to look at I'm sure and of course no guarantees."

"It is a shame that while producers have taken the hit massively and worked outside of the contracts, the likes of the wonderful David Pugh for example, that we're having to face issues with something we actually paid for in light of these risks.

"But also then there are those who are ready to help and support in these times and to see an, out of the blue donation from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation just shows that community spirit.

"It's just fantastic that Blackpool charities have benefited from the work of a London based organisation. We're being thought of in these challenging times and we are so grateful."

The independent grant maker has committed an additional £16 million of funding in response to the coronavirus pandemic to organisations that give something to building a creative, inclusive and sustainable society.

Ruth says : "I think sometimes people aren't quite aware of all the work off the stage - much of the money donated to the theatre is dedicated to community projects and reaching out to all groups of society.

"While in this situation we've been part of a survey looking specifically about how people are doing and feeling - reaching out and measuring that confidence.

"Some people are fearful, lonely that's why we put together the special new YouTube channel "At Home With You" all volunteered just to keep in touch with our audiences.

"We have the buddy scheme and volunteers making calls just to see how people are. Those relationships are vital, people need to feel at home with their theatre - it's a community.

"To fall in love with the theatre someone has to take you, whether it be with Brownies, Scouts for the first time, schools or other clubs - there is something about that live experience that brings people back.

"We're going to be here but one of the biggest challenges will be in building up that confidence among those groups again."

For more on the shows and 'at home with the Grand Theatre' programme visit :https://www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/