Tier We Go Again

England is about to move out of its autumn lockdown just as Wales goes back in to one. It’s a pattern likely to continue over the winter, although fortunately some theatres are at least able to stage Christmas shows this year (as long as your local area hasn’t been put into Tier 3), and the first snippets of news about vaccines has heartened the belief that an end could be in sight at some point next year.

My work as an Associate Tutor at Edge Hill University continues, although plans had to be changed this month after the news that students were to be tested and, if negative, sent home early to enjoy the Christmas holiday with the family. With the modules I work on largely involving practical assessments of performance, the in-person elements of this are being brought forward and/or adapted for the time available, ultimately meaning that the 3rd year’s performance of a full musical is replaced with a 30-minute filmed section of the show. The students adapted brilliantly in what is a ridiculously tough time for all year-groups, with the filming happening over the next week before they are sent home.

Understandably, though, not much else has happened in this lockdown month! I continue to admire the resilience of the theatre industry, was overjoyed to hear this Overture of Overtures, orchestrated and arranged by Alan Williams, and excited by the daily casting announcements and streams of musicals, which have been made possible due to the government allowing rehearsals to continue throughout this current lockdown. Just the small matter of a socially-distanced Christmas for everyone to plan next month, now!