Pandemic threatens future of Shakespeare's Globe theatre in London

The cast of Hamlet performing at Shakespeare's Globe in London in this 2014 file photo. The theatre may close for good without emergency funding to get it through the coronavirus lockdown.
The cast of Hamlet performing at Shakespeare's Globe in London in this 2014 file photo. The theatre may close for good without emergency funding to get it through the coronavirus lockdown. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

LONDON • Shakespeare's Globe, a celebrated institution in London that showcases some of the world's most recognisable stage plays, is in danger of permanently closing if it does not receive emergency funding to make up for revenue it has lost during the coronavirus lockdown.

The Globe, a full-scale replica of English playwright William Shakespeare's original 1599 open-air theatre, is one of many cultural institutions facing an uncertain future because of the pandemic.

The theatre, which opened in 1997, said it generates 95 per cent of its income from ticket sales, guided tours, education workshops, retail and catering.

"Despite being well-managed, well-governed and - crucially - able to operate without public subsidy, we will not be able to survive this crisis; a tragedy for the arts, for the legacy of England's most famous writer, but also for the country, if our iconic site on Bankside stands empty," the Globe said, referring to its location on the southern bank of the Thames.

The theatre recently submitted written evidence to the British Parliament saying it would need at least £5 million (S$8.7 million) in emergency funding before it could reopen and begin generating income from productions and event bookings after the lockdown ends.

It is also asking for donations on its website so it "can continue to thrive in the future".

The theatre said it is "well-run, well-managed and financially resilient, but in the face of a crisis such as this one, there is no mechanism to help us".

In its memo, the theatre said its income had already declined by 25 per cent before it closed on March 18 because people were avoiding public activities as the virus spread.

Now, the theatre is drawing down its reserves, imposing radical cost-cutting measures and furloughing staff, it said.

It also said it needed to cover the cost of security and website operation to keep audiences engaged before reopening.

The theatre told the British Parliament that if it were to reopen later than September, it would have "significant difficulty in maintaining current levels of operation" and might experience a "long-term erosion of income-generation channels".

Income from ticket sales may suffer, it added, if audiences are reluctant to return before a vaccine is available.

Mr Julian Knight, chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee in the House of Commons, wrote a letter to Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden on Monday last week expressing concern about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Britain's cultural institutions.

"The threat to Britain's cultural landscape is stark," Mr Knight wrote, citing "world-renowned institutions such as Shakespeare's Globe warning of insolvency and closure".

He called on the British government to step up its support of cultural institutions and to provide financial support for those in creative industries who were either ineligible, or had unsuccessfully applied, for emergency public funding through Arts Council England, a government-financed body that distributes subsidies to the arts.

In response to the letter, Mr Neil Constable, chief executive officer of Shakespeare's Globe, said in a statement that the theatre was "proudly part of Britain's national identity and cultural landscape" and its survival depended on help from the government to get through the lockdown.

"Together, we are determined to come back after this crisis," he said. "However, the arts must be protected and we need urgent financial support to survive in any recognisable form."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 25, 2020, with the headline Pandemic threatens future of Shakespeare's Globe theatre in London. Subscribe