News: Tyne Theatre & Opera House set to ‘Light It In Red’, to appeal for government support for the UK events industry

Newcastle's Tyne Theatre & Opera House set to ‘Light It In Red’, to appeal for government support for the UK events industry

The Tyne Theatre and Opera House are collaborating with Tyne Audio to join the ‘Light It In Red’ campaign on Monday 6^th July. #LightItInRed serves as a mass appeal to politicians to save the events industry. By lighting buildings red, they hope to draw attention to the dramatic situation in which over twenty-five thousand businesses and over half a million workers throughout the UK’s event industry, are directly suffering the ill effects of being unable to operate.

North East based equipment hire & production services company Tyne Audio, will be working with staff at Tyne Theatre and Opera House to light the entire front of the Theatre and auditorium red from 7pm on Monday 6^th July. As is the situation with hundreds of venues across the country, Tyne Theatre and Opera House is currently unable to operate, meaning a loss of almost all income. This is not only affecting the venues themselves, but also all those in the numerous trades that are involved in putting on events.

Photo: LightItInRed.co.uk - Google Map of
locations set to join Light It In Red project

The Light It In Red project, inspired by Germany's #NightOfLight2020, is created and managed by Clearsound Productions Ltd, a UK based production company, in partnership with the Backstage Theatre Jobs forum. A statement on their website reads “Our goal is to have a conversation with politicians and the government about how the billion-pound events industry can be saved from a massive wave of insolvency and how the preservation of over half a million jobs can be ensured.“

The specific bailout requests include grants for businesses in the event supply chain, an extension to the furlough scheme and an extension to the self-employed scheme.

Images and videos of the illuminated buildings and structures nationwide are set to be uploaded and posted on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter under the hashtag #LightItInRed – so that anyone interested can look at the nationwide installations online and support the movement.

As an independent venue, the Tyne Theatre and Opera House relies entirely on ticket sales and donations to survive and keep the theatre’s 150+ year heritage alive. Having seen a dramatic loss of income, Tyne Theatre and Opera House are asking audiences to support their theatre directly by donating, joining their Friend’s Club or naming a seat. They recently live-streamed their first show since lockdown – an Evening of Comedy hosted by Carl Hutchinson, featuring Gavin Webster and other North East comedy talents. Over 5000 people tuned in to watch the show that was put on to help fundraise for the theatre.

Gavin Webster 

Geordie comedy legend and Newcastle’s very own original alternative comedian, Gavin Webster will be returning to the theatre on Saturday 6^th March 2021 with a brand new one man show, following a 5 year break.

His show will be about ageing, lockdown, being on hold on the phone, young people not being able to drive properly and his apparent lack of understanding of what boomers, Generation X and millennials aspire to, according to his teenage daughter.

His growing hatred of the world and growing love of complaining is here to stay – joining the ‘crash bang wallop’ jokes, angry ukulele songs and dark one liners. He’s here to ‘play live to actual people’ and you won’t want to miss the man who’s been around for years, but is just getting to his angry peak. The North East Theatre Guide reviewed his 2017 show LINK.

Tickets for Gavin Webster’s show go on sale on Tuesday 7^th July 2020 from 10am online from Eventim UK: https://tinyurl.com/ybjk48yy #Ad

More information on how to support the theatre at: https://tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk/support-us/

More information on the Light It In Red project at: www.lightitinred.co.uk