The Tyne Theatre and Opera House are collaborating with Tyne Audio to join the ‘Light It In Red’ campaign on Monday 6th 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 6th 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.
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 Chris Ramsey 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.
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