A love letter to Theatre

Dear Theatre, 

In a year where you stood still and ghost lights were the only things to grace stages around the world, the personal impact of your industry changed for many. 

“Theatre can be anything, it all starts with one person and an empty stage.”

Aaron Lewis Grey

You have had a tough year, but you have still given us great performances and breakthrough stars and for that we couldn’t be more grateful. Many of the talented individuals that work in your industry have not been supported by the government over the past year, but the community that you have created, encouraged them to not give up when times got tough. Theatre is the heart and soul of a community and you are responsible for so many people,  290,000 employees alone in the UK, and live theatre would not be the experience it is without them. You bring joy to so many people, you give them a chance to escape the world for a few hours and forget about their problems. You have created an industry that brings people together, a community that can share their favourite moments in a show, or their favourite lines of songs. You have created jobs for people from all walks of life, from actors to dancers, directors to sound engineers. 

“Everyone who works in the industry love their jobs and go into it with 100%”

Danny Kaan

The theatre community is a diverse place, people young and old, from all over the world, pursuing their dreams. In London, there are several Drama and Arts schools that help to nurture and teach young actors and actresses the ways of the theatre world. From ArtsEd to Urdang Academy, those who take to the stage night after night have been trained by the best in their industry, and they continue to share their passion with future generations of West End and Broadway stars.  

Theatre, you have created a place for people to be themselves, make friends, create relationships all through the power of musical theatre. Not only does theatre encourage audiences to communicate with each other but modern shows, like Dear Evan Hansen and Everybody’s Talking about Jamie are now starting to represent ordinary everyday people. Everybody’s Talking about Jamie gives an insight into what it is like to be a teenager in the LGBTQ+ community, this also means that there is a community of people that can now see themselves epitomized on the stage. While Dear Evan Hansen highlights the struggles and reality of living with anxiety and depression. 

“Theatre has the power to inform, inspire, educate, bring many different communities together, more than any other artform probably because it’s so immediate. It can give marginalised voices a platform to finally be heard, it can provide hope to people who are going through traumatic periods in their lives.” 

Samuel Sims

Theatre, you have helped many people through difficult times and been there to celebrate their happier times. You have brought joy through music and people, through song and dance. You have created a feeling that is unmatched by any other, that feeling when the lights go down and the orchestra comes alive, that feeling is incomparable. 

With the Apollo Theatre being one of the first to reopen in 2021, getting tickets to see the critically acclaimed Everybody’s Talking about Jamie was not an easy feat. But in that moment, as I queued outside the Apollo, I knew it was worth the wait. The buzz in the air: electric, the smiles on people’s faces: beaming (under masks of course!), the pre-show chatter: filled with excitement. Theatre, you managed to take a negative and turn it into a night I will never forget. 

The Covid-19 precautions as with most events and outings were just part of the experience, and with a smaller capacity it was easier to move around the theatre at your own pace rather than rushing to get interval drinks and finding our seats. With the pandemic affecting everyday life for the whole population, it was very fitting that Covid related lines and jokes had been written into the show, making it more of an inclusive experience for the audience being able to closely relate the show to current life. 

Each step taken inside the theatre felt like it should have been documented for future generations to see. As I looked around the room you could see how ready each audience member was to watch the magic of theatre unfold in front of them. The band warming up, the thought of the cast in the wings ready to open the show. As the house lights of the theatre faded, and the audience hushed, there was an air of anticipation. 

The show begins and the eruption of applauding and cheering from the audience seemed like it would never end, and as the first lines of the show were spoken, we were encapsulated by the art of theatre once more. 

You have so many people that look to you in times of struggle and sadness, so maybe it’s time to give something back. To the fans that supported you in your time of need, there needs to be some compromise. We all know the impact that the pandemic has had on the amount of audience members but with small discounts and promotions, you would sell out night after night. 

On average in London, we spend £798 million on theatre tickets while Broadway makes $1700 million a year. The theatre industry is one of the oldest forms of storytelling and still to this day, you bring people joy. Tourism can be estimated to be responsible for 15-20% of ticket sales around the world. Theatre is universally loved no matter where it takes place and with travel still being limited, it is understandable that it will take longer than we expected for you to get back on your feet. 

With only a small amount of theatres currently reopened in London, mainly the West End, and running at 50% capacity, the theatre industry is no closer to breaking even in terms of profits. But you will be back to normal in no time and audiences around the world will be able to enjoy the shows meticulously created for our entertainment.  

Theatre, I love you, but some changes need to be made to how you operate. Every year thousands of students graduate from acting and theatre degrees looking for a place on the stage, but you choose the big names over the fresh faces. You don’t need to! We don’t pay for the names, we pay to see the show, to experience live theatre. Start giving the fresh faces the chance to break into the industry, you have the power to help them on their journey to become one of the big names. 

A trip to the Theatre is nothing short of a magical experience, from the journey to the theatre to finding your seat. Waiting patiently for the lights to dim and the orchestra to come alive. Seeing the audience sit up, awaiting the presence of the actors on the stage. You have created an experience that cannot be recreated, every show, every day is different. There is something for everyone and even when shows moved online, you were still able to accommodate for every genre. 

Theatre, there are some people that would love to tell you how much you mean to them: 

Matthew Seaman – Journalist and Theatre Fanatic

“I’ve been a fan of the theatre since I was about four years old. My parents sent me to Stagecoach, so I have always loved performing; and living in London, I’ve been lucky enough to see a variety of West End and off-West End shows and plays on a regular basis all my life.

People crave community, we want to see relatable theatre that we can integrate ourselves into, and as times change, so does the theatre that mirrors society. There’s something for everyone.

Theatre is everything to me, it’s the reason I have the friends and relationships I do. I met my partner through theatre. It’s a magical experience to sit and watch a show – even several times over. No two theatre trips are identical, and the whole culture that surrounds London’s West End, and every Theatre Capital in the world, is something I hold very close to my heart.”

Samuel Sims – Director of A Younger Theatre

“Theatre has been my life for so long, from working for A Younger Theatre for 8 years, doing Front-of-House work for even longer, having friends that are all involved in theatre, I really see the power in it, especially for young people. I also see its many sides. It’s not just about watching theatre, it’s writing about it, marketing it, trying to keep it alive, how I can make the future of the industry a better and more diverse place for everyone.

There’s a lot of creative people here that fortunately don’t do it for the money. If they did there would be a lot less theatre than there is. People are openminded and inspired by what theatre is and where it can be housed, for example putting a show in a traditional venue does not mean it is ‘proper’ and in fact, theatre grows and develops because artists are constantly thinking of new ways to create work that adds different elements and dimensions. They question what the art form is, and the past year has certainly demonstrated that.

I think theatre can reflect society or shake it up.”

Grace Myers – Co-Creator of @jamie.musical fan account 

“To me, theatre is a form of escape. It has given me independence, a way of making new like-minded friends and given me so many opportunities I could have never imagined. Having the account opened up my eyes to the transparency of the theatre community and how much it has helped so many people including me. Theatre relaxes me and allows me to be authentic to myself.

Theatre dates a long way back. When tourists come here, in the same way Broadway thrives, it is part of history and tradition to see a West End musical. A lot of the shows that are put on here differ immensely to anything else you may see around the world.”

Danny Kaan – West End Photographer 

“The first time I went to the theatre I was 11, I saw The Lion King with my mum, but when I was 15, I went for the first time on my own with friends and started to love it even more. 

Theatre means so much! It’s not my job, I mean, it is my job, but it NEVER feels like a job. It’s so much fun and it’s a perfect way to spend your evening. It brings me so much joy to see so many people happy on the stage and then afterwards the audience. It’s always a special feeling to be in a theatre. I had that when I was younger, and I still have it now.

I also think it’s very important that theatre educates people as well. Yes, it is there to have fun and have an incredible night, but it’s also important to let people think about what they saw.”

Bryony Rose – Theatre Blogger 

“I think the UK theatre industry thrives because it has so many amazing shows for all types of theatre goers. There’s shows like Six which appeals to younger people, but also classics like Les Mis which the whole family can enjoy. 

Theatre for me means everything, it’s been a part of me for so long, and it’s a passion that I know will never leave me, pandemic or not. For me, I love watching people who are so incredibly talented, do what they love doing on stage and having the chance to watch a story come to life through singing, dancing and acting is so special.

I did not realise how much I relied on Theatre as a way to keep me happy until it was gone. I definitely struggled at first seeing the West End closed and my heart went out to all the performers unsure of when they would be able to go back. The number of online productions however really helped keep the magic alive and I think for so many people it was amazing to just see people performing and doing what they love doing again.”

Aaron Lewis Grey – Theatre Student 

“Old theatre used to be performing art to the masses, spreading messages and influencing the people. It started out exclusively for the rich society, the wealthy and the influential. But as time has gone on it has been tailored and appealed more to the masses adjusting to the needs and wants of our more contemporary society.

Theatre is about expressing yourself. About having that platform to be free in whatever you wish to do, whether that is writing things from your heart, being involved in the ‘invisible arts’ through roles like directing, producing and backstage work, or if you just want to make people smile doing the things you do best on stage. Theatre should make people smile, cry, think and teach. Theatre can be anything, it all starts with one person and an empty stage. 

Theatre has a unique way of appealing to audiences. It’s a combination of visual experience, seeing things happening live, but also having a more physical connection with the performance, as well as with the room and other audience members as a collective.  Theatre is a uniquely intimate event that you can only find from experiencing live performance events.”

Maya Khan – Theatre Fanatic and Co-Creator of @westend_backstage

“Theatre is escapism, it’s where I go when I feel like I need to re-charge. It’s a beautiful creation that uplifts my spirit in the best possible way. I feel at peace when I am at the theatre. It also represents friendship, opportunity and communal love for this artform. 

Theatre is quite a niche topic, so if someone is adamant that they do not want to see theatre, it’s pretty easy to avoid. However, for those of us who love to be immersed in this division of The Arts, the community teaches society how to love and appreciate what is around you, whilst the show teaches you fundamental and important life lessons. I am yet to see a show which doesn’t teach me anything at all. 

I think the old shows are what feeds into the historical preservation of London, they act as the backbone of theatre presence and are a constant reference for all new theatre makers. The new shows are revolutionary and help to steer London away from possibly outdated but loved shows. We can look to Dear Evan Hansen, Six and Everybody’s Talking about Jamie for reference, they are all shows that spread relevant and empowering messages to audiences that will resonate with them. The West End does a good job of mixing the old with the new. 

Theatre is nothing without it’s audiences, so I think it’s worthy of a mention, London is synonymous with theatre, especially old theatre, so much so that ‘TheatreLand’ has become a tourist attraction itself!”

See Theatre, it’s not just me, or those mentioned above, there are thousands upon thousands of people out there that love you. You make our days better, fill them with laughter and joy. You are a beacon, and right now you are shining brighter than ever to bring us all home again. 

When I am no longer here, I know that you will continue to entertain and enthral audiences for generations to come. You will adapt and change, but your roots will remain the same. As people walk the streets of London, New York, Melbourne and Chicago, they will see you thrive and be the heart of the community. 

I hope that when we can travel and the pandemic is nothing but a distant memory, people come from all over to see you, like visiting a loved one. Audiences will flock in from far and wide, arms open, ready for the stage that awaits them. You are not without your flaws Theatre, but nobody’s perfect.

Sincerely, Me