Theatre needs innovation to help it through lockdown – and that is what we are getting

There are countless ways to continue supporting the arts, and Roisin O'Connor believes she has found a particularly fun one

Actor Michael Southwark is one of those involved in the project (Bard in the Yard)

Lockdown has tested all of us in myriad ways but for The Independent’s culture desk one of the most pressing concerns has been how the arts sector can survive. We’ve all seen the dire reports about how the music, theatre, film and comedy industries are bleeding money, but what to do?

For music, artists are leaning into the virtual concert, with performances at empty venues livestreamed directly to fans at home. Films are being released ahead of schedule on streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon, while comedians are finding new fans on platforms such as TikTok.

Theatre is trickier. Part of the appeal of going to the theatre is the sense that “anything could happen”. While many of the pre-recorded theatre streamed during lockdown have been a joy, it’s not quite the same as the thrill that comes with watching a truly live performance. Fortunately, a few intrepid thespians are working out how to bring theatre right to people’s homes (or, more specifically, their gardens).

Writer and director Victoria Baumgartner’s project, Bard in the Yard, has Shakespeare arrive at your door, ready to deliver a mini, mock-biographical play about him experiencing writer’s block. I got to watch a virtual rehearsal of one of her Shakespeares (there are more than 20 around the UK, cast from more than 160 auditions), and it was fantastic, both funny and moving, not to mention immersive. While I have no doubt the live experience is far greater, even through a screen, actor Jonathan Blakely was superb.

The idea, Baumgartner explains, came partly from people’s understandable misgivings about returning to crowded spaces while Covid-19 is still a very real threat. This way, a small group can pay for a private performance in their garden and experience high-quality theatre without the anxiety that could be caused by being in a larger venue, surrounded by strangers.

While the pandemic has undoubtedly caused devastation to live arts venues, it’s also brought out the best in British creatives. It’s a delight to see just how inventive people are being, in order to bring the arts back to the public while keeping them safe at the same time. It’s also providing jobs for out-of-work actors, not to mention opportunities to do what they do best.

As Blakely told The Telegraph: “There’s only so much learning the piano, exercising, daily walking, Zoom quizzing and trying to eat well you can do to keep lockdown anxiety and the fear of your industry falling apart from the forefront of your mind. To get back to doing what I love and hold dear was amazing.”

So, while we’re all understandably on-edge still about Boris Johnson’s insistence that we can start “going back to normal”, there are countless ways to continue supporting the arts. And inviting Shakespeare into your backyard seems like an incredibly fun way to start.

Yours,

Roisin O’Connor

Music correspondent