The public’s love for the theatre and why it will never die

From ancient rituals and festivals, to plays and shows, to now being able to play a soundtrack at the click of a button, the evolution of theatre is spread across the course of history and will continue to develop in the future.

Since the Ancient Greeks, way back in the 5th century, to Shakespeare in the 15th century, all the way up to present day, theatre has been used to entertain, tell stories, and teach important lessons. It comes in many forms, and as mentioned, is constantly evolving. Particularly, in more recent years, with the increase of use of technology, we’ve seen a rise in more digital formats of theatre including recordings, live online performances, and more.

Despite this, with the constant day-to-day battles of venue closures, rising costs, and more, the theatre industry still has its struggles. An incredibly relevant and important example of this would be during the Covid-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, theatres had to shut and shows had to close for public safety, and sadly, some of these venues and shows never reopened. With these closures, came the loss of jobs for many within the theatre industry. They had to find other sources of income to support themselves  during the pandemic; although they were not alone.

Communities came together across social media and online, to help raise money for theatre industry workers during this time of extremely low employment. Fundraisers like The Show Must Go On brought together numerous names from across the industry to raise money for those in need, as well as the NHS. This is only one example of how the theatre industry persevered during the pandemic. With virtual screenings, online workshops and classes with cast members, ticketed online events, and more, the support for the industry from both its members and the general public was immense. It was the heart and soul of the industry throughout the pandemic, and without it, who knows if the industry would’ve survived and been as prominent and accessible as it is today.

Post-pandemic, with the strength and support of the public backing it, the theatre industry was able to make a slow and steady return. Although it may not be the same as it was pre-pandemic, and despite still having some struggles such as venue closures due to funding and increased ticket prices, the industry is arguably back bigger and better than ever.

With theatre now being much more accessible through digital mediums than it was pre-pandemic, more people are definitely taking advantage of it. Since lockdown, West End shows have been streamed much more, with “over a 400% increase” according to Seatplan. In addition to these shows being added to streaming services, there are many new film adaptations of musicals, such as Wicked, that have recently been released or that are in the works. Film adaptations of musicals aren’t the only things to hit the big screens, with professional recordings of musicals such as Waitress and SIX and plays (including ones performed at the National Theatre) being shown in theatres too. These digital formats of theatre, alongside modern adaptations of plays and musicals, extensions and reprises of tours, and newly written ideas, means that the theatre industry isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

The general public will always love and show their support for theatre and the arts. If anything shows that, it would be exhibited during the covid lockdown and post-pandemic eras. Despite all of the hardship faced, the industry was able to come back stronger and with new means of accessibility thanks to the support of its fans. If the industry and its fans were able to overcome that, then they’d be able to overcome anything. With the opportunities available in the current and future, alongside the development of technology and production, theatre will be able to continue to evolve as it has done for the past 16 centuries.

---

WORDS GRACE PATIENT