Curve gave thanks for all their help during the pandemic.
For the first time in over a year, those very missed red theatre seats were once again filled by excited audience members last night.
Today, Jonathan Ashworth MP visited Leicester’s Curve theatre as many made their first return to the building after 14 months of closure.
The Leicester South MP toured the venue with Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford to see how the theatre is safely welcoming audiences back for its reopening season, with Covid safety measures including one-way systems, temperature checks and increased air flow, as well as contactless ticketing and at-seat hospitality service.
By raising the walls between its theatre spaces, Curve has reopened as a 533-seat socially distanced auditorium, with audiences able to enjoy live performances from all four sides of the stage.
Speaking about Curve’s reopening, Mr Ashworth said: “It is a pleasure to see Curve reopening. It has been a difficult fourteen months for everyone in Leicester but it is good to see the city returning to some kind of normality with the reopening of Curve.
"The measures introduced at the theatre ensure that people will be safe and secure when watching the amazing shows.”
Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster commented:“We are delighted to welcome Jonathan to Curve and share with him the measures we have put in place to ensure everyone coming to our theatre will be safe.
"Leicester has been significantly impacted on by various lockdown restrictions and its key audiences feel confident returning to live performances once more.
“We have implemented a range of measures from socially distanced seating and one way systems, through to paperless ticketing and temperature checks.
"Although it will feel a little different coming back to our theatre, we promise everyone will be safe and audiences can expect the usual warm Curve welcome and brilliant work on stage.
"We’d like to thank Jonathan for all his support over the last 14 months."
Curve’s socially distanced reopening season will include two nights of new work curated by Curve Resident Creatives and local artists (May 21-22); Rising, from Curve Associate Artist, celebrated dancer and choreographer Aakash Odedra (May 24-25); comedy musical AmDram from Alex Parker and Katie Lam (May 27-29) and the Made at Curve concert production of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber (June 7-19).
Tickets are available to purchase now.
