'No way I would miss this' - Royal Albert Hall prepares to reopen at full capacity

Record ID: 1627760

  • Title: 'No way I would miss this' - Royal Albert Hall prepares to reopen at full capacity
  • Date: 19th July 2021
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF REHEARSALS FOR "150TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT: DAVID ARNOLD'S 'A CIRCLE OF SOUND'"
  • Embargoed: 2nd August 2021 20:08
  • Keywords: 150th anniversary concert Royal Albert Hall concert coronavirus reopening at capacity ventilation project
  • Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Europe,Music
  • Reuters ID: LVA002EMICAX9
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Prestigious London performance and events venue the Royal Albert Hall is set to open at full capacity on Monday (July 19) for the first time since March 2020, but said the pandemic has been financially devastating.
    From Monday the British government's main COVID-19 restrictions in England ended meaning concert venues and theatres no longer have social distancing rules to comply with and can sell all available seats.
    The Royal Albert Hall is an independent charity, making the majority of its money from ticket sales and donors. During the pandemic, CEO Craig Hassall said they lost 60 million GBP in income and took a 20 million GBP loan from the British government's Culture Recovery Fund.
    ''This is the worst situation we've been in for an awful long time. But I'm confident now that we're back on our feet and performing again, we can trade our way out of our deficits,' he said.
    Like many venues across the capital they have made changes to keep audiences safe, including a 900,000 GBP ventilation project and the introduction of a code of conduct for audiences and performers that includes wearing masks in public places.
    Nearly 300 performers are involved in Monday night's birthday concert ''A Circle of Sound'' celebrating the hall's 150th anniversary.
    ''I've locked myself away for two weeks because there is no way that I would ever miss this,'' the show's composer David Arnold told Reuters.
    The production, which also features star guests including actor Michael Sheen, musician Melaine C and sports star Nicola Adams sold about 80-85% of their tickets.
    The Royal Albert Hall was opened by Queen Victoria and named in memory of her husband, in March 1871, was forced to close its doors for the first time since World War Two due to the coronavirus pandemic.
    (Production: Sarah Mills, Lisa Keddie)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Audio restrictions: This clip's Audio includes copyrighted material. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing the audio contained in this clip.
Register