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SINGAPORE – Small-scale live performances will take place at select venues beginning September 11, the National Arts Council (NAC) said in an advisory issued Thursday (September 3) evening.
Trials have been scheduled at venues run by NAC, Esplanade, Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Chinese Cultural Center, and Arts House Limited. This is a cautious step towards reopening live performance venues that have been closed since March 26, in an attempt to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Not all rehearsals will be open to the public and audiences must be limited to 50. Minimum distances will be implemented between audience members and interactions between the audience and the performers or the team will not be allowed.
The NAC added in the notice: “We seek public understanding that the audience experience for these pilot performances will be different from previous performances, as a result of safe management measures to ensure the safety of all involved.
“For example, the public will have to observe a safe distancing and refrain from congregating in common spaces, not move freely around the place and not participate in the production (for example, sing or dance) or interact with the artists.”
Safe management measures will be implemented to ensure limited contact between unmasked performers and crew members. Greater safety distances will also be established when higher risk activities are involved, such as singing or playing wind / brass instruments.
A spokesperson for NAC said: “After October, MCCY and NAC will monitor and review the results of the pilots together with the participating cultural institutions and art professionals and we look forward to making recommendations for the gradual resumption of artistic performances.”
Although art companies were allowed to resume work and rehearsals on June 22, live performances are still banned. Art companies have suffered box office losses and culture workers have lost income during this period.
Theaters reopened on July 13 and the arts community has been eagerly awaiting the reopening of the venues.
The rehearsals will help arts companies, service providers, and venues clarify procedures. Chng Hak-Peng, 47, CEO of Singapore Symphony Group, said: “We will assess the clarity of our measurements and guidelines from the audience’s perspective, and the audience’s ability to enjoy the concert experience while sitting down. safe”.
Tickets for the SSO test concert at the Victoria Concert Hall on October 8 will be on sale through Sistic.
Ms. Yvonne Tham, 45, Esplanade’s CEO, said her team has been working with Sistic on a new ticketing system that can automatically “bubble-wrap seats,” “that is, leave empty seats. to the left, to the right, in front and back of the chosen seats ”.
The performing arts venue will host three test performances on September 12, 13 and 23. Ms Tham said: “Our goal was to have diversity so that we can have different configurations on stage and for the auditorium, to allow artists and audiences from different backgrounds the opportunity to enjoy this safe pilot.”
Orkestra Melayu Singapura’s performance on September 12 at the Outdoor Theater is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, while the September 13 event at the Concert Hall is by invitation only. The latest performance of the Singapore Dance Theater at the Esplanade Theater on September 23 will be open to the public. The free performance will be billed and will have assigned seats. Details will be posted on Sistic.
SCO CEO Terence Ho, 50, said the orchestra is ready to resume operations after having worked on logistics during rehearsals and live performances in recent weeks.
He is confident of meeting the “complete checklist” of requirements, ranging from front-of-house management to security measures both on and off stage, for his two tests on September 11 and 12.
He added: “It is another step for the public to return to the aisles.”
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