The new face of theatre

AS the pandemic rages on, the long queues in front of the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) or the month-end rowdiness of crowded amphitheatres and music bash pop-up stages across Namibia have disappeared and gone completely quiet.

With the limit put on the number of people gathering, the country’s social scene is rapidly turning into a graveyard if innovation fails.

Chairperson of the National Arts Council Patrick Sam stressed that going forward, saving lives as much as saving livelihoods must become a key factor of entertainment and performances, a responsibility that rests on both artists and theatre managers.

He added that artists and performers cannot afford to disregard Covid-19 safety regulations as it may cost them their livelihoods and the trust from the public and artists.

“The artists and companies that can demonstrate and build public confidence in their events or venue will continue to attract people and make a profit. If you can’t prioritise these two notions, unfortunately the place will be considered irrelevant and unsafe and, as such, there will be limited to no demand for those goods or services. The stakes are higher now and those that can take on the responsibility of ensuring the saving of lives and livelihoods will be rewarded – this is the new paradigm,” he said.

From the look of things, outdoor stages, like the recent international Grammy awards, seem to have become a permanent feature or characteristic of the entertainment and arts scene instead of the traditional packed halls and theatres.

During the Grammy awards show streamed last Monday evening, nominees were seen wearing their masks, while seated at intimate yet socially-distanced tables under an open-air tent.

According to Sam, the new normal will be a hybrid model with a reduced number of people physically attending theatre shows, while the larger masses will attend virtually.

“People also now have real-time access to the content and are normalising spending more time in their private space. Additionally, the use of outdoor spaces is on the increase because this makes the public more confident in attending because of the reduced risk,” he said.

– unwrap.online