Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre has announced it plans to keep its doors closed until the spring of 2021, but that it will go ahead with a planned programme of digital and audio productions in the meantime.
In a press release, the Sherman set out its strategy for the future.
- To ensure its survival and ongoing sustainability the theatre will remain closed until spring 2021
- The majority of productions and performances are being re-scheduled to 2021
- Sherman Theatre will present a programme of work throughout Autumn 2020 to continue to create theatre experiences for its audiences and support theatre makers thanks to stabilisation funding from Arts Council Wales
- Heart of Cardiff, a major new autumn audio theatre series, will sit at the centre of the season
The majority of performances which were originally planned for Autumn 2020 have been rescheduled to take place in 2021, including the Sherman’s Christmas productions A Christmas Carol and The Elves and the Shoemaker / Y Coblynnod a’r Crydd; its production of Brad Birch’s version of An Enemy of the People; and the world premiere of The Merthyr Stigmatist by Lisa Parry in a co-production with Theatre Uncut.
Sherman Theatre will contact ticketholders for all performances in Autumn 2020 imminently. Performances have been and will continue to be re-scheduled in nearly all cases including those moved from Spring 2020 when the lockdown began. At this stage the performances of Romeo and Julie by Gary Owen, a co-production with the National Theatre, are cancelled but both companies hope to stage this production when possible.
Although its doors will remain closed, Sherman Theatre will build on the foundations laid during the INTERVAL/EGWYLseason. Thanks to stabilisation funding from Arts Council Wales the Sherman will continue to create exceptional theatre experiences for its audiences and nurture and support Welsh and Wales-based theatre makers through Heart of Cardiff.
The Heart of Cardiff season, a series of audio theatre experiences written by the writers of Cardiff for the people of Cardiff, will run throughout the autumn. Heart of Cardiff will see the Sherman connect with communities and areas throughout the capital to find, empower and develop writers who have a story they want to tell about their city. Sherman Theatre is now calling on the writers of Cardiff to submit pitches for the project. The project will provide paid opportunities for freelance theatre makers. Heart of Cardiff will be surrounded by a vibrant programme of events, an audience development programme and workshops.
Innovative work to connect with communities across the city and develop its young people will also expand over the course of the Autumn thanks to funding from Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
