Hurstpierpoint Players send out positive message of hope

Hurstpierpoint Players have got it all “wrapped up” as they join the Missing Live Theatre initiative.
Hurst Players TheatreHurst Players Theatre
Hurst Players Theatre

Not satisfied with clambering up ladders and wielding paintbrushes and completely repainting the Players Theatre in Hurstpierpoint, members were again seen giving their all as they taped up the building as part of the campaign which highlights the plight of our closed theatres.

Spokeswoman Anne Hopper said: “This is a project started by #scenechange (a collective for stage designers) to wrap theatres across the UK and Ireland in a message of hope and visibility, drawing attention to the current theatre closures in a positive way.

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“The first theatre to be taped was the National Theatre. When the tape was removed it was then passed to the West End and regional theatres nationwide, including Chichester Festival Theatre and the Theatre Royal, Brighton, who have passed it on to the Players Theatre in Hurstpierpoint, before it journeys on to Worthing. A great example of reusing and recycling!

“Passers-by were seen apparently bemused by the spectacle of yards of plastic ribbon adorning the well-known structure but were hopefully made aware of the positive message, with the expectation of live theatre returning as soon as it is possible to do so, a time awaited with anticipation by both theatre companies and audiences alike.”

From early on in lockdown, the community of set and costume designers has been uncomfortably aware of the negative visual imagery and sadness around closed buildings. This July, in collaboration with theatres across the UK, #scenechange has launched #MissingLiveTheatre – wrapping theatre buildings with pink barrier tape reading ‘Missing Live Theatre’.

In a statement, #scenechange said, “Whilst we navigate a way back to live performance, we continue #MissingLiveTheatre to bring joy and colour to theatres across the UK and Ireland, to celebrate these incredible buildings, and the key role they play within their communities. We welcome the Government investment announced and see this as a key moment for the industry, a time to renew and reset, build a stronger future for all, and safeguard the sector for future generations.

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“However, at this time theatres remain closed, and as freelancers we stand together with those dependent on the furlough scheme and financial aid packages – all of us unable to work in our chosen careers and all of us #MissingLiveTheatre.”

#scenechange began as a small email exchange ‘Dialogue in Strange Times’ between a group of set and costume designers. Now it is a wide community of designers covering the breadth of the discipline and growing to over 1,000 members, promoting ways of coming together in conversation and action in support of theatre.