Coronavirus: Concerts, stage shows and community events cancelled across East Sussex

Theatres and arts venues across East Sussex are shutting down temporarily due to the current coronavirus crisis.
The cast and crew of the Lewes Passion Play. Photo byThe cast and crew of the Lewes Passion Play. Photo by
The cast and crew of the Lewes Passion Play. Photo by

On Monday evening (March 16) Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a speech in which he urged people to avoid gatherings and crowded places, like pubs, clubs and theatres.

This has lead to venues across the region either suspending, cancelling or rescheduling shows.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Con Club in Lewes has stated that its gigs may be subject to last-minute cancellation and that people should check heir Facebook and Twitter profiles for updates before travelling to the venue.

The Lewes Ripple, a town-wide event that was supposed to take place from May 4-10 in 11 different venues, involving more than 60 performers, has been postponed too.

A spokesperson said: “Given the current medical emergency we now consider that it would be inappropriate to hold the event at this time. When the pandemic has run its course there will be a great need for people to come together again in large numbers and, at the first sign of daylight, the Ripple will be ready to roll.”

Lewes Little Theatre has also announced that it is closed until further notice. Visit www.lewestheatre.org.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The start of the Glyndebourne Festival has been delayed until July 14 and all scheduled performances until then have been cancelled. Ticket holders are being offered a full refund but people can also donate the value of their tickets, in full or in part, to help support Glyndebourne. Email [email protected] or get in touch via the festival’s live webchat.

Hailsham Pavilion has joined the shut down, announcing on its website that the venue is “closed until further notice”. Visit hailshampavilion.co.uk.

The Civic Centre in Uckfield is running as usual at the moment but the team are looking at the opening hours of the building and more updates will be announced soon on the website or their social media pages.

A statement on www.uckfieldtc.gov.uk reads: “We are currently reviewing all events planned over the next six weeks and are looking to either reschedule or cancel depending on the circumstances.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Residents and members of the public get can in touch via emailing [email protected] or calling 01825 762774 rather than in person.

The popular Drusillas Park in Alfriston is planning to stay open with limited services.

Managing director Laurence Smith said measures had been put in place from March 18 with policies to “adapt and evolve” as the situation changes. The zoo, walk-through enclosures, play areas and rides will be open but retail and catering outlets, other than Mungo’s Trading Post, Explorers Café and Amazon Adventure, will close.

Keeper talks at feeding times will stop but the close encounter and keeper-for-the-day experiences will continue for the moment.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Smith said: “The safety and well-being of our visitors and staff is our absolute priority and we are taking necessary precautions to ensure their continued welfare.”

The attraction will charge half-price entry at the gate and visitors will get help if they need to rearrange bookings.

He added: “We are taking each day as it comes so we advise against booking tickets online and only purchasing tickets at the gate. We cannot offer half price tickets online currently, so please be aware if you do decide to book online these will not be at a discounted rate.”

Memberships will be extended in the event of a closure.

Ditchling Museum of Art & Craft has now closed to the public for one month with all events either postponed or cancelled. Staff will get in touch with people who have bought tickets.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A spokesperson said: “As an independent museum and charity with no regular sources of grant funding the present situation is very challenging for us financially. We rely on income from entry tickets and events to care for our building and collection. If you have tickets booked, we would like to ask you to consider donating the cost of your ticket to the museum instead. You can also find a range of beautiful products on our shop online.”

Depot cinema in Lewes has temporarily closed as well. A spokesperson said: “Our box office team are currently contacting customers who have booked for screenings until the end of March to offer refunds. We are really grateful to customers who are choosing instead to support us by offering their ticket price as a donation.”

Trading Boundaries in Sheffield Green, Fletching, is still operating as normal with doors open every day. But all live music events until the end of May will be postponed.

A statement on the venue’s website reads: “We will continue to monitor the situation and notify you of any changes should they occur.”

Charleston Trust announced its closure on Wednesday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A spokesperson said: “If you have booked a ticket to Charleston’s house, exhibitions, event or workshop programme for an upcoming date, our team will be in touch with you via email in the coming days.”

An update about the uncertain future of this year’s Charleston Festival (running from May 15-25) will be shared as soon as possible.

The 24th South Downs Beer and Cider Festival, which was meant to take place at Old Corn and Hop Exchange, Lewes Town Hall (June 19-20), has been called off, but next year’s festival is still booked.

“Regrettably the organising committee had no choice but to cancel the 2020 festival,” said organiser Peter Mitchell. “But look forward to seeing all this year’s disappointed drinkers at the 2021 festival.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Lewes Passion Play, which was set to take place over Easter week at various different locations in the town, has sadly been cancelled too.

The artistic director of this year’s production, Serena Smith, said that the 150 volunteers were devastated.

“But we understand as we’ve got a lot of elderly within the cast,” she told the Sussex Express. “We’ve got a duty of care and we have to keep people safe.”

“The idea is to try to keep the spirit still alive in some form so we are going to be sharing the script on the radio and we are going to do a poem and some reflections.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The cast and crew also aim to get some version of the show up on YouTube.

“We hope to do the live version again and it probably won’t be until 2021, but we hope everybody will be behind the spirit in the same way and perhaps even a bigger and bolder way next year.”

She added: “Thank you to everyone for supporting us, especially those that have given their time and their money. We pray that everyone will have an Easter that can be one of compassion and one of sharing in as creative a way and as spiritual a way as possible.”