Panto season will not look the same this year as Dundee Rep Theatre has warned there will be a “sustained period” before their operation returns to normal.
A joint statement between the theatre and the Scottish Dance Theatre, which are both based at Tay Square, said it is unlikely theatre buildings will reopen by autumn.
The lucrative festive season will also be affected.
The statement read: “At this point in the year, we would have usually been announcing our 20/21 season of work, with our twin ensembles creating new theatre and dance productions and embarking on national tours; it has now become clear that touring of scale in 2020, either within the UK or internationally, is not going to be possible.
“We will not be delivering a building-based autumn season as we had planned, including our annual Christmas production onstage, however, we are exploring other ways to keep the magic alive and celebrate the season with you.”
In lieu of traditional productions, the theatre is working on a series of “pop-up” performances in and around Dundee to “bring our work out of the theatre and into our communities”.
A series of online conversations featuring cast and crew will also be broadcast. Topics will include previous productions and how the pandemic has impacted the teams.
The “engage classes” initiative will continue to be delivered online until guidelines allow a return to the building.
The statement added: “On behalf of all of us at Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre, we acknowledge these are incredibly difficult times for everyone and are truly humbled by the generosity of our audiences who continue to support us through this challenging period, many of whom have donated the value of their tickets.
“We are deeply moved by your generosity.”
