Theatre-goers and lovers of the stage in Fife have been dealt a blow with the vast majority of shows in ONFife venues postponed until spring 2021, at the earliest.
Fife Cultural Trust – also known as ONFife – has moved to create stability by announcing its theatre programme in all its venues has been shelved.
Eagerly-anticipated shows at the Adam Smith Theatre in Kirkcaldy, the Rothes Halls in Glenrothes, Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline and the Lochgelly Centre will all be postponed.
Michelle Sweeney, director of creative development at ONFife, said the decision reflects the need for the organisation to be able to plan ahead with confidence and provide clarity for customers, amateur and professional companies and promoters.
“With so much uncertainty around us in the sector we have moved to take the lead and create stability with this decision,” she said.
“It was a difficult call but I’m confident that it is the right one for now. It is not possible to fully anticipate how social distancing guidelines will change but it has been looking increasingly unlikely that we would be able to reopen theatres this autumn as we’d hoped.
“We will continue to review government guidelines and are poised to review our position should they change considerably but in the meantime the decision to postpone until spring 2021 allows us to provide clarity and support to all those with whom we engage.”
Dozens of performances will be affected, either through cancellation or rescheduling, but Trust bosses have conceded they have been left with little option in the current climate.
ONFife has been laying on virtual entertainment on its website and social media platforms, but it appears most popular shows – including the much-loved family festive pantomime at the Adam Smith Theatre, which this year was due to be Snow White – will not go ahead as planned.
Customers with tickets for shows will be contacted by Box Office staff about the options available to them.
