KEEPING YOU SAFE

Our audiences, artists, participants and staff are at the centre of everything we do. As we welcome you back to our shows, classes and workshops we want to reassure you that we’re doing everything we can make you feel as safe as possible.

We’re following the official government guidance on working safely and liaising with local authorities, whilst also regularly share best-practice with our industry friends.

We're also putting into practice the invaluable experience of our open-air performances and the clubs and workshops we have been running since restrictions have eased.  Additionally, there are separate, rigorous protocols for artists and staff that we'll be using throughout.

These protocols will be constantly under review and updates will be posted here.

SKIP TO AUDIENCE/PERFORMANCE PROTOCOLS

SKIP TO EDUCATION PROTOCOLS

AUDIENCE/PERFORMANCE PROTOCOLS

DISTANCING

All performances will be socially distanced and at a reduced capacity; we have decided to keep all rows at a minimum of 1m+ apart, and seating blocks 0.5m apart.

FACE COVERINGS

We require all audience members to wear a face covering for the duration of their visit (unless exempt).  Our Front of House & Steward Teams will continue to wear face coverings and use all necessary PPE

Additional audience measures at a glance: 

  • Venue is a large airy church
  • Reduced audience numbers
  • You may exchange your ticket up to 48 hours before. (There is a £2.50 fee for each ticket exchanged; call the Box Office to exchange)
  • Recording made available for patrons who are not able to attend due to having to isolate
  • Clear signage and one-way routes where applicable
  • Hand sanitiser stations for patrons and protective equipment for staff
  • Regular and thorough cleaning of toilets and seating
  • Your booking confirmation email will act as your ticket (no physical tickets will be issued)
  • Contactless payments - no cash handling
  • All staff and artists are being tested twice a week
  • We ask audience members to consider taking a lateral flow test within the 24hr period prior to coming to see the show to help keep the actors, our staff and other audience members safe


PROTOCOLS IN DETAIL

ADVANCE BOOKING

  • We strongly recommend that you book your tickets in advance via our website. We have a limited number of seats per performance, so please check the website for latest availability.
  • Our Box Office team are currently operating on reduced staff numbers, so we request you do not call the Box Office to make your booking.
  • No paper tickets will be issued. Your e-confirmation, sent to the email you provide at the time of booking, will act as your ticket. You can print this off or show it on your phone. If you are not able to do either of these, please contact [email protected]
  • On arrival at the venue, our Front of House Manager will meet you and ask for your name and the size of your party. This will be checked off against our list.
  • Your seats will be allocated on arrival and our Front of House Team will safely show you to them.


ARRIVING AT THE PERFORMANCE

  • Please do not attend the venue if:
      • In the last 10 days, you have developed  Covid-19 symptoms (a new, continuous cough, lost your sense of smell or taste, or had a high temperature);
      • In the last 10 days, you have tested positive for Covid-19;
      • In the last 10 days, you have been in close proximity with anyone who has experienced symptoms or tested positive for Covid-19;
      • You have arrived in England in the last 14 days and are not covered by the exemption rules relating to self-isolation; or
      • You have been told to self-isolate.
  • You may be asked to confirm these questions when you arrive on site.
  • We ask that you arrive no more than 45 minutes before your allotted performance.
  • When you arrive for your scheduled performance, you may need to queue. Please observe any signage we have put out at the venue.
  • There will be a specific route throughout the venue. Please follow any guidance issued by our stewards or signage.
  • Ideally audiences should walk, cycle or use a private vehicle to travel to our venue. If unable to avoid public transport patrons must wear a mask, sanitise hands after touching surfaces and maintain good social distancing. Off-peak travel times have been taken into account with regards to scheduling.

Do I need to check in still?

Venues are no longer legally required to ask customers, visitors and staff to “check in”. However, but as at all other leisure venues, our venue for Hamlet will still have an NHS QR code poster to use should you wish, using the NHS Covid-19 app.


SEATING

  • Seating will be set out in advance, in socially distanced blocks. Seating will be allocated according to your booking by our Front of House Manager.
  • Our Front of House Team will show you to your seats.
  • Seating is NOT to be move under any circumstances.
  • Do NOT bring your own seating.
  • There will be one interval.


MOVING AROUND THE VENUE

We kindly request you limit your movement around the venue as necessary and respect the needs of your fellow audience members.

We request all audience members to wear a face covering for the duration of their visit, especially when moving around, unless exempt.


PATRONS REQUIRED TO ISOLATE/ABANDONMENT OF EVENT DUE TO COVID

Tickets for HAMLET are purchased as NON-REFUNDABLE

We are a small theatre company and our ticket revenue is vital to our survival. We also want you to be able to book your tickets with confidence and see the show you booked to see. Therefore, although tickets for HAMLET are sold as non-refundable (though please not our standard T&Cs allow you the flexibility of being able to exchange up to 48 hours before the performance, with a £2.50 admin fee), we have included a special waiver for people affected by Covid, so should you (and/or your party) be required to ISOLATE due to covid, you can either exchange your tickets up to 12 hours before the performance (subject to availability), with no admin fee, or you can notify us at any time up to 2hrs before the start of the performance that you can no longer attend and we will send you a recording of the live show to watch at home.  If the film is ready you will either receive the film on the night of the performance you booked for, OR it will be made available to watch at your leisure once it is ready. Recording FAQS

Should GSC need to cancel the event/performance due to UK Government restrictions related to COVID-19 being enforced, this film will likewise be made available, or we can accommodate audience members at another performance (subject to availability), or offer either a credit note for future GSC productions or refund.


FACILITIES & REFRESHMENTS & PERSONAL BELONGINGS

  • There will be an onsite bar open for walk ups, both pre-show and at the interval.
  • We request that you only bring with you the minimum of personal belongings.
  • Do bring a bottle of water with you.


NHS TEST & TRACE

This is no longer mandatory, however as with all other leisure venues we continue to support the NHS Test & Trace programme where audiences choose to check-in.

Read more about NHS Test and Trace


DOWNLOAD OUR FULL PROTOCOLS:

GSC C19 Protocol INDOOR Performances (Audiences Revised) - 03.12.2021 (pdf)

If you have any questions, please feel free to email [email protected]

EDUCATION PROTOCOLS

In line with the government’s easing of restrictions, we once again are running our classes, clubs and workshops in person at our buildings GreenArk and Astolat Pavilion (see Contact page for maps)

In the event that government advice changes we will revert back to online teaching via Zoom.

MEASURES AT A GLANCE

  • Masks are advised to be worn when moving around the spaces (or where 1m+ distancing is not possible)
  • Hand sanitising stations at entrance and within the rooms
  • Staff are testing twice-weekly
  • Windows will be open at all times, and heating adjusted accordingly
  • Regular and rigorous cleaning between different sessions

Secondary School students and older to take a Lateral Flow Test twice a week and email the project lead the result BY 6pm the DAY BEFORE the workshop/club (see Education Protocols below for full details)

Here is a photograph of the GreenArk, our main space for classes

For further details please refer to:

Covid-Secure EDUCATION Protocol -Updated 05 OCT 2021

Covid Risk EDUCATION Assessment Updated 05 OCT

If you have any questions please email the Education Team

Updated 07 October 2021