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Dear Supporter,
We’ve been overwhelmed by the fantastic messages of support during this year’s Covid crisis. Every message has meant so much, as the pandemic’s effect on the Royal Variety Charity has been considerable. Our remit and ‘reason for being’ is to help and support anyone in need of assistance who has worked professionally in the entertainment industry.
Before Covid-19, it was only the top 4.8% of those working in the industry that earned above the average UK wage, but since March this year not only has this industry suffered a crisis, like everyone else, but in parts suffered complete annihilation.
Theatres and music venues have been closed for most of the year, festivals and outdoor concerts were abandoned and tens of thousands of people working in all parts of the industry, mostly on a freelance ‘job-to-job’ basis, have been left to fend for themselves with little or no support from the Government - not qualifying for furlough, or any other scheme that has been offered.
Not only this, but the Royal Variety Charity has faced the demands and challenges of owning and operating its own residential and nursing care home, Brinsworth House, for elderly members of the entertainment profession.
We’ve therefore worked relentlessly to ensure we produce a Royal Variety Performance in some shape or form this year, in order to raise such critical funds for an industry in an unprecedented crisis.
I am therefore delighted to inform you that this year’s show will be staged in Blackpool at the Opera House within the Winter Gardens, on the evening of Sunday 29th November.
All of our artists and crew will of course be strictly observing social-distancing and other safety measures, but the lockdown restrictions mean that alas, we’re prohibited from having a physical audience.
We will, therefore, for the very first time be staging the show with a virtual theatre audience, allowing you the chance to watch the show live from the comfort of your own home! The performers will even be able to see the audiences’ faces as they are displayed on screens placed across the seats of the stalls and circle!
If you would like to be part of this unique virtual audience, experiencing Royal Variety history, please register at the foot of this page.
As you may recall, our usual ticket prices for a normal show (with a physical audience) range between £75 and £420, but this year all we ask is that in return for being a part of this historical experience that you make a donation to the Royal Variety Charity, either online at: DONATE
or by text:
To donate £10, text RVP10 to 70191
To donate £20, text RVP20 to 70191
To donate £30, text RVP30 to 70191
As usual, the theatrical show will be edited to a shortened version for broadcast on ITV1 a couple of weeks later and then throughout the world over the Christmas and New Year period.
Thank you so much again for your continued support.
Yours,
Giles Cooper
Chairman
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