After a long 18 months East Riding Theatre had its first in-house production opening night since the Covid-19 pandemic.
ERT welcomed its audiences back with Harold Pinter’s classic play The Dumb Waiter.
Our Artistic Director Adrian Rawlins was interviewed by BBC Look North along with director Martin Hutson and actor Nick Figgis. The feature was broadcast on both the lunchtime and Evening news.
Click below to watch (ERT features at 22:37 onwards)
The story explored the impact of the pandemic on the theatre industry and what it was like to be reopening after a year and half of closure.
Adrian commented on the need for support from the local community:
“We have a very small paid workforce and we are supported mostly by a great number of local volunteers, so the theatre survives on goodwill and heart”
“We’ve done everything we can to encourage and support, and pray that the public will come back. If you feel you can, then come back to the theatre. We really need the audiences back because otherwise we won’t survive”
Martin Hutson said:
“Everyone is just so grateful to be back that the general atmosphere in the industry is gorgeous. We will get back to being grumpy at some point (chuckles) but at the moment everyone is just so thrilled”
Nick Figgis said:
“It was a hard period, the lockdown, for everybody in the theatre industry, whats really sort of impressive and reassuring for actors who are sort of freelancers is that theatres are putting in the work and the extra time to actually get these things off the ground because its quite a big risk”
1st - 9th July 2022. Back by popular demand after a sell-out run 2015 & 2018, our troupe of musical comediennes will transport you to the West End with a revamped version of Beverley Does Broadway.
15th - 17th July 2022. A jam-packed weekend of puppet shows for adults, kids & families at ERT and across the town!
Tuesday 19th July. FLAGSHIP is an East Yorkshire based band that mixes Folk music with Prog Rock and an eclectic mix of other styles.
With more than 6500 performances in 21 countries under their belt in their 30 years on the road, King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys are more than just the world’s greatest jump, jive and swing band – they’re an institution!
1st-6th August. Do you want the opportunity to create and perform in a theatre, make new friends and have lots of fun this summer?
8th - 13th August 2022. Fancy the chance to create and perform theatre, whilst making friends and having lots of fun this summer? East Riding Theatre’s Summer Schools are BACK with a very exciting announcement!
15th - 20th August 2022. Fancy the chance to create and perform theatre, whilst making friends and having lots of fun this summer? East Riding Theatre’s Summer Schools are BACK with a very exciting announcement!
Saturday 3rd September. Join us for 'An Evening of Music and Song' with West End Star, Catherine Terry and talented pianist, Jay Taylor - 'A Chocolate Box filled with Musical Treats!'
Wednesday 7th September 2022. A brand new original comedy by Terry Deary (author of Horrible Histories). Just three actors perform over 100 roles in as many minutes of fact-based, fast-paced fun!
