Live theatre is back in business as certain parts of the world ease Covid-19 restrictions; here's what the socially distanced audience experience looks like
SIRACUSA, ITALY - JULY 09: Audience members sit distanced before musician Nicola Piovani directs the musical show The Island of Light at the Greek Theatre Syracuse on July 9, 2020 in Siracusa, Italy. The Greek Theatre of Syracuse reopens the new season of performances with ‘L'isola della luce’ after the lockdown to the shows imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 15: Members of Beach Bunny do a sound check before playing a live show at an empty venue at Lincoln Hall on July 15, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. The 500-person venue recently started hosting live shows again after being shut down by the coronavirus since mid-March. Guests are not allowed inside for the performance but they can purchase tickets to view the show stream online. Revenue from ticket sales is split between the venue and the artists. Bands and concert venues have been scrambling to find creative ways to return to business. Most bands rely on live performances for a majority of their income, through ticket sales and merchandise sales generated at the shows.
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MADRID, SPAIN - JULY 08: The audience of Teatro Lara wearing face masks wait for the play 'Cádiz' to start on July 8, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. The Lara Theatre reopened after almost four months closed due to measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Spain. The theatres in Madrid will open with a limited capacity of 75%.
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KOLKATA, INDIA - JUNE 11: Actor Tiyasha Roy rehearsing a scene while wearing a face mask, during the shoot for the popular Bengali television serial 'Krishnakali', as production resumes during lockdown at Studio 13 at Tollygunge on June 11, 2020 in Kolkata, India.
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BOLOGNA, ITALY - JULY 13: Guitarist and singer-songwriter Federico Poggipolini in concert at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna on July 13, 2020 in Bologna, Italy.
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A CORUNA, SPAIN - JULY 04: The theatre company Noite Bohemia performs the play Electra by Sophocles on the beaches of San Amaro on July 04, 2020, in A Coruña, Spain. Safety has become a major concern for theatre companies, which have started work after being stopped for almost three months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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PTUJ, SLOVENIA – July 3: People in their cars watch Grease with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John at a temporary drive-in cinema parking lot. Due to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the City Cinema organised outdoor screenings.
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MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MISSOURI - JULY 10: Ariel views of Brad Paisley's performance during Live Nation’s first-ever US drive-in concert series, ‘Live From The Drive-In’ at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in St. Louis on July 10, 2020.
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Thuringia, Germany – July 10: The Philharmonic Orchestra, the Opera Choir and soloists rehearsed the premiere programme Opera Gloriosa on July 10 against the backdrop of St. Mary's Cathedral and the Severi Church. Under the motto "We are here!", the festival is scheduled to run until August 2 with pandemic restrictions. According to the theatre, the grandstand in front of the cathedral steps can accommodate around 500 visitors this year, subject to the rules of distance.