LOCAL venues which have cancelled shows are braced for a potential “devastating impact” and some are calling for donations to survive.

As reported in the T&A, theatres, concert halls and arts centres across the Bradford district have called off productions following Government recommendations to try to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Some venues are urging ticket-holders to donate their refunds, to help ease the financial cost of cancelling shows and closing to the public. Otley Courthouse, which has cancelled events until the end of April, said in a statement: “We are a registered charity, we will be working hard to safeguard funds. In line with other venues, we are asking patrons to consider supporting the charity by donating any refunds due back to the venue to help get us back on our feet when all of this is over.”

Tony Sutcliffe of All Souls Operatic Company, which has cancelled next week’s run of Fiddler on Roof at Halifax Playhouse, said: “Any cancelled show incurs great costs; royalties already paid, and director, MD and musicians still to pay. These are costs that some societies will be unable to absorb without real financial worries about their future, as profits - if any - from one show are then used to plan and stage the next one. We would welcome any support to offset these costs.

“We made the decision to cancel with heavy hearts, as a tremendous amount of time and effort has been put into this show, but we feel we have no choice.”

Other venues cancelling shows this week include Bradford Playhouse, Keighley Playhouse, where this week’s run of Witness for the Prosecution and its May show, Lucky Sods, are off, and Bingley Arts Centre, where Bingley Little Theatre’s April show Be My Baby is off and Bradford Magic Circle’s Hey Presto show has been postponed.

All performances due to take place at Bradford Theatres’ venues up to and including April 13 will be cancelled or rescheduled. A statement said Bradford Theatres’ box office will be open for telephone enquiries only, and public box office counters at the Alhambra and St George’s Hall will be closed. Restaurant 1914 at the Alhambra and St George’s Hall Café will also be closed.

Alex Croft, artistic director at Bradford’s Kala Sangam Arts Centre which has cancelled shows and classes until the end of April, said the venue has reserves for just a couple of months. “Unfortunately one of the downsides to being ‘Pay What You Decide’ is that people don’t buy a ticket in advance so we can’t ask them to donate or defer their ticket income,” he said. “We’re looking at making ways to donate to us easier, but we’re not anticipating a huge amount of income in this way, with everyone being in the same boat.”

Ticketing organisation PatronBase, which supports around 70 organisations of varying sizes in the UK, says the coronavirus crisis has been having an impact on bookings over the past six weeks. PatronBase Partnership Director Emma Walters said: “Arts organisations are already hurting, and that pain will only get worse.

“The current crisis has the potential to have a devastating impact on the live events sector. Some organisations may be closed for months; others may never re-open. If you want to go back to your favourite theatre or arts centre when this is all over, consider supporting them now - otherwise, they may not be there!”