The theatres in Poland are open again. But the curves....

After Guido Weijers' Fieldlab turned out not to be a superspreading event, and nobody laughed hard enough at Dolf Jansen to infect others, now also good news from our relations in Poland: in the past month, since the reopening of theatres in Poland on 12 February, 55,000 people have already been to the theatre. Ample reason for enthusiasm, as things seem to be going well.

‘Data collected by the Theatre Institute show that during the first ten days after opening theatres in Poland over 55 thousand people visited theatres, the astounding number of 32 premieres took place, and the total of 584 performances were staged in 114 theatres in 39 towns.
Information that theatres will reopen on February 12th was announced on February 5th (up until that moment we had known that organisation of events with the audience present are prohibited at least until February 14th, among others).'

Curve

Now this mail comes at a piquant time. Because, while vaccination rates are about the same as in the Netherlands, infection rates are rising in the country that has now become a rather politically sensitive EU member state. In fact, they are rising so much that with us, one would already speak of a third wave. In Poland, the decision-makers are still hesitating, but it could be that it will happen soon.

Then the monkey comes out a beettle too, as the cheering message is part of a lobbying campaign to keep the venues open. They write: 'Now, together with a team of experts gathered around the Theatre Institute, we are lobbying for maintaining the status quo - one that respects the imposed restrictions and allows organisation of events with a limited number of the audience (50%). And of course we keep on working. We're developing new premieres and producing live streamings that coexist with the performances with the audience in attendance, so you are welcome to join TR Warszawa. 

It's that there are travel restrictions, and the overnight train to Poland is not really an option yet. I also don't know if I would be up in arms about the local Willem Engel. We will get more of these kinds of reports in the near future, because people are tired of being without live theatre, and I too yearn for something fun again. The only question is: are they too early?

I worry.