The producers of Sleepless, A Musical Romance will trial daily on-site Covid-19 test when the socially distanced indoor performances begin at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre next month.
All cast members, musicians, crew and theatre staff will be tested during rehearsals with the results available within 30 minutes through the ID app Yoti as part of a range of safety measures being employed as performances begin from 25 August 2020.
Unveiling details of the testing plan, producers Michael Rose and Damien Sanders said: “We are so excited to be leading the way for our industry and to be the first fully staged, indoor musical back up and running and we have been working around the clock to make it possible.
“Uppermost in our minds has been the safety of our cast and crew and this new fast and accurate technology from GeneMe allows us to lead the way once more with daily COVID testing of our cast and crew which can give everyone involved peace of mind and create a happy and safe working environment.
“This technology is currently being trialled by airports, government departments, sports teams and multinational companies in the UK and we are delighted to be the first to trial the system in the theatre and live event industry.”
Commenting on the test, Carlos Candal, the owner and CEO of Global Marketing Group who put the GeneMe test developers together with the Yoto app team, said: “Having known about Yoti for some time, once I saw how they can work hand in hand with FRANKD to offer a solution for the global Theatre industry, I’m thrilled that Sleepless will be the first to use the technology to help get theatres up and running again safely.’’
During the pandemic the Sleepless team has shown its support for NHS workers by backing the crowdfunding group ‘Helping Dress Medics’ to buy fabrics to be made into scrubs for medical staff set up by designer Dulcie Scott and supported by the show’s own costume designer Sue Simmerling.
In addition to helping fund the fabric for scrubs, producers Rose and Sanders will hold an NHS Gala Performance, A Night For Sleepless Heroes, on 27 August. Due to unprecedented demand the special free performance of the show for NHS workers is now full.
Reuniting Big The Musical leads former boyband star turned Strictly Come Dancing champion Jay McGuiness and ex Girls Aloud favourite Kimberley Walsh, the musical based on Nora Ephron’s much-loved movie Sleepless In Seattle will begin preview performances on 25 August ahead of an opening night on 1 September. The limited season will run until 27 September with audiences socially distanced and the producers and venue following Covid-secure guidelines for cast, crew and audience members at all times.
Joining McGuiness as Sam and Walsh as Annie will be Daniel Casey as Walter, Harriet Thorpe as Eleanor, Tania Mathurin as Becky and Jake Sharp as Rob. Also in the cast are Charlie Bull, Colin Burnicle, Christie-Lee Crosson, Laura Darton, Leanne Garretty, Matt Holland, Ross McLaren, Gary Murphy, Dominique Planter, Annie Wensak and Benjamin Wong. Theo Collis, Mikey Colville, Jobe Hart and Jack Reynolds will share the role of Jonah.
The size and design of the new venue means that there is no physical contact between the staff and the audience members at any time and social distance measures can be strictly adhered to. Audiences members will have their temperatures checked on entering the building and will be asked to wear face masks. All food and drink orders will be contactless, hand sanitiser will be available at multiple locations and the venue will be deep cleaned after each performance. Parking is available at Wembley Stadium for £1 for ticketholders.
With a book by Michael Burdett, and music and lyrics by new British writers Robert Scott and Brendan Cull, the production is directed by Morgan Young (Big The Musical, Elf The Musical).
The creative team for the production also includes set design by Morgan Large, costume design by Sue Simmerling, lighting by Ken Billington, video design by Ian William Galloway, sound design by Simon Biddulph, orchestrations and arrangements by Larry Blank, musical supervision by Stuart Morley, musical direction by Chris Walker, orchestra management by Sylvia Addison for Music Solutions, wig and hair design by Richard Mawbey and casting by Sarah Bird and Michael Donovan. The general manager is David Pearson.
Presented by Michael Rose, Encore Theatre Productions Ltd, David Shor and Marc Toberoff, the musical love story is based on the second film to feature the popular romantic pairing of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
Angela Thomas
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