Greetings to all CFC members
This will be my third Newsletter since the Covid-19 crisis began, bringing our 2019-20 season to a premature end. So first of all, I do hope that you are all well and in good spirits, especially as some lifting of restrictions is beginning to take place.
You will no doubt be aware that some arts venues, such as museums, art galleries and a few theatres are beginning to open up to the public, albeit with greatly reduced capacity due to the need for social distancing, and with on-line booking required. Some sporting venues are also opening up. However, we have not heard from Chelmsford Theatres what will be happening to the Cramphorn Studio or the Civic Theatre. A sensible assumption would be that, even if some performances do take place from, say, September/October, audience numbers will have to be greatly reduced. This would have serious implications for organisations like ours.
Sadly, therefore, it seems extremely unlike ly that the Club will be able to put on any kind of
programme this year and, probably, into the first half of 2021: we will, of course, keep this under constant review.
Members of the Committee have been sharing their thoughts and ideas as to how the Club could continue. One hopeful strategy is to think ahead to September 2021 when we may be back to some semblance of ‘normality’. By then there would be no real certainty of just how many of you, and potentially new members, would join. One possibility is that the new season could start with a reduced number of films, say 10 as a round figure, being shown over the months leading up to June 2022, at a commensurately reduced membership fee. The fee would be reduced even more for existing members, recognising that you have missed out on the 5 films not shown from March this year. Guests would be very welcome if social distancing seating capacity permits. The planning of future programmes would very much depend on whether the membership numbers held up. It would re ally be like starting the Club all over again, just like all those years ago.
On that last note, may I say that not one member has contacted me to ask for a refund. On the contrary, several of you have let me know that you wish to ‘donate’ the potential refund to the Club: we hope that won’t be necessary! On behalf of the Committee, may I express my deep and sincere thanks to you all. It has been an enormous help.
I would very much like to hear what you think of the strategy outlined above and your own,
personal, thoughts on how the Club might move forward: the Club belongs to you! I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas and to share them with the Committee. It would be very interesting to learn, also, just how you have been watching movies, if at all and what your favourites have been in these past few months. Do feel free to contact me on pfbunyan@btinternet.com.
New liftings of restrictions, and re impositions, seem to be occurring weekly, if not daily: keeping au fait with the rules is challenging! I hope to be in touch with you all again, as and when there are more developments. In the meantime, take care and stay well.
Best wishes
Peter Bunyan
Chair of CFC Committee
Since Peter sent the above newsletter to Club members, we have now heard from Chelmsford Theatres. Almost all of their staff remained furloughed, apart from a few back two days per week for admin. They do not anticipate either the Civic or Cramphorn Theatres reopening until April 2021, at the Earliest
Plenty of time for us members to reflect on all the hard work of Committee members over the years. Thank you for so many great films.
Do we know what the delay with opening cramphorn is? Does it relate to being a council facility? Difficult times for CCC and cutbacks may result in the theatres never reopening. Thanks for the updates.
Juliet,
Today’s message was the first response from Chelmsford Theatres since the venues were closed and just said that the offices remain closed, staff furloughed and that the theatres are not expected to open before April 2021 (at the earliest) – however, this doesn’t really surprise me.
Both The Cramphorn and Civic Theatres share the same front of house staff and The Cramphorn is a multi-function venue – of which Cinema is only a small small function. With Theatre and Concerts remaining suspended for the foreseeable future, I would not have believed opening for Cinema only would be financially viable (notwithstanding the redesign and modifications required to make the venues Covid-19 safe and the reduced capacity due to social distancing).