AS THE New Theatre Oxford prepares to reopen its doors to audiences, they are taking the opportunity to thank those who have gone the extra mile during the pandemic.
The George Street venue is celebrating our local Covid Champions who went above and beyond for their friends, family and communities over the last 16 months, and continue to do so.
To mark their efforts, they are giving away 30 pairs of tickets to a special reopening gala event at Priscilla Queen of the Desert on Tuesday, 24 August, and are asking for people to send in their nominations of inspirational individuals who they believe deserve to be honoured.
From getting a neighbour’s shopping to fighting the disease on the NHS frontlines, or volunteering at a local food bank to making calls to those shielding to help them feel less isolated – no act of Covid compassion is too big or small to be considered for the prize.
The chosen champions will each receive a pair of tickets to the show on 24 August at 7.30pm and a goody bag.
Theatre Director David O’Hara said: “There are so many people in our community who have gone the extra mile during the pandemic, and we as a venue want to recognise this and give them a much deserved night out. They are an inspiration to us all, and we want to do our bit to say thank you for volunteering their time and skills.
“We know there are some truly amazing stories out there, so make sure you get your nominations in so we can celebrate and commemorate their efforts.”
Nominations close on Friday 6 August, and the winners will be contacted by Tuesday, August 10. The tickets are non-transferable and the chosen champions must be available to attend the performance on August 24.
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE NOMINATION FORM
Priscilla Queen of the Desert, which runs from 23 – 28 August, is the first show to grace the stage at the New Theatre Oxford since it closed in mid-March 2020.
The musical, based on the Oscar-winning movie of the same name, is a hilarious and heart-warming adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus bound for the Outback to put on the show of a lifetime.
It features a soundtrack full of dancefloor favourites including It’s Raining Men, I Will Survive, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and many more.
The show kicks off a busy season for the theatre which includes performances from Blood Brothers (August 31 – September 4), Alan Carr (September 11), Bat Out Of Hell (October 5 – 16), Jason Donovan (October 25), Russell Brand (October 31), Welsh National Opera (November 9 – 13) and Paul Weller (October 16) amongst many more.
For Christmas 2021, audiences should get ready to stick it to the man as School of Rock comes to Oxford from December 13 – January 1, 2022. Based on the global hit musical based on the iconic movie starring Jack Black, the show features 14 new songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber, all the original songs from the movie, and a band of insanely talented kids that play live every show.
The theatre is a See It Safely approved venue, allowing audiences to be assured at the New Theatre Oxford will always be following the latest Government advice.
It is also now operating a contactless ticketing system, with eTickets being issued to customers within two weeks of their performance date. This change allows the theatre to increase hygiene, as well as improve the overall booking experience. Customers can also book with confidence knowing should there be any further suspensions, tickets will remain fully valid for exchanges or refunds.
For a full list of upcoming performances, or to book, log on to www.atgtickets.com/oxford
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NOTES TO EDITORS
SEE IT SAFELY
Ambassador Theatre Group has a comprehensive framework of control measures that Theatre Operators follow to ensure all venues comply with the requirements set out by UK Government and Health Authorities to be Covid-Secure, thus ensuring the safety of staff, production companies, third parties and audiences.
Once audiences have purchased their tickets, they are contacted just ahead of their visit to confirm the details of what they can expect, so that they can be confident that the venues will be operating in accordance with the most up-to-date guidelines (including eTickets, refreshments delivered to seats, contactless payments, hand sanitiser stations and, where required, controls to support social distancing and the use of face coverings).
CONTACTLESS TICKETS
Ambassador Theatre Group venues are now operating a contactless ticketing system. eTickets are now the primary and default delivery method for all bookings and are sent to customers within two weeks of their selected performance. The design allows ATG to detail door entry points, staggered entry times and any Covid safety guidelines as appropriate. Audiences simply show the eTicket on their mobile device, or bring along a print out. This change is a necessary step in increasing safety and hygiene and improving the overall booking experience in ATG’s venues.