Would you 'approve' of theatres being open on Christmas Day?

No; I see no need for it

No everyone deserves a day off

I don't think that anyone except the really essential workers - police, medical staff, etc - should have to work on Christmas Day or Boxing Day. They should be well paid for it too.

My DH was a retail manager for most of his working life. When the supermarkets started opening on Boxing Day, he had to work. I always felt resentful, as I couldn't see why people needed to go to the shops when they had only been closed one day. He said that it was a waste of time, as people had already bought loads of food and were broke anyway, so a lot of them just came to mooch around.

It was also irritating when relatives used to say "Why don't you take a day off? There's more to life than money, you know." They didn't realise that he didn't have a choice and he just got his normal rate of pay. I bet that applies to a lot of people who have to work over Christmas.

As for Jews, Hindus, Muslims, etc, not being bothered about working over Christmas, my DH's family are Hindu and all the younger generations celebrate Christmas as a family holiday. A bit like all the millions of atheists and agnostics who do the same.

I didn't know that they were.

100% no

There may be some staff who would be rattling around on their own and who wouldn't mind working.

People who are alone over Christmas might well prefer to go to the theatre rather than sit at home.

However, Covid 19 should ensure that nothing that collects a crowd is open this year.

Nor can I see that having a theatre open on a public holiday is feasible - the sceneshifters, lighting operators, dressers, box-office staff would need to be paid at least time and a half if not double rate, and it is to be hoped that the actors, singers and, or dancers would be too.

But I don't disapprove of the idea as such - not everyone regards Christmas as a religious occasion and as it is a festive one for those who are practising Christians there shouldn't really be any objection - Good Friday would be a rather different matter in my opinion.

No! No! Absolutely no!. My son is an actor. He is in a children's Christmas performance at a small regional theatre. His take home pay is£350 a week. He makes ends meet by teaching in a drama school at weekends. He has not had a single day off since rehearsals started in October. There is a performance Christmas Eve evening which has not sold out although the matinee has. After the last bow, he will be leaping in his car and driving down the M6 and M1 to join his wife and baby daughter and her family for Christmas day. The only reason he has Boxing Day off is because it is a Sunday. The only people who work on the three main Christmas dates should be emergency staff and they should be generously paid for it.

No and shops shouldn't be either. Everyone, unless you are an essential job should be able to have 25th and 26th December and 1st and 2nd January off. Retail and catering workers have been hammered for the past two years. Lets give everyone a break where possible.

It's not possible to answer this with any confidence as it's hypothetical. No-one seems to have tested the market for theatres open on Xmas Day and it's matter between theatre owners and actors, etc., who have their trades unions like Equity. I prefer to be cautious about imposing 'Christian' views on others like Jews and Moslems, for example. A few years ago we went to a Morris dancing at Xmas in a nearby village and we were grateful to the Moslem taxi drivers who were working as normal and there was no public transport.

I think it could be a nice event for people who are alone over Christmas.
Something to go out and do, and someone to talk to, just to make sure you still have the power of speech..

Just the front end of the pantomime horse....

@Namsnanny

^As Riverwalk points out other places open.
I wondered if it would be helpful to those people who spend Christmas Day on their own. Locked in with the TV spouting all that guff about family and friends being at the centr of Christmas 'spirit'.
Not everyone can go for a walk.^

I'm with you on this!
I'm disabled, live alone and dislike xmas at the best of times.
All the sickeningly saccharine "family is everything, aren't we all having such a wonderful time" that we see plastered all over tv especially throughout the festive period really drives me mad.
I make sure I've got anything I might need for at least 10 days by about 22/23 Dec, I lock the doors, turn off the lights, tv and my phone, then double my painkillers, take sleeping aids and do my very best to sleep through 25&26th at the very least.
The phone and tv don't go back on until at least 28th and I don't open the front door until 1 Jan.
I'm not advising others to do what I do with my meds, it could be dangerous for them but I've been doing it for years and it's the only thing that works for me, so I'll continue.

If there was "something" open for those who are in a similar situation to me but who would actually like to interact with others rather than being subjected to all the crappy tv, I think it would be a good thing, as long as those working to provide this actually WANT to be doing it, and not being forced to by unscrupulous employers!

Other places are open and of course not everyone celebrates Christmas. However in my opinion it would need to be on the basis of the staff not being made to work if they don't want to, so it probably wouldn't work out if only half a panto cast were willing to work!!

Pubs and restaurants open on xmas day why not leave it up to those concerned whether to open /work or not to open/ work. .

Absolutely not. I know many involved in Panto at all levels, and the run - including rehearsals as well as up to 10/11 performances a week for 4/5/6 weeks - is utterly exhausting. Cast and crew need a break on Christmas Day, and nobody I know would want to attend then anyway.

No

Hardly an essential service is it? I would also like to see all shops closed for Boxing Day too as well as closing for the two bank holiday days when Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall at the weekend.

I wouldn't mind at all of there was absolute consensus within the working arena. Can't see them selling many tickets, mind you.

DiscoDancer1975

Only operating theatres.

and Thank goodness too!

Mon 13-Dec-21 15:24:52
I think those in the performing arts community would be happy to open at Christmas, particularly at the moment

No way. Speaking with two family members “in the industry”.
Have you any idea how many people are involved in the presentation of any production?

What price family life I wonder. .

One in under 30. The others are 40s. They're all staying put. I don't blame them. Train travel can be horrific. My daughter's trains (a week apart) were both late. One an hour and a half, one THREE hours. Not to mention the horror of the A1. No wonder they stay put.

Hotels, Cafés and restaurants are hospitality and have always opened, slightly different to shops and theatres. I'm not sure they have, certainly not on the scale they do today. Why is it OK for people to have to work so others don't have to cook their own Christmas dinner? I'm obviously not referring to places like Crisis etc who do a wonderful job ensuring the homeless get some care and attention over Christmas, but they are all volunteers.
It's interesting the different areas that people think should open/operate and those that shouldn't. Even TV and radio require there to be workers to ensure transmission. The biggest change I'm aware of is the total lack of any public transport on Christmas Day and Boxing day and I'm in a city, not a rural area.

Only operating theatres.

They'll already be on location.....and don't go home for one day
Good point GagaJo.
I'm assuming the 4 people in theatre that you refer to are under 40y, probably under 30?