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

It would be nice for people who are alone at Christmas to be able to attend, I think.
It just means that others would be expected to work, though, probably.

Most theatres are open on Christmas Eve and, during the pantomime season, many of the performers are a long way from home. Christmas Day is one of the few days that they get to spend with their families, after arriving home late on Christmas Eve and leaving sometime on Christmas day to be back at work on Boxing Day. So, Theatres should absolutely not open on Christmas Day regardless of the religious beliefs of the management. (And I write this from first-hand knowledge and experience)

I think those in the performing arts community would be happy to open at Christmas, particularly at the moment. They'll already be on location, for Christmas Eve and Boxing Day productions. They don't go home (unless it is localish) for one day.

I know of at least 4 people who are in various parts of the UK for theatre productions. None are travelling late Christmas Eve. All are staying in place, although a couple do have a family member travelling to be with them.

A definite 'NO' from me!

toscalily

No, and I think this should also apply to Boxing day.

I agree

As someone who worked in retail and was lucky to get Boxing Day off it's a definite no from me

Don’t care. I won’t be there.

No, and I think this should also apply to Boxing day.

I hope the venues that will be open where wonderful people cook for the homeless etc
The one I volunteer for hasnt made firm commitments. Other than accepting donations.

I expect most of the theatre staff, performers etc. are desperate to open any day at present, because of the awful past two years they have had.
Whether they would get many in the audience is another matter.

Playing Devils advocate here, I dont see the difference between pubs and restaurants or theatres/film/skating rink/bowling alley etc.

When John Lewis opened in our local shopping centre they always closed on Monday’s. They carried on fir as long as they coukd but eventually had to open 7 days a week because everyone else did and it was presumably affecting their business.
Hotels, Cafés and restaurants are hospitality and have always opened, slightly different to shops and theatres.

ginny

No.
I think all shops should be closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Give the staff a break.

No, nor any venue.

Boxing Day pantomime was always a tradition (pre-Covid).

No, Christmas day should remain a day when people can be with friends and family.
Not everyone has friends or family to visit or welcome on Christmas Day.

I hope the venues that will be open will be the ones where wonderful people cook a hot meal for the lonely, the homeless etc and that they might be allowed to open this year.

I don't approve or disapprove, I'd leave it to individual theatres. A theatre that was owned and/or staffed by Muslims, Jews, Hindus for example would not be overly concerned about Christmas Day I'd think. I do wonder how many people who disapprove of theatres opening also disapprove of hotels, restaurants and the like opening on Christmas Day. Aren't their staff entitled to time with family? Yet I see more and more people saying they'll be eating out with family on Christmas Day, something that wouldn't have happened in my childhood. I'd not be visiting theatre, hotel or restaurant so I'm not impacted either way.

GSM Shops always closed here on every bank holiday.

They still do in Europe . We were in Berlin a couple of years ago over Easter. We arrived on Thursday night. Shops closed Friday Saturday Sunday and Monday, we left Tuesday morning. I wasn’t able to shop but applaud them.

Definitely not. I also think they should be closed on Boxing Day. When I was a child many shops and other places were closed on Good Friday too but we were probably more of a Christian country then.

Emphatically not!

Why on Earth woukd you?
Don’t actors, creative teams , technical teams , programme sellers, ice cream sellers etc etc deserve time off with their families?

No.
I think all shops should be closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Give the staff a break.

Absolutely not. As has been said I think Boxing day should also be closed.

Also supermarkets, why do we need to shop the day after Christmas, think most people can find some turkey or other leftovers to eat that day. If Aldi can do it for their staff (probably Lidl too) both very successful companies, why not Sainsbury, Tesco and the like. Doubt higher management work over the holiday. I wrote to Sainsbury last year on the subject, but no response.

While I am the bandwagon am also not keen on Sunday opening, not on religious grounds, but there really is no reason. Shops are open often til very late in the week.
We managed when shops closed at 5.30 or 6, closed Sundays and had half day closing too.

Staff work hard, give them a break and a Merry Christmas to one and all.

I would neither approve nor disapprove. I can imagine a small, family-run theatre deciding among themselves that they wanted to earn a little more and that there was enough support from local people….. why not is what I’d be thinking. It’s not harming anyone else.

Not that I would go to a theatre on Xmas day but that’s a separate issue.

WHAT? Er, let's think...
NO.

No, Christmas day should remain a day when people can be with friends and family. Many industries where people do have to work (utilities, emwegency services) often arrange shifts so that everyone gets half a day at home. DD used to work in just such an industry and that is what they did.

It should be a day that is ;different', ideally so should Boxing day.

No, there are so many people involved in any performance who would have to work. I’d be happy for them to be shut Boxing Day too so staff could have a decent break.

This Christmas coping with Covid ect. is quite different from the norm.
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 doubt many people would want to go, would they?