The Customs House prepares

South Shields’ Customs House has prepared for post-lockdown reopening, putting measures in place to ensure the safety of audiences. These include:

• One-way system around the building
• Hand sanitiser stations situated throughout the building
• Fixers on all theatre doors to hold open rather than push and pull
• Restricted capacity in theatre and cinema
• Removal of seats to ensure safe egress around theatre
• Continual rotational cleaning of building
• Increased number of intervals to enable suitable toilet breaks
• Limited capacity in toilet facilities at any one time
• Approved PPE for all staff
• E-tickets for all performances
• Refreshment delivery services to your seats to avoid queues at the bar, with a pre-order facility available
• Opening of auditorium one hour prior to all performances to reduce entrance congestion

The theatre hopes that this year's panto, Rapunzel, which is due to run from 25 November to 3 January, starring Ray Spencer as Dame Bella Ballcock and Davey Hopper as her hapless son Arbuthnot, will be able to go ahead but awaits government guidance.