Blackpool Grand Theatre officially closed its doors to the public last week, however, we’ve been busy bees thinking ahead and coming up with ways to connect with our audiences virtually during this time of the Coronavirus Creative Boom and how to keep entertained in lockdown.

The theatre community, like many arts communities, is bolstered by their followers and ever loyal patrons and support network, and what better way to rally together in the face of adversity, than launch our #AtHomeWithYou campaign?

Blackpool Grand Theatre are proud to announce details of our AtHomeWithYou.co.uk campaign, in light of the ongoing Coronavirus.

What is At Home With You?

How to keep entertained in lockdown – We’re are all set to create some fantastic video content on our YouTube channel – content will vary, and will be 10-15 minute videos, all created with one aim – to get children engaged physically, artistically or creatively, in whatever way possible!

• Photographic lessons
• Experts share how-to’s
• Choir sing-alongs
• Creative drawings
• Yoga and exercise classes
• Dance training (all ages)
• Comedy stand-up
• Breakfast chat show

The whole household should be kept busy with that list! So, watch this space and sign up to our Blackpool Grand Theatre YouTube channel for updates.

While you’re here… read on for:

• Tips for parents in lockdown
• Tips for keeping children entertained at home
• Ideas for livestreamed entertainment
• News stories from the arts world
• Details to upcoming live streamed performances

Thinking creatively is vitally important, and as parents face a few weeks (at least) of children being at home, many will likely start to wonder – how can I keep my youngsters entertained in the weeks ahead? Luckily, we are as connected as we have ever been. Although it’s been a curse in some ways, it’s also a blessing – as this connectivity has opened the floodgates of online virtual communication, live streams, and online communities coming together.

Here are some other tips and tricks to get your creative juices flowing…

Tips for parents – how to keep entertained in lockdown

• Structure out the day. Set out a timetable to stick to, and stick it on the fridge. The children can help put it together, and it will help keep everyone on track and enthused each day.
• Make sure you get creative juices flowing. This could be drawings, a game or a puzzle, or a mini writing project.
• Set rewards and goals – this will make sure they remain invested and interested!
• Use online resources! There will be so much out there at the moment, and online resources will only increase in the coming weeks. As well as Blackpool Grand Theatre’s #AtHomeWithYou to keep you busy, check out CBBC’s or Nat Geo Kids homepage for more ideas.

5 Creative Projects to Keep Your Children Busy

1. Ask your youngsters to invent a brand new chocolate bar. Ask them to name it, draw it, and write a letter describing why somebody should buy it. If your children are older, ask them to design a brand new app.
2. Challenge your children to invent a new board game, and challenge them to make it too!
3. Put together a quiz – this could be on nature, their favourite films and books, the world is your oyster!
4. Challenge them to write or perform a play or sketch. If your children don’t mind getting behind a camera, they could film it, too.
5. Ask your children to create some greetings cards. These could be for Easter, Father’s Day, or any birthday!

Ideas for livestream entertainment

It should come as no surprise that, with the nation heading indoors, online streaming is up. This might be in the form of binge-watching shows or old favourites for some. For many, though, this huge and unprecedented online shift has opened the door to new opportunities.

As businesses get imaginative with how to still connect to an audience, an emergence in live videos and online content is expected to take precedent over the next few weeks. In fact, the music industry has seen a surge in live streaming in response, and the theatre community is not far behind.

What can be livestreamed?

We owe the internet big time as we enter isolation mode, as it allows for unlimited access to
exclusive content from all around the world. This means that, no matter what you’re in the mood for, or how you’d like to spend a morning or afternoon, they’ll likely be somebody out there providing the content you need!

It won’t be hard to find interactive livestreams for the following:

• Live exercise classes / daily workouts
• Live streaming of music concerts
• Live cooking demonstrations
• Live Q&As
• Live tutorials
• Live creative workshops
• Exclusive access to new film releases

Coronavirus creative boom offers online access to the arts world

NY Metropolitan Opera
The opera house have come up with virtual ways to entertain their patrons by streaming
past performances for audiences to enjoy at home. Peter Gelb, General Manager said;

Every night, we’ll be offering a different complete operatic gem from our collection of HD presentations from the past 14 years.

BBC
BBC have announced a ‘virtual festival of the arts’. This new campaign includes Radio Two,
Radio 3, Radio 4, BBC Four, BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer

BBC Arts has announced further programming for #CultureInQuarantine, a virtual festival of the arts rooted in the experience of national lockdown, with more to be announced over the coming weeks.

Virtual festival of the arts includes:

• Extraordinary access to shuttered exhibitions and performances around the country
• Emergency fund with Arts Council England to support independent artists
• A virtual book festival curated with Kit de Waal
• A puppet show from Margaret Atwood for Front Row Late
• Bac Beatbox Academy’s hit show Frankenstein
• Classic Shakespeares with the RSC
• A brand new play from David Greig

The RSC – Royal Shakespeare Company

WATCH RSC shows from home – Their theatres may be closed, but you can watch lots of fantastic RSC shows for free with Marquee TV.

Arts lovers can now sign up for a 30-day free trial on Marquee TV, the performing arts streaming service with a catalogue of more than 400 dance, opera and theatre productions. RSC Patrons and Members can access the trial for three months – if you’re an RSC Member you’ll receive details about how to access this offer – Find out more.

The RSC will be broadcasting six of their plays on the BBC between now and September.

Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House have announced a live streaming initiative, which involves broadcasting of some of the most well known performances each Saturday night, including:

• La Traviata (The Royal Opera)
• Cavalleria Rusticana / Pagliacci (The Royal Opera)
• Swan Lake (Royal Ballet)
• Giselle (Royal Ballet)
• Twelfth Night

Alex Beard, Royal Opera House Chief Executive said;

We are absolutely delighted that people will have the opportunity to enjoy our performances for free over the next 30 days through this initiative.

How to Keep Entertained in Lockdown – Upcoming live streamed performances

Here are just a handful of the upcoming live streams you can get involved in at home.

Saturday 4 April, 2pm – Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra perform Alban Berg’s Violin
Concerto with violinist Veronika Eberle.

Saturday 4 April, 6pm – Royal Opera House will broadcast Acis and Galatea, from 2010.
Friday 10 April, 6pm – Royal Opera House will broadcast Così fan tutte, from 2010.

Friday 17 April, 6pm – Royal Opera House broadcast The Metamorphosis, performed by the
Royal Ballet in 2013.

Other companies getting involved include:

• London Symphony Orchestra
• The Metropolitan Opera
• Berlin Philharmonic
• Wigmore Hall
• Budapest Festival Orchestra

Museums are chipping in, too!

Using #MuseumFromHome hashtag, museums and galleries from around the world are sharing their collections for you to enjoy at home. This includes:

• The National Gallery
• Palace of Versailles
• Musee d’Orsay
• The Louvre
• The Smithsonian
• The Vatican Museum

So, what are you waiting for? As the whole world bands together to get through the next few weeks and months, the online creative boom is set to begin and learn How to Keep Entertained in Lockdown!

Follow lots going on during the Coronavirus Creative Boom – How to Keep Entertained in Lockdown on twitter;

#CultureInQuarantine #CultureBlackpool

How to keep entertained in lockdown – Follow us online At Home With You programme – www.athomewithyou.co.uk 

Blackpool Grand

Take a look at what’s on at Blackpool Grand Theatre this Autumn / Winter 20/21

Blackpool Grand set out a COVID-Community Communication Programme (CCCP) during the Coronavirus pandemic. Our aims were simple, to CONNECT, COMFORT and UPLIFT. We would Connect people by offering tutorials on communication tools like Zoom and conduct community face-to-face meetings (book readings, youth groups and more). Comfort through stories of heritage, memories and storytelling, and to Uplift visitors spirits through laughter and exercise. Please do enjoy and if you can afford to donate please do.

The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it’s possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing. For any concerns and latest advice around COVID-19, visit the World Health Organisation. If you’re in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.