Government Guidelines for Performing Arts

Regretfully Singing and Wind Instruments are not yet permitted.

 

gov.uk General Guidance for Performing Arts as at 17th July 2020.

Steps that will usually be needed:

  1. Providing space for performers and other attendees to be socially distanced from each other and from any audience, production team members or other individuals, wherever possible during training, rehearsal, pre-production, performance and any other form of performing arts activity.
  2. Working outdoors where possible. Where this is not possible, ensuring all rehearsal, training and performance areas, with particular regard to indoor and covered areas, have adequate ventilation.
  3. Organising and designing repertoire, rehearsals, training and performance to avoid situations where performers cannot socially distance, wherever feasible.
  4. Reducing as far as possible any time that individuals are not able to maintain social distancing.
  5. Reducing group and cast sizes where possible to maintain social distancing.
  6. Adapting live performing arts to ensure they are safe. If that is not possible, consider the use of technology solutions to reduce interactions and ensure social distancing (for example for castings, rehearsals, training and performance).
  7. Removing non-essential common areas such as waiting rooms.
  8. Using floor tape or paint to mark areas to help people maintain social distance, where possible.

Singing.

Steps that will usually be needed:

  1. Limiting singing in groups or in front of audiences to professionals only (i.e. for work purposes only).
  2. Observing extended social distancing (current guidance is that if the activity is face-to-face and without mitigations, 3 metres is appropriate) between each singer, and between singers and any other people such as conductors, other musicians, audiences or accompanists.
  3. Limiting singing in groups to group sizes which are as small as possible in one discrete space, and only considering increasing this number if a comprehensive risk assessment has been conducted which includes but is not limited to:– the size of the space
    – the ventilation levels within the space
    – the positioning of singers within the space
    – the effectiveness of any booths, barriers or screens in use
    – the use of fixed teams to reduce contacts
  4. Avoiding exposure of audiences, crew and other performers through using alternative programmes, technology or re-orchestrating for fewer voices as the first priority.
  5. Operating outdoors wherever possible.
  6. If singing indoors, limiting the numbers to account for ventilation of the space and the ability to observe extended social distancing.
  7. For singers working with other individuals, positioning side-to-side or back-to-back and avoiding singing face-to-face even when following the required distance.
  8. When essential, if it is not possible to maintain recommended extended social distancing whilst singing, using one or multiple fixed teams to manage risk of transmission and considering– Wherever possible, limiting the number of singers in any fixed team to the smallest number possible
    – Where a very small fixed team means professional work cannot resume, considering a larger fixed team only if a comprehensive risk mitigation plan has been put in place which may include but is not limited to:– Reducing the number of singers in the fixed team as much as possible
    – Conducting rehearsals and training in smaller fixed teams wherever possible and gradually increasing the number of people in the fixed team over time in order to observe and manage risk
    – Communicating clearly the maximum number of people allowed to engage as a fixed team at any one time
    – Screening of anyone in a fixed team prior to entry into venues, which may include, but not be limited to, a COVID-19 symptom questionnaire
    – Determining what level of monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms or for COVID-19 is required to achieve as reasonable a level of risk mitigation as possible. This may include regular private testing, noting that this will not allow any relaxation of other control measures
    – Ensuring there is a clear policy in place for managing a COVID-19 positive individual, and abiding by government and PHE guidelines and reporting requirements
    – Appointing an existing member of staff or of the organisation as a COVID-19 officer who will be responsible for oversight of fixed teams, including the risk assessment and ensuring the appropriate mitigations are in place
  9. Within the fixed team, positioning side-to-side or back-to-back and avoiding singing face-to-face wherever possible.
  10. Observing extended social distancing (current guidance is that if the activity is face-to-face and without mitigations, 3 metres is appropriate) between the fixed team and any other people such as conductors, other musicians, audiences or accompanists wherever possible.
  11. All members of a fixed team self-isolating if one member displays symptoms of COVID-19, which again reiterates the need to keep fixed teams as small as possible.
  12. It is unlikely that this fixed team approach will be possible where professional performers work with more than one group or organisation simultaneously.
  13. Considering using booths, barriers or screens if possible between individual singers who are not part of a fixed team, between fixed teams of singers and others, and between performers and any audience, noting that:– The effectiveness of the booth, barrier or screen varies substantially depending on the type of booth, barrier or screen used
    – Only some types of booth, barrier or screen will be effective enough to be viable for use in situations where extended social distancing cannot be maintained
    – Comprehensive risk assessments will be needed whenever using booths, barriers or screens to ensure that transmission risk is appropriately contained and that other health and safety risks such as noise exposure are managed, particularly when using booths, barriers or screens in situations where extended social distancing cannot be maintained.
  14. Considering regular private testing (noting that this will not allow any relaxation of other control measures) with an accredited provider, particularly for members of a fixed team, and those who sing with more than one group at a time such as deputising musicians and teachers.
  15. Making sure that no singers are participating if suffering with symptoms of COVID-19 or when advised to self-isolate.
  16. Results of further research conducted will lead to updates in this guidance.

Wind and brass

Steps that will usually be needed:

  1. Limiting wind and brass playing in groups or in front of audiences to professionals (i.e. for work purposes only)
  2. Observing extended social distancing (current guidance is that if the activity is face-to-face and without mitigations, 3 metres is appropriate) between each player, and between players and any other people such as conductors, other musicians, audiences or accompanists.
  3. Limiting wind and brass playing to group sizes which are as small as possible to one discrete space, and only considering increasing this number if a comprehensive risk assessment has been conducted which includes but is not limited to:– the results of further research currently being conducted
    – the size of the space
    – the ventilation levels within the space
    – the positioning of players and their instruments within the space
    – the effectiveness of any booths, barriers or screens in use
    – the use of fixed teams to reduce contacts
  4. Avoiding exposure of audiences, crew and other performers through using alternative programmes, technology or re-orchestrating for other instruments as the first priority.
  5. Operating outdoors wherever possible.
  6. If playing indoors, limiting the numbers to account for ventilation of the space and the ability to observe extended social distancing.
  7. For wind and brass players working with other individuals, positioning side-to-side or back-to-back and avoiding playing face-to-face wherever possible, but with particular regard to the position of instruments with lateral transmission such as piccolos and flutes.
  8. When essential, if it is not possible to maintain recommended extended social distancing whilst playing wind or brass instruments, using one or multiple fixed teams to manage risk of transmission and considering:–Wherever possible, limiting the number of wind and brass players in any fixed team to the smallest number possible
    – Where a very small fixed team means professional work cannot resume (for example, for a large professional brass ensemble), considering a larger fixed team only if a comprehensive risk mitigation plan has been put in place which may include but is not limited to:– Reducing the number of wind and brass in the fixed team as much as possible
    – Conducting rehearsals and training in smaller fixed teams wherever possible and gradually increasing the number of people in the fixed team over time in order to observe and manage risk
    – Communicating clearly the maximum number of people allowed to engage as a fixed team at any one time
    – Screening of anyone in a fixed team prior to entry into venues, which may include, but not be limited to, a COVID-19 symptom questionnaire
    – Determining what level of monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms or testing for COVID-19 is required to achieve as reasonable a level of risk mitigation as possible. This may include regular private testing, noting that this will not allow any relaxation of other control measures
    – Ensuring there is a clear policy in place for managing a COVID-19 positive individual, and abiding by government and PHE guidelines and reporting requirements
    – Appointing an existing member of staff or of the organisation as a COVID-19 officer who will be responsible for oversight of fixed teams, including the risk assessment and ensuring the appropriate mitigations are in place.
  9. Within the fixed team, positioning side-to-side or back-to-back and avoiding playing face-to-face wherever possible, but with particular regard to the position of instruments with lateral transmission such as piccolos and flutes.
  10. Observing extended social distancing (current guidance is that if the activity is face-to-face and without mitigations, 3 metres is appropriate) between the fixed team and any other people such as conductors, other musicians, audiences or accompanists wherever possible;
  11. All members of a fixed team self-isolating if one member displays symptoms of COVID-19, which again reiterates the need to keep fixed teams as small as possible;
  12. It is unlikely that this fixed team approach will be possible where professional performers work with more than one group or organisation simultaneously.
  13. Considering using booths, barriers or screens if possible between individual wind and brass players who are not part of a fixed team, between fixed teams of wind and brass players and others, and between performers and any audience, noting that:– The effectiveness of the booth, barrier or screen varies substantially depending on the type of booth, barrier or screen used
    – Only some types of booth, barrier or screen will be effective enough to be viable for use in situations where extended social distancing cannot be maintained
    – Comprehensive risk assessments will be needed whenever using booths, barriers or screens to ensure that transmission risk is appropriately contained and that other health and safety risks such as noise exposure are managed, particularly when using booths, barriers or screens in situations where extended social distancing cannot be maintained.
  14. Considering regular private testing (noting that this will not allow any relaxation of other control measures) with an accredited provider, particularly for members of a fixed team, and those who play with more than one group at a time such as deputising musicians and teachers.
  15. Making sure that no players are participating if suffering with symptoms of COVID-19 or when advised to self-isolate.
  16. Results of further research conducted will lead to updates in this guidance.