This week I've seen numerous posts on my social feeds of messages from colleagues or arts organisations with inspiring messages about performing once again. Often these messages are accompanied by statements about how the performance followed government health regulations in relation to Covid-19, yet when I look at the photos from these events I see only that the safety of the audience has been taken into account and not that of the performers. 

Rehearsals and performances taking place this summer, less than half a year after the lockdown, are setting the standard for workplace safety practices during a global pandemic. If the public sets the expectation that the performance itself should be set up no differently than it was pre-covid (no masks, no distancing, choir/singers directly behind orchestra, etc.) then making changes later for the sake of workers' health and safety will receive push-back, as well as risks being taken as a political statement. 

The bottom line: remember that you can catch the virus from someone who seems healthy and speak up at the first moment you don't feel comfortable in the workplace.

Support the show