Comics will wear visors at Just The Tonic show

Nottingham’s Just The Tonic  will next week become the second comedy club to host an indoor stand-up gig after lockdown.

Ed Byrne will headline a show at the venue on Thursday, the day after Manchester’s Frog and Bucket breaks the four-month performance ban with the UK’s first pilot gig.

Comics - also including Daisy Earl, Scott Bennett and Quincy – will be wearing protective visors when they take to the stage.

The venue said: ‘All people attending the live event will be required to follow specific government guidelines, and allow us to take contact details for track and trace. 

‘We will be doing everything we can to confirm to all safety measures including social distancing. The venue is fully ventilated, performers are being asked to wear visors, and customers are being asked to wear face masks. We will be implementing procedures to maximise the safety of bar staff, performers and you, the public.’

Tickets to watch a stream of the show are available here, with details of how to be there to follow.

In Wednesday’s gig in Manchester, audience members will not have to wear face masks, but the staff will be in personal protective equipment.

The venues are the only two comedy clubs taking part of a government  scheme to test the logistics of how venues might work with social distancing – even if the financial viability of reduced capacity remains a problem for the promoters.

The newly-formed Live Comedy Association has been working with the Department Of Culture, Media and Sport to try to find a way for the industry to recover from the devastating effects of coronavirus, including these pilot schemes. 

A survey conducted by the LCA indicated that a third of all live venues felt they would be forced to close in the next six months, rising to three quarters in the next year, if business could not resume. 

Published: 25 Jul 2020