With social distanced capacity boosted to 400

The Clapham Grand has announced a new season of socially distanced gigs featuring the likes of Russell Howard, Jimmy Carr and Daniel Sloss.

Bosses at the South London secured a bailout from the government’s £1.6billion Culture Recovery Fund, and have reopened the theatre’s top balcony, which has been closed for 15 years –since Oasis last played at the venue – to bring the capacity to 400.

Although the figure is a third of what it would be without physical distancing, a spokesman said: ‘These extra tickets give the venue more chance to make the new financial model work and survive this period’.

The expanded reopening follows three successful Save Live Comedy shows at the venue  in August, featuring the likes of Al Murray, Jayde Adams, Ed Gamble and Kerry Godliman, which raised more than £15,000, largely from streaming since the capacity then was around 100.

Clapham Grand manager Ally Wolf said: It is amazing to be open again - to not only be able to bring our wonderful team back to work, artists and performers back onto our stage - but more importantly audiences back to being entertained, safely of course. ‘

Click here for the full comedy programme.

•  The Playground Theatre in Latimer Grove, West London, is also re-opening later this week with a mix of short runs of comedy, opera and theatre, all socially distanced. The season starts on Thutsdau with a three-night run from  character comedians Siblings,aka Maddy and Marina Bye.

Published: 15 Sep 2020