Buxton Opera House in ‘consultation’ with staff as venue remains closed

Buxton Opera House has started a ‘consultation period’ with its permanent staff – with its boss saying Covid-19 has had a ‘devastating impact’.
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Though it is unclear if the consultation is part of any redundancy plan, an anonymous source told the Buxton Advertiser ‘dozens’ of staff had been placed on ‘two-day-a-week contracts’.

The anonymous source said the new contracts would be effective from November 1.

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The question of the two day contracts was put to the High Peak Theatre Trust, which runs the venue. The trust did not comment directly on the matter in a statement issued to the Buxton Advertiser in response.

Buxton Opera House lit up in red in July in protest at a lack of guidance over reopening - Photo by David John KingBuxton Opera House lit up in red in July in protest at a lack of guidance over reopening - Photo by David John King
Buxton Opera House lit up in red in July in protest at a lack of guidance over reopening - Photo by David John King

However the theatre’s chief executive Paul Kerryson said the Trust had ‘commenced a consultation period with our permanent staff team’.

He said: “Due to the Coronavirus pandemic Buxton Opera House has been closed since March 23.

“As with many other theatres this has had a devastating impact on the organisation and sadly there is still no certainty of when the theatre will be permitted to reopen.

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“As a result of this the High Peak Theatre Trust has commenced a consultation period with our permanent staff team.”

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The Government’s furlough scheme - during which it paid 80 per cent of employee’s wages - closes at the end of October.

Furlough is being replaced with the Job Support Scheme - which only supports ‘viable jobs’.

Under the Government definition these are jobs there is a current need for - which are not just being propped up by the furlough scheme.

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Only employees who can work at least a third of their hours will be eligible.

It means those who normally work in venues that are still closed - such as ushers in theatres - will miss out on financial aid.

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None of the theatre’s senior staff have been available to discuss the consultation in detail.

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