Culture Interrupted
Culture Interrupted – A Brand-New Sky Arts Documentary Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 on the Music, Theatre and Arts Industries
Katie Melua and Melanie C contemplate a catastrophic year for music as Covid-19 strikes huge losses to the £5bn industry. How will our young musicians cope as tours cancel and dreams fall apart?
During the first lockdown spirits were lifted by musicians such as Chris Martin who serenaded us from his home – one of many live streams to bring people together through the power of music, as did Vera Lynne’s We’ll Meet Again, quoted even by the Queen in her address to the nation.
However as live music venues and theatres across the country went dark, with all live shows cancelled, jobs, livelihoods and dreams of breaking through in 2020 were destroyed.
We follow singer songwriter Eliza Shaddad and band Kawala as they attempt to navigate a catastrophic year for the music industry as their gigs are cancelled and plans fall apart.
Talking heads include music indie heavyweights Melanie C (who takes us back to an empty Wembley Stadium to reminisce about her Spice Girls shows in 2019), Katie Melua (in an eerily empty Royal Albert Hall where she was supposed to be live this autumn), Sister Bliss (at Faithless fave Alexandra Palace), Agent Emma Banks at the o2 and Frank Turner on his efforts to raise money for the hundreds of small venues facing closure including the Clapham Grand, we also hear from Arlo Parks and Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze.
We also explore the impact on thousands of freelancers in the music indie (three quarters are self-employed) who have fallen through the cracks to receive no financial support from the Government.
There is anger and despair as dreams are dashed and livelihoods lost, but also hope for the future as an industry attempts to pick itself up, dust itself down and adapt to survive.
An emotional roller coaster of a must-watch for anyone who loves music, theatre and the arts.
Philip Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Arts, said: “As we limp to the end of 2020 we wanted to take a moment to look back at the effects of the pandemic on a generation of performers who had to press pause on their careers in music and the arts. At a time when we need the kind of uplifting inspiration culture brings to us it’s more important than ever to celebrate and support the people who entertain us and look forward to them getting back in front of audiences. Here’s hoping 2021 is the dawn of a new Roaring 20s.”
The 1x60 film was commissioned by Director of Sky Arts Philip Edgar-Jones and is a Sky News production for Sky Arts.
SKY ARTS, 7pm, Sunday 20th December (Freeview channel 11)
SKY NEWS, 9pm Christmas Eve
This discussion has been locked
Sorry, you can't reply to this discussion as it's been locked by our Community Managers.
This discussion has been locked
Sorry, you can't reply to this discussion as it's been locked by our Community Managers.
