Arlene Phillips says it’s ‘beyond devastating’ to see theatres struggle during Covid pandemic

Arlene Phillips has admitted that it is ‘beyond devastating’ and ‘mentally really tough’ to see the theatre industry struggle during the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking in a new exclusive interview with MailOnline, the choreographer, 77, praised composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, who has been ‘brilliant’ and a ‘real force’, in trying to get shows back on stage amid the crisis.

Arlene, who is is currently supporting the Care For Others. Make A Difference campaign, admitted that she has found it ‘hard’ to wake up every day ‘bunny hopping with excitement’, especially after 2020 saw several of her projects delayed.

The theatre industry has been one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many venues still closed after being forced to shut their doors in March 2020. 

Indoor performances are set to resume around May 17 with a socially distanced audience of no more than 1,000 people as part of Boris Johnson’s Step Three plan.

It is believed that larger audiences will be reintroduced on June 21 as Step Four with the Prime Minister revealing that lateral flow testing could be the key to reopening.    

Arlene told MailOnline: ‘You know it is actually beyond devastating and I think probably for the majority of people in theatre, have come to theatre through a passion, through something that they have to do because it’s what drives them.

‘They often found what being part of a theatre or entertainment was something they discovered, like dance. I lost my mother, it replaced and became everything in my life. So it was my passion, my drive.’

Arlene added that working in the theatre industry ‘defines’ people and that they are ‘very driven’ people.

She continued: ‘Their job is a joy, they want to wake up to every single morning and when it’s taken away… it’s been devastating.

‘I feel the loss mentally, I feel the loss of the way that I used to make the most of every hour because every hour was so precious in doing what I wanted to do.’

Arlene added: ‘I’ve been trying to give myself very much to charity over this time, what can I do? What can I do to make a difference? 

‘The loss of theatre is hard, it’s tough, it’s mentally really tough. It’s also because when you feel like you have a purpose, suddenly your purpose has gone. It’s a very different life to the one I’m used to.’

She added: ‘It is a very strange feeling and it’s so hard to every single day to wake up and being like a bunny hopping with excitement, you have to say confident. Things to do every day. It can often slip away, like last year after not doing any work at all.’

The star revealed she was able to briefly return to work over the summer to do a small open-air show on Battersea Pier, but Arlene admitted that she was ‘afraid’ and full of ‘butterflies’ on the first day of rehearsals due to being away for months. 

Arlene is currently supporting the Care For Others. Make A Difference campaign, which highlights options available to those considering a job in social care and celebrates the nation’s care workers during the campaign.

Talking about the devastating impact on theatres further, the former Strictly judge praised Andrew Lloyd Webber for being a ‘real force’ in trying to get shows back on stage. 

She said: ‘Andrew Lloyd Webber has been brilliant, a real force in trying to get theatre back. Producers, theatres have been fighting valiantly throughout this whole year, this long year, to get theatres back.’

Arlene also praised shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, which she used to judge, and Britain’s Got Talent, for being able to return to televisions.

She said: ‘It was absolutely amazing, of course entertainment is exciting. Of course it is not as exciting as being there, feeling that atmosphere, you feel like the air is alive, even the air around you is alive. 

‘I look forward to that but I’m glad we’ve had so much on television, I’m glad there has been this constant giving, shows, artists, everyone giving up whatever they can to make those performances happen on television or online.’

Talking about how her own career has been impacted, Arlene said: ‘Oh my goodness, last year I had actually Grease the Musical was ready to go, I was just about to go into rehearsal then that stopped and we’ve probably had four or five dates.

‘We’re hoping that is going to open, it’s a new version on tour, we did it in 2019, we’re praying we’re going to be able to pick it up and open again.

‘A couple of new shows that I’m waiting to hear about and also I spent a lot of time, creating shows.

‘This quiet time has given me a chance to spend time creating with wonderful people I work with, most people in the theatre, we’re waiting. 

‘We feel like we’re on the brink of something, but we cannot say for definite. I cannot definitely say that this is going to open on this date, guaranteed.’

Looking forward, Arlene insisted that things have to go back to normal, she said: ‘They have to be the same again, they will be the same again. it’s just taking a long time. I think it will reopen up and it will be, I think it will be the same again.’

Arlene is currently supporting the Department of Health’s Care For Others. Make A Difference campaign, which highlights options available to those considering a job in social care and celebrates the nation’s care workers during the campaign.

The choreographer has joined Rachel Riley and Jo Brand to back a new film that pays tribute to the hard work and dedication of care workers during the pandemic and encourages people to consider a career in social care.

Arlene said that the campaign was important to her as she relied on adult care workers to help her late father, Abraham, who had Alzheimer’s.

She said: ‘For me the appeal was the fact that I had used adult social services when I needed help with my father when he had dementia and I was working full-time. 

‘Trying to get support searching for support, help, was really difficult. But discovering there was someone I could reach out to, there was a place I could reach out to, was really important.’

Arlene said with people now questioning their careers during the pandemic, or losing work, it is important for people to know that adult social services is an option with training and can be done part-time alongside their jobs. 

She added: ‘If you need help and help with someone, especially as my father had Alzheimer’s, and he gradually got worse and worse, was in a care home.

‘It wasn’t just the physical health he needed but also he loved to walk but needed someone to go for a walk with him because he didn’t know where he was, or someone ready to him. 

‘It’s all the things that people need when they really need almost 24-hours care, there’s always someone that can take some role in it.’

While Minister of Care, Helen Whately, added: ‘The social care workforce have been doing an incredible job throughout the pandemic. 

‘They have shown real dedication and a desire to make a difference to the lives of the most vulnerable people in our society.

‘A career in social care is rewarding and there are a wide variety of roles in the sector that would suit people from a diverse range of backgrounds.

‘Whether it is supporting people in their homes, or working in residential care or care homes, there are lots of ways people can help those in their community stay safe, happy and healthy.’

Arlene is supporting the Care For Others. Make A Difference campaign highlighting options available to those considering a job in social care. To find a job to be proud of in your area visit www.everydayisdifferent.com.