“We are still unable to see much light at the end of the tunnel”

Wednesday 12 August 2020

A local events company is the latest to sound the alarm over the crisis facing the performance, theatre and functions industry.

Delta Events last night illuminated its warehouses in Jersey and Guernsey in red to show its support for the nationwide #LightItRed campaign.

The initiative aims to raise awareness of the struggles for the events industry, and saw companies across the British Isles bathe their buildings in red light to draw attention to the dramatic situation caused by covid-19.

The campaign was supported by not only event locations but also event centres, convention centres, conference hotels, theatres, concert halls, playhouses and nightclubs.

Pictured: Delta Events' warehouse in Guernsey illuminated red for the Light It In Red Campaign. 

Delta Events Managing Director, Simon Gasston, said his full-time staff, and a number of freelance supports, are all suffering at the moment.

"We took part in this campaign to raise awareness. The events industry is one of the most affected by the pandemic, and with the current restrictions in place we are unable to do the work that our team do so well."

LESS THAN 24 HOURS TO GO!

There is still time register your illuminations at https://t.co/WyZ0DrV6gT

Join the over 500 other locations lighting up across the UK!#LightItInRed #WeMakeEvents pic.twitter.com/GxbtBBlFCP

— Light It In Red (@LightItInRed) August 10, 2020

Gasston added: "With the release of the Level 1 guidelines in Jersey and the current situation in Guernsey with travel, we are still unable to see much light at the end of the tunnel.

"We need to make sure islanders and our local governments are aware of the plight our industry is going through and the light it red campaign is a perfect way for us to do just that.”

Other local companies have also been taking part in the movement. In July, the Jersey Opera House and Arts Centre also donned red tones to highlight their plight.

Pictured: Delta Events join the Jersey Opera House, who also took part in the campaign back in July.

In May, Express reported that local theatres are expecting it to be curtains until 2021 due to the distancing restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of covid-19.

Performances and large-scale events are still not possible under the current Level 1 rules.

It had been hoped that they would be - subject to physical distancing requirements - but Deputy Chief Minister Senator Lyndon Farnham said the island had to take a "more cautious" approach than initially planned.