Manchester is to be the site of a major new and fully coronavirus-prepped theatre in the New Year.
The DriveINSIDE drive-in theatre was due to open in the autumn, but had to postpone due to Covid-19 measures.
Now the theatre will open at the Trafford Centre next spring – and will be allowed even under Manchester’s new tier three restrictions.
That’s because visitors stay inside their car after being directed to a vacant spot by a parking attendant-usher. Vehicles get a parking space and viewing area under a 68,000 sq ft marquee, which is the biggest in Europe.
Four weeks-worth of shows will begin in March, with creators Beyond Theatre hosting more than 30 productions. The theatre will hold 800 people at each performance.
Beyond Theatre is a company best known for creating “immersive” musicals in unusual venues such as cathedrals and warehouses.
The company’s Paul Levin, explained: “When Covid-19 shut things down we started thinking about how we could put on live shows again. The DriveINSIDE theatre is our answer.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be able to offer the lifeline of some real work for around 1,000 industry people in Manchester next March."
The theatre is planning a national tour after the month in Manchester is completed.