Hello My Friends

I hope you are all keeping safe and well.

2020 is a year that none of us will forget and I would never have believed that I’d be banned by the Government from performing in front of a live audience for an unbelievable ten months and counting.

This is an ever changing situation and this page is updated almost everyday.

In early September things seemed to be heading in the right direction for live performances with my union ‘Equity’ releasing this statement on September 6th 2020;

“Equity have been informed that the government intends to re-open live performance without the need for social distancing, masks and limited audiences – including theatre, variety and sport – from the 1st November 2020”

Shortly after this statement was released, the Government announced that this reopening would be dependant on a new trial called “Operation Moonshot”, which would allow audience members to be tested within 30 minutes before attending a live performance.

However, on the 24th of September 2020 this trial was postponed indefinitely.

You maybe aware that “Tour Guides” have been operating throughout 2020 with restrictions of no more than six people, social distancing and masks. However under new lock down guided tours of any description can no longer go ahead. 

The reason why “Tour Guides” were allowed to operate and I wasn’t is because I am a “Professional Actor” and the rules are different for actors. This is explained by the Government Department of digital, culture, media and sport.

“The reason why there is a difference is that Actors/Performers and Musicians/Singers can potentially release an aerosol transmission of COVID 19 between themselves and the audience and vice versa – and tour guides, because they are not performing, don’t”

Currently Actors and Performances  that move from one location to another are not allowed to take place.

Only fully seated, masked, socially distanced limited audiences are currently being trialled in Tier 1 & 2 areas.

All of Flecky Bennett Productions are pieces of promenade theatre which can include singing, screaming, shouting, dancing, audience participation, music, shared props and lighting/special effects, which take place either indoors or outdoors depending on the performance.

Here at Flecky Bennett Productions the health and well-being of our audiences are of the utmost importance. This will never change. Therefore, we made the difficult decision to postpone every performance since 13th March 2020.

We are monitoring the situation on a daily basis. This is the most up to date information regarding the COVID pandemic;

As of the 5th of January 2021 The UK is now in a full National Lockdown

New measures have now been implemented that include

You must not meet with other households inside or outside.

Fines are being implemented for individuals and businesses of up to £10.000

The latest R rating is 1.2 to 1.3

All of the above affects our performances and here is a breakdown of how exactly.

The Original Manchester Ghost Walk

The Saturday Night Manchester Ghost Walk

The Ancoats Ghost Walk

The Stockport Ghost Walk

The Bolton Ghost Walk

The Highgate Ghost & Vampire Walk

The Altrincham Ghost Walk*

These performances cannot go ahead because live performances that move from one location to another (inside or out) are currently banned.

UPDATE*Mort Subite where the Altincham Ghost Walk ends is now closed until further notice due to National Lockdown restrictions

The Chorlton Ghost Walk

Cannot go ahead because live performances that move from one location to another (inside or out) are currently banned. Also in this performance a haunted room is used for a Ouija Board session. This room is now closed due to tier 3 restrictions

UPDATE

The Lead Station where the haunted room is located is now closed due to

National Lockdown restrictions

The Didsbury Ghost Walk

Cannot go ahead because live performances that move from one location to another (inside or out) are currently banned. Also this performance uses the grounds of The Didsbury Old Parsonage which is currently closed until further notice

due to

National Lockdown restrictions

The Tavern of the Dead

Cannot go ahead because live performances that move from one location to another (inside or out) are currently banned. Also this performance takes place in a haunted room. This room is very small and cannot allow for social distancing measures.

UPDATE-

The Shakespeare Inn is closed until further notice

due to

National Lockdown restrictions

Stockport Air Raid Shelter Experience 

Cannot go ahead because live performances that move from one location to another (inside or out) are currently banned.

The Stockport Air Raid Shelters are closed until further notice

due to

National Lockdown restrictions

The Bramall Hall Experience 

Cannot go ahead because live performances that move from one location to another (inside or out) are currently banned. 

Bramall Hall

is closed until further notice

due to

National Lockdown restrictions

Stockport’s Staircase House Experience 

Cannot go ahead because live performances that move from one location to another (inside or out) are currently banned. 

The house is

is closed until further notice

due to

National Lockdown restrictions

The Ordsall Hall Experience 

Cannot go ahead because live performances that move from one location to another (inside or out) are currently banned. 

In regards to Ordsall Hall

is closed until further notice

due to

National Lockdown restrictions

The Manchester River Cruise Experience 

In regards to The Manchester River Cruise Experience. The Manchester River Cruise company is until further notice not operating any of their tours or events

due to

National Lockdown restrictions

 Flecky Bennett Productions believe that it is our duty to not compromise the health of our audiences by encouraging the congregation of mixed households.

Flecky Bennett Productions do not want to change any aspect of our award winning performances because this would mean short changing our loyal audiences.

The “Live” Performance side of Flecky Bennett Productions is now “moth balled” to avoid bankruptcy. As with all professional actors only universal credit is currently keeping Flecky afloat.

As soon as Live performances without the need for masks and social distancing are once again permitted by the government we will be in contact with all audience members from the many postponed performances since March 13th 2020

Don’t worry, your tickets will remain valid for rescheduled public performance dates and any private bookings will also be rescheduled with deposits carrying over.

All gift vouchers will be accepted even if they have expired.

Eventbrite have a thorough record of every ticket sale. Once we are able to restart we will go through the postponed performances in date order and contact each ticket holder to offer a series of rescheduled dates that you will be able to choose from.

We guarantee that no one will lose their ticket value or deposit value for private performances

Thank you for your loyalty, patience and understanding. We will get through this tough time together.

If you can support Flecky Bennett Productions through these disastrous times, please enjoy the many Facebook/YouTube episodes which are free to watch but Tips are very welcome.

And if your missing your Flecky Fix please check out the Facebook live page.

We hope you’re all keeping well and really look forward to seeing you again as soon as possible.

Flecky & Emma