Comedian and actor Liz Carr was announced as the winner of this year’s Olivier Award for best supporting actress last night for her role as Dr Emma Brookner in The Normal Heart at the National Theatre.
Carr’s character is inspired by Linda Laubenstein, a real HIV researcher and wheelchair user. Carr took the opportunity to suggest theatres should consider putting on separate performances for audiences who wish to socially distance and wear facemasks to protect them from the pandemic. Carr told BBC News: “Theatre should remain accessible even to those of us who have health conditions,
“Although there is no longer any legal requirement to wear masks indoors, she said: ‘I’m not sure about everybody wearing facemasks. Personally I think yes, they should, in indoor environments because Covid-19 is airborne.
“But I think theatres could think about having safer performances. I think they should have facemask performances that are more socially distanced. In the same way you might have a British sign language performance, I think you should have Covid-safer performances.
“Some of my friends who weren’t ready to come and see the show, they came to see the dress rehearsal, because they didn’t feel safe enough to come.”
