Roy Orbison tribute artist to play Chesterfield theatre for first time in new 'Covid-19 secure environment'

The West-Midlands based musician will take to the stage at the newly reopened Winding Wheel Theatre to showcase the music of Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne, Chris Isaak, Stevie Winwood, K.D. Lang and The Traveling Wilburys on Saturday, November 14.

Barry will be making his first debut since lockdown, in his comeback performance of the West End production of ‘The Roy Orbison Story’, straight from the Adelphi Theatre in London.

The 80s tribute artist will be joined on stage by guest pianist Boogie Williams, as he sings as the American singer-songwriter’s classic hits, alongside original material written but never sung by Roy Orbison.

Chesterfield Theatres have enforced a ‘Covid-19 secure’ booking system to make it safe for attendees, who will also be seated two metres away from other households during the performance.

Customers are required to pre-book tickets to the show online, which they will then show theatre staff on a mobile device on the night.

Face coverings are to be worn throughout the performance and payments for food and drink must be made by card.

Barry, who will be performing live for the first time since March 15, said how he feels about his first music gig in the ‘new normal’.

"We're quite nervous about it but excited as well because it is a whole new board game really and it might be the new normal for quite some time because we've got to get live music back out there”, he said.

"You go to the theatre, it is not as if you're loitering outside, you come in, you watch the show and then everybody goes home so it is actually very organised.

"We've been in rehearsals and everyone is really keen to get back at it because the industry is based on self-employed, freelancers.

"They are keen to get back to work, it is what they love, it's their passion.”

Many musicians, actors and theatre companies have struggled to survive during the coronavirus pandemic, with strict lockdown restrictions forcing them to give up work for several months in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.

Barry thanked Chesterfield Theatres for putting on the show, during a time when many arts and entertainment businesses have found it difficult to reopen.

"I'm very grateful that Chesterfield have had the foresight to re-open, I think they are very brave”, he added.

"The audience will see exactly the same show that they have already seen before, Chesterfield is a wide stage, everybody will be in the same positions as they were because they will spread out across the stage anyway.

"People are frightened but they need to appreciate that there is nothing to be frightened of because all of the risk assessments and hard work Chesterfield have done.

"They need to come out there and see the shows people are desperately trying to make happen.”

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