Are those green shoots we see?
Some of the glimmers of hope we saw at Electro Kabuki HQ over the first couple of months of this year have turned into a reassuring resurgence of interest.
In the past weeks, we have received EK enquiries from companies in Norway, the United Arab Emirates and in the US. We know that the customer in Norway has rented Electro Kabuki systems in the past and is now looking to purchase its own system for tours planned later this year. We look forward to that order.
This week, we are packaging up a full Electro Kabuki demonstration system and sending it off to the Dutch National Opera & Ballet in Amsterdam.
Everyone knows that the theatrical and events industry ground to a complete standstill in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. But there were a few indicators that all was not entirely lost with some EK enquiries continuing to trickle in. For example, our friends and partners at Blackout in France purchased 40 new EK dropper modules plus cables and clamps last October, as well as returning 17 dropper modules for our Refurbishment Service.
It’s great to see a noticeable upturn in enquires with event organisers and the theatrical sector optimistic about getting back to business soon.
Some of this is undoubtedly due to the almost miraculous speed with which vaccines were manufactured and approved, and the efficiency with which, in the UK at least, the vaccination process has been rolled out. Early signs are good. Economic recovery is some way off but just yesterday, in his spring budget, the Chancellor announced a £390 million stimulus package for the UK arts & culture sector.
Yes, we are looking forward to the triumphant return of the industry.