"We are the whipping boys"

2020-12-02T23:09:50.658Z

Michael Teubig, operator of the Tutzinger Kurtheater, says it emphatically: In Germany, there has not been a single corona infection in a cinema in the past six months. He shows all the less understanding for the cinema closings, which may be extended into the new year. He fears bankruptcy and thus the end of the spa theater.

Michael Teubig, operator of the Tutzinger Kurtheater, says it emphatically: In Germany, there has not been a single corona infection in a cinema in the past six months.

He shows all the less understanding for the cinema closings, which may be extended into the new year.

He fears bankruptcy and thus the end of the spa theater.

Tutzing -

After the first lockdown, Teubig resumed gaming in a restricted manner in mid-June, due to the lack of new blockbusters whose starts had been postponed with other films.

The number of visitors grew towards autumn, but not much.

On October 28th it was over again.

Teubig doesn't know how much longer he can hold out.

The second lockdown, originally prescribed for November and extended to December 20, provides for further extensions of 14 days each.

With another call for a fundraising campaign, Teubig tries to save the Kurtheater, which was founded 63 years ago, and bring it through the crisis alive.

"I know that the people of Tutzing love their cinema," he says, "I feel a lot of affection."

Will the announced government support help?

Teubig was only able to apply for the November aid announced by the Federal Ministry of Economics online from November 25th, and experience shows that the processing time for payments will take a long time.

What has he received so far during the pandemic?

“I received € 5,000 bridging aid once.” But he had to make payments month after month - because of ongoing costs for lease, electricity, heating, insurance, film rental, and last but not least for hygiene measures, and that with zero turnover.

He puts the monthly negative business at 1,800 to 2,000 euros.

"If I can no longer pay the bills, it will no longer work," concludes Teubig.

"Then the cinema is gone after 63 years."

Scientists have confirmed a low risk of infection in cinemas.

The Hermann Rietschel Institute at TU Berlin, for example, rates the danger in offices higher.

Teubig is convinced: “You can't get infected in our cinema.” In the hall, the rows are relatively far apart, with red and white adhesive tape blocking many seats.

A powerful ventilation system ensures fresh air and circulation throughout, entrances and exits are separated, employees disinfect doorknobs, taps, rubbish bins, toilets and counters before each performance.

Instead of 127 seats there are only 53 seats, but when the cinema is allowed to open, hardly more than 25 people come anyway, often fewer.

“We followed all the rules and did more,” says Teubig, “but now we're being punished.” He doesn't understand why, of all things, companies with good hygiene concepts, from restaurants to cinemas, theaters and music venues, have to close.

Teubig: "We are the whipping boys."

Lorenz Goslich