Back in June, the EBU confirmed that the stage design for Eurovision 2020 would still be used for the 2021 show. However, it now appears the area surrounding the stage will be getting revamped. Executive producer Sietse Bakker told Dutch media that the area normally filled with the standing audience will instead be filled with the green room.

Speaking to NOS, Bakker said, “Normally there would be 2000 fans on the floor around the stage, waving all kinds of flags. That is of course not possible in the corona era.”

Instead, the floor of Rotterdam Ahoy arena will be filled with the green room, housing the artists and their delegations during the show. It also suggests that the green room areas for each country will be spaced further apart, ensuring social distancing.

In the original plans, the green room would have located in the main arena, but further back from the stage.

The revamped area near the stage follows some national final stages — including Sweden’s Melodifestivalen — that have been specifically designed to make the show look just as good with no live audience.

Bakker also explained that restrictions of the Covid era meant that Eurovision 2021 plans were constantly being tweaked. “We live in a new reality,” he said, “so certain plans are no longer possible. And if you have more time — as is the case now — you start asking questions about some ideas that we thought were very good at first. Almost everything has been tinkered with recently.”

Will Eurovision 2021 have a live audience?

And with the green room taking up the arena floor space, it seems certain that Eurovision 2021 will not have a live audience standing in front of the stage. The standing audience area was introduced when Sweden hosted Eurovision 2013 and has become a regular fixture of the event.

However, while the size of a live audience is still uncertain, Bakker says he is hoping that the Dutch government will be able to relax their rules. He explained, “The government roadmap shows that for locations larger than 2000 square meters, an exception can be made in terms of the amount of audience members.

But the Dutch government has said this sort of situation could only happen when the infection rate of Covid-19 is considerably lower. The Eurovision 2021 producers will decide on the audience situation by mid-April based on the measures in place at that time.

Earlier this month, the EBU confirmed that all Eurovision 2021 tickets would be refunded. The tickets were based on the 2020 seating plan which could not longer be used for 2021. However, once the audience situation is confirmed by mid-April new tickets may be available for the Eurovision 2021 live audience.

What do you think? Will the show feel different with the green room down the front? What other changes should be made to the stage? Tell us your ideas below!

Read more Eurovision 2021 news here

27 Comments
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Gavin
Gavin
3 years ago

In some respects I wish they would look at the situation for what it is. I think it’s been obvious for awhile we wouldn’t be in a position to have a stadium full of people. The show should been designed the year for a television audience and not necessarily for a stadium. I do my broadcasters for the hope of hosting a grand scale competition. I am delighted to see the amazing stage designs in action. However I do feel you have to look at the situation for what it is and acknowledge what you have and what we have… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Gavin
Samo
Samo
3 years ago

There goes a chance for proper audience. Having an audience seated far way from the stage makes no difference for the show (although I’m of course happy for the individual fans who will get to enjoy the experience). To be honest, audience-less national shows are terrible, very few broadcasters managed to make it work. I really hoped they will find a solution. If Dutch governments plans to allow large festivals in July, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem to have a socially distanced seated audience in late May. And would it really be so hard to find ~4000… Read more »

Stephanie
3 years ago

Big news from the UK: “Arcade” (Netherlands 2019) has entered the Official Charts top 40 at #39! The song has also re-entered the Irish chart at #30. On top of now being the most streamed Eurovision song on Spotify, Duncan is really deserving of his success thus far

Miguel
Miguel
3 years ago

Can’t wait to see the Karabakh flag being waved by the Armenian delegation when the Azeri singer is on stage. (Ironic)
Bad idea, sorry.

Bamborough
Bamborough
3 years ago
Reply to  Miguel

And I oop-

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
3 years ago
Reply to  Miguel

XD i’m certain the camera crew will get strict orders not to film the 2 delegations after each others performances (if they reach the final)

Cameron
Cameron
3 years ago
Reply to  Miguel

Turkey didn’t get kicked out, they made that decision on their own

HarpyDarper
HarpyDarper
3 years ago

Intriguing stuff. Of course I’m still sad that the Netherlands cannot host a regular show (and all the festivities outside the show), but this is an interesting idea, it’s always sweet to see the contestants interact and support each other, and everyone understands that all these big shows need compromising, it’s the chance to be unique. We’ve seen the green room in the arena a few times before (like in 2016), so I’m thinking they won’t use the whole floor of the arena and the stage will be pushed forward. But what about the tiered seats? Remains to be seen

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
3 years ago

I hope they don’t change it too much. I was in love with this stage design.

Martin Månsson
Martin Månsson
3 years ago

Then hopefully there won’t be awful/needless camera shots away from the stage/artists. Reminded by the camerawork for Tulia.

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
3 years ago

Yeah, that was terribly edited

Martin Månsson
Martin Månsson
3 years ago

The first thing could be solved with close ups from a different angle to avoid getting the crew on camera.

Tamara also stood still with basic movement and the camera didn’t focus at the audience, not even once. Especially not during the chorus.

Friedenau
Friedenau
3 years ago

Anything works for me as long as we have Eurovision this year, honestly. 2020 was a sad, long year without my favourite show.

Just stop
Just stop
3 years ago
Reply to  Friedenau

What you mean, in other articles here abot Melfest you were describing Dora as trash and MGP as a average show?
Don’t try to shine your comments, when you clearly haven’t changed your mind over night..

Janet
Janet
3 years ago
Reply to  Friedenau

In what way? Wiwibloggs are amazing yes but nobody replaced 3 amazing shows with qualifiers and a voting sequences

Fast Food Music Lover
Fast Food Music Lover
3 years ago

I hope whatever the design is it will be cost-effective since they can’t profit from ticket sales anymore.

Joe
Joe
3 years ago

That makes sense. Shame that extra space couldn’t be used for a live band of some sort, but the last thing they need is something else to spend money on.

#pioneer
#pioneer
3 years ago

I’m sorry to leave it here and make an offtop, but recently a former ESC contestant (and also a commentator for his country a few times) became father: https://www.instagram.com/p/CLHrijchRri/

Ria van de Velde
Ria van de Velde
3 years ago
Reply to  #pioneer

That ‘s very nice !! What a lovely pictures. congratulations to Freddy and his wife much with their baby boy or girl ( I don ‘t speak Hungarian, so I can ‘t read the words he wrote on his Instagram)

Rottendam
Rottendam
3 years ago

Perhaps they should do something like they do at the Brit Awards, dining tables of some sort where you book your space, a slightly more formal event.

Alex
Alex
3 years ago

so will it be only locals attending since there will be limitations with international flights?

Curious to see how social distancing will be applied with audience in the shows.

Joey
Joey
3 years ago

I guess the fanclubs are taking over the seats then… I hope that they won’t, but since they got the floor for themselves last year… it could happen.

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
3 years ago
Reply to  Joey

Would be an outrage

Tim Nilsson
Tim Nilsson
3 years ago

It would be so cute if the other singers would function as an audience sitting there watching the performances and cheering all the acts on. C U T E UwU

Bear
Bear
3 years ago
Reply to  Tim Nilsson

Actually that’s true haha, I would love to see that. It would be awesome to see delegations and other artists cheer for other artists

Last edited 3 years ago by Bear
Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
3 years ago
Reply to  Tim Nilsson

That’s exactly what I thought when I heard about the front row green room. It would be a good extension of 2018, which had some of the best green room clips…was very joyful to see the contestants enjoying each other’s songs, or dancing to Toy and Fuego in the green room. Would be great to see that camaraderie after such a difficult year and a half.

Last edited 3 years ago by Jimmy Smit
Sabrina
Sabrina
3 years ago

Of course nothing replaces the power of a loud crowd, but it seems like a good idea. I wonder if the artists in the green room would be filmed during the performances. It could generate some iconic images. Eurovision’s Youtube usually has videos showing the artists reactions in the green room and it’s always fun to check them.

Last edited 3 years ago by Sabrina