Members of The Royal Ballet dance in Elite Syncopations by Kenneth MacMillan during the "The Royal Ballet: Back on Stage" photocall at The Royal Opera House on October 08, 2020 in London, England. Getty Images
Members of The Royal Ballet dance in Elite Syncopations by Kenneth MacMillan during the "The Royal Ballet: Back on Stage" photocall at The Royal Opera House on October 08, 2020 in London, England. Getty Images
Members of The Royal Ballet dance in Elite Syncopations by Kenneth MacMillan during the "The Royal Ballet: Back on Stage" photocall at The Royal Opera House on October 08, 2020 in London, England. Getty Images
Members of The Royal Ballet dance in Elite Syncopations by Kenneth MacMillan during the "The Royal Ballet: Back on Stage" photocall at The Royal Opera House on October 08, 2020 in London, England. Get

When will the show go on? London’s Theatreland creeps out of Covid hibernation to face bleak future


Jamie Prentis
  • English
  • Arabic

Pre-show nerves are hardly a rarity backstage in London’s Theatreland, but after seven months of lockdown, tension behind the scenes has taken on a new meaning.

Some of the world's most famous and historic venues closed in March and remain closed. An entire way of life has been devastated after strict Covid-19 social-distancing rules made reopening a hazard, never mind financially unviable.

A smattering of shows were streamed online with no audience. But only now have some venues forged ahead to make the alterations necessary for theatre lovers to return.

At the Young Vic theatre in south London last week, The New Tomorrow became its first post-shutdown live theatre with a small audience present and the show streamed online. It featured short commissioned performances and activist speeches that examined what the next 50 years may hold – highly poignant during such current uncertainty.

'The New Tomorrow' is the Young Vic theatre's first production since lockdown. Young Vic
'The New Tomorrow' is the Young Vic theatre's first production since lockdown. Young Vic

The main room was adapted to provide 79 single seats at least a metre away from each other for the lucky few who obtained a ticket via a ballot.

The rehearsal process was largely conducted online, says director Jennifer Tang, who visited the Young Vic’s stage only days before the curtains were raised.

"It was actually quite emotional walking back into a theatre space, actually into an auditorium, and seeing a stage that was ready to accept performers, that had lights, had sound. I can't quite describe just how magical that feeling was and it made me realise that during lockdown I've not really let myself feel how much I've been missing it," she tells The National.

“It was a really magical moment of coming back in and knowing that we are on the very slow, slippery road to bringing work back to audiences. That does feel like a responsibility but also it feels like a privilege. I feel very lucky that we’re in a position where we can be bringing work back because there are lots of buildings and organisations that might not be in this position and I really feel for my colleagues who aren’t able to do that.”

Tentative steps to tread the boards were made in recent weeks, but optimistic voices are few and far between.

Julian Bird, chief executive of UK Theatre, and the Society of London Theatre (Solt), leading collective voices for British performing arts organisations, believes only 22 per cent of venues have reopened. Of those, most have been able to do so at only 30 per cent capacity.

In July, the government announced a £1.57 billion ($2.03bn) Culture Recovery Fund, through a mixture of loans and grants. But amid stark warnings that as many as 70 per cent of theatres will run out of cash by the end of the year, most applicants will not find out if they have been successful until next week.

Shuttered theatres have become a regular sight in London's West End during the pandemic. Getty Images
Shuttered theatres have become a regular sight in London's West End during the pandemic. Getty Images

The theatre industry employs 290,000 workers, 70 per cent of whose jobs are now at risk, according to Solt and UK Theatre in documents submitted to a parliamentary committee.

Thousands of redundancies have already been announced, including at Ambassador Theatre Group, Delfont Macintosh Theatres and HQ Theatres, as revenues plummet.

The bleak picture is in contrast to what was a thriving enterprise. In 2018, Britain's box office revenue was more than £1.28bn, with 34 million tickets sold, Solt and UK Theatre said. Last year, 15.3m people attended Solt member venues, which includes London’s most prominent theatres, and a gross revenue of nearly £800m.

The programme ahead

Across the West End, some major shows and theatres have now announced plans to reopen. Six, the musical about King Henry VIII's wives, will start its run at London's Lyric Theatre from Saturday, November 14, while at the National Theatre, live performances return with Death of England: Delroy from Wednesday, October 21.

Nimax Theatres, which owns six of the most famous venues in London including the Lyric, announced that its venues will begin opening from the end of the month but will run at a loss because of social distancing.

The Show Must Go On, a concert celebrating some of the most famous shows that normally would be on in London, will be staged from Friday to Sunday, November 13 to 15, at the Palace Theatre.

It was a really magical moment of coming back in and knowing that we are on the very slow slippery road to bringing work back to audiences

The Royal Ballet, Britain's largest ballet company, took a leap forward on Friday after seven months of Covid-19 gloom. It held a three-hour live-streamed performance from the Royal Opera House in London with about 70 dancers mixing classics such as Romeo and Juliet and Don Quixote with playful modern dance.

Despite the glimmer of hope, the industry is in a precarious state with the popular musical Wicked among the shows to postpone reopening.

The reality is that even for those that do reopen, reduced audiences mean shows will struggle to break even.

Solt and UK Theatre launched their "See it Safely" campaign in the hope people will feel more comfortable about returning. But the industry also wants to show it is capable of staging performances safely so theatres can return to full capacity. An enhanced tax relief for productions has also been suggested to keep them afloat.

Members of The Royal Ballet dance in 'Elite Syncopations' by Kenneth MacMillan during the The Royal Ballet: Back on Stage photocall at The Royal Opera House in London. Getty Images
Members of The Royal Ballet dance in 'Elite Syncopations' by Kenneth MacMillan during the The Royal Ballet: Back on Stage photocall at The Royal Opera House in London. Getty Images

Theatre not a priority

There was already a bubbling frustration that the arts sector was being neglected by the government when Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak was accused of overlooking the industry when he announced his winter support plan last month.

There are also fears that, with about 70 per cent of people in the sector self-employed, freelancers may struggle more than others financially.

Director Sam Mendes led a drive to raise nearly £4m for the Theatre Artists Fund, which gives small emergency grants for support, but concerns remain about the long-term situation for workers if venues stay closed or cannot open at full capacity.

Producer Katy Lipson had her musical The Last Five Years, at Southwark Playhouse, cut short in March – leaving "astronomical" losses – as Covid-19 spread in the UK, although a revival of the staging has since begun.

“The last six months I’ve been really trying to reopen the show and to talk regularly with the venue about how they would open if the government allowed with social distancing a factor,” she says.

The Last Five Years has since reopened, on October 5, and the venue has been reconfigured with dividers between households. A one-way system is also in place and extensive disinfection occurs. Only half the Playhouse capacity will be met, which Lipson says is unsustainable in the long run.

Arts can help change people more than anything else. It's the most incredible thing out there... it can give so much hope

“Financially it’s very hard and it’s hard to get people to understand the risks you're taking and how this isn’t a normal situation where producers are making money.

“It’s a really big risk. At any point the show could close again and not only will I have lost all the money from the first time, we would have lost even more money this time.

“I do think we have to now start working together more, with representation, artists and producers, and understanding about getting the show on and giving jobs right now and giving people hope.”

It is impossible to predict the future but she says it remains uncertain.

"I'll be on the edge of my seat for six weeks praying that the actors don't get poorly and the show carries on and audiences come," Lipson says.

Tang says the hardest part of being a director was not being able to have face-to-face creative conversations with her team. She says it has forced her to really think and revaluate theatre-making.

“The thing I realised is that Covid is not going away any time soon and I think it’s really dangerous to think it will all just go back to normal any time.”

The effect of Covid-19 is also being felt by other entertainment venues. Last month, the English National Opera put on a drive-in version of Puccini's La Boheme for eight days at Alexandra Palace as it sought to redress some of the damage done during lockdown.

The Royal Albert Hall will open its doors in time for Christmas, but only 36,000 tickets will go on sale compared with more than 120,000 in 2019.

Productions such as this from the Royal Ballet have been livestreamed in the absence of crowds. Reuters
Productions such as this from the Royal Ballet have been livestreamed in the absence of crowds. Reuters

The world’s second-biggest cinema chain, Cineworld, announced this week it will temporarily close – putting nearly 6,000 jobs at risk in the UK – after the release of several blockbusters was delayed, with the postponement of the new James Bond film until 2021 proving the final nail in the coffin.

Last month, Andrew Lloyd Webber, one of the most famous names in musical theatre, said the industry was at "the point of no return".

“We simply have to get our arts sector back open and running,” he said.

“My life is theatre," Lipton says. "I think it’s one of the most important things out there. Arts can help change people more than anything else. It’s the most incredible thing out there, it can represent so much, it can give so much hope, it can give so much joy and we will lose a lot of companies and buildings over this and we will not be the same.”

But despite the theatre industry's determination that the show must go on, the havoc wreaked by the coronavirus means its future is far from certain.

Race 3

Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Salem
Rating: 2.5 stars

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Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

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Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

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The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000

Engine 3.6L V6

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm

Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO

AC Milan v Inter, Sunday, 6pm (UAE), match live on BeIN Sports

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

THE BIO

Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren

Favourite travel destination: Switzerland

Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers

Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Recent winners

2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)

2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)

2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)

2007 Grace Bijjani  (Mexico)

2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)

2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)

2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)

2011 Maria Farah (Canada)

2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)

2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)              

2014 Lia Saad  (UAE)

2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)

2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)

2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)

2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)

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Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

The specs

Common to all models unless otherwise stated

Engine: 4-cylinder 2-litre T-GDi

0-100kph: 5.3 seconds (Elantra); 5.5 seconds (Kona); 6.1 seconds (Veloster)

Power: 276hp

Torque: 392Nm

Transmission: 6-Speed Manual/ 8-Speed Dual Clutch FWD

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THREE
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
PROFILE OF HALAN

Started: November 2017

Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport and logistics

Size: 150 employees

Investment: approximately $8 million

Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar

Mina Cup winners

Under 12 – Minerva Academy

Under 14 – Unam Pumas

Under 16 – Fursan Hispania

Under 18 – Madenat

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The Word for Woman is Wilderness
Abi Andrews, Serpent’s Tail

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs

Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed

Power: 271 and 409 horsepower

Torque: 385 and 650Nm

Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000

The%20specs
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THE SPECS

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Engine:  3.6L V-6

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 310hp

Torque: 367Nm

Price: Dh280,000

Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?

The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.

The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.

He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.

He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.

He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:

Ajax 2-3 Tottenham

Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate

Final: June 1, Madrid

West Asia Premiership

Dubai Hurricanes 58-10 Dubai Knights Eagles

Dubai Tigers 5-39 Bahrain

Jebel Ali Dragons 16-56 Abu Dhabi Harlequins

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

MATCH INFO

What: Brazil v South Korea
When: Tonight, 5.30pm
Where: Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae

The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder

Transmission: seven-speed auto

Power: 400hp

Torque: 500Nm

Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)

On sale: 2022 

Match statistics

Abu Dhabi Harlequins 36 Bahrain 32

 

Harlequins

Tries: Penalty 2, Stevenson, Teasdale, Semple

Cons: Stevenson 2

Pens: Stevenson

 

Bahrain

Tries: Wallace 2, Heath, Evans, Behan

Cons: Radley 2

Pen: Radley

 

Man of the match: Craig Nutt (Harlequins)

Syria squad

Goalkeepers: Ibrahim Alma, Mahmoud Al Youssef, Ahmad Madania.
Defenders: Ahmad Al Salih, Moayad Ajan, Jehad Al Baour, Omar Midani, Amro Jenyat, Hussein Jwayed, Nadim Sabagh, Abdul Malek Anezan.
Midfielders: Mahmoud Al Mawas, Mohammed Osman, Osama Omari, Tamer Haj Mohamad, Ahmad Ashkar, Youssef Kalfa, Zaher Midani, Khaled Al Mobayed, Fahd Youssef.
Forwards: Omar Khribin, Omar Al Somah, Mardik Mardikian.

ARM%20IPO%20DETAILS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EShare%20price%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETarget%20raise%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%248%20billion%20to%20%2410%20billion%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProjected%20valuation%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2460%20billion%20to%20%2470%20billion%20(Source%3A%20Bloomberg)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ELead%20underwriters%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Barclays%2C%20Goldman%20Sachs%20Group%2C%20JPMorgan%20Chase%20and%20Mizuho%20Financial%20Group%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKinetic%207%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rick%20Parish%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clean%20cooking%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
In numbers

1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:

  • 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
  • 150 tonnes to landfill
  • 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal

800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal

Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year

25 staff on site

 

EA Sports FC 26

Publisher: EA Sports

Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Rating: 3/5

EMIRATES'S%20REVISED%20A350%20DEPLOYMENT%20SCHEDULE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEdinburgh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20November%204%20%3Cem%3E(unchanged)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBahrain%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20November%2015%20%3Cem%3E(from%20September%2015)%3C%2Fem%3E%3B%20second%20daily%20service%20from%20January%201%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EKuwait%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20November%2015%20%3Cem%3E(from%20September%2016)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMumbai%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%201%20%3Cem%3E(from%20October%2027)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAhmedabad%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%201%20%3Cem%3E(from%20October%2027)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColombo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202%20%3Cem%3E(from%20January%201)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMuscat%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cem%3E%20%3C%2Fem%3EMarch%201%3Cem%3E%20(from%20December%201)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ELyon%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20March%201%20%3Cem%3E(from%20December%201)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBologna%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20March%201%20%3Cem%3E(from%20December%201)%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20Emirates%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

Specs

Price, base: Dhs850,000
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 591bhp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.3L / 100km

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
DMZ facts
  • The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
  • It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
  • The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
  • It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
  • Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
  • Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
  • Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012. 
  • Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.