Unexpected opera star in the baggage area: British mezzo soprano swaps Don Giovanni role for shelf-stacking in Co-op after coronavirus shut all theatres
- Joanne Harries, 31, was playing Zerlina in the Merry Opera Company production
- Instead of playing to packed out theatres, she is now working in a supermarket
- Ms Harries told fans there is still plenty of food available and not to panic buy
- Thousands of performers and musicians have been laid off during the crisis
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
A top opera singer has swapped her leading role in Don Giovanni and is instead stacking shelves at her local Co-op supermarket.
Mezzo soprano Joanne Harries, 31, was playing Zerlina in the Merry Opera Company’s production of Mozart’s classic when the coronavirus lockdown forced the show’s closure.
Instead, the talented singer is working on the till and stacking shelves at her local Co-op in Rotherhithe, south east London.
Mezzo soprano Joanne Harries, pictured, has swapped her leading role in Don Giovanni
She told her fans on Twitter that she is now stacking shelves in a supermarket… even though it wasn’t the role she expected
Thousands of performers, such as Ms Harries, pictured, have been forced to put their professional careers on hold as a result of the coronavirus shut down
Speaking to The Times, Ms Harries said: ‘Like every other musician in the industry all of my work that I was expecting to be doing has been cancelled up until the end of July. This is something I can do to be helpful and productive and also keep me occupied during this time.’
Ms Harries posted details of her new temporary career on her Instagram page.
Supermarkets have been recruiting new staff to cope with the demand of customers who have been panic buying as coronavirus restrictions are strengthened.
Firms have struggled to prove delivery slots for customers ordering their weekly shop online and have been seeking to increase the number of drivers.
As a result of the crisis, almost two thirds of older people are struggling to procure enough food during the crisis.
A poll, carried out by Opinium between March 20 and 24, also found that 58 per cent reported struggling to purchase enough toilet paper, while nearly a third (31 per cent) had difficulty getting medicine and healthcare supplies.
Around 29 per cent of those struggling to get supplies said they were having difficulties getting basic toiletries such as soap and shampoo.
The government has continued to urge people to stay at home to help defeat coronavirus