The Government has announced this morning the areas that will be in Covid restriction Tiers 1, 2 and 3. Under current regulations, theatres in Tiers 1 and 2 can remain open with social distancing measures in place, but must close in Tier 3 areas.
Julian Bird, Chief Executive of SOLT and UK Theatre, said:
“Today’s Government announcement is a relief for theatres in Tier 1 and 2 areas, including London’s West End, but equally devastating for Tier 3 theatres yet again forced to postpone or cancel shows – especially Pantos, usually an annual highlight for families and a vital source of income for theatres around the country. This risks the survival of many venues and leaves thousands of theatre professionals struggling over the Christmas period, particularly freelancers who cannot rely on government support.”
On Tuesday, Eleanor Lloyd, President of the Society of London Theatre said of the planned new restrictions:
“This is another unhappy day for the theatre industry which after 8 months of restrictions is already in a precarious position. From a London perspective, we wait to see which tier will apply. Clearly closure under tier 3 will be devastating for those shows that were planning to open after 3rd December, but even the capacity constraints under tier 1 and 2 will have a significant impact on those shows and their audiences. This is particularly disappointing given the great work that has happened between the sector and government, to re-open with social distancing and extensive safety measures.”
We will continue to update information on shows going ahead around the UK over the following weeks, and will update this information on a fortnight-by-fortnight basis as the Government updates the Tier system around the UK.
You can find a list of shows we know will be going ahead up to 16 December through the link below.