Theatres Trust director Jon Morgan has commented on today’s expected announcement that Stage 3 of the government’s roadmap will be going ahead on 17th May, including the reopening of indoor venues such as theatres:
Today’s announcement that Stage 3 of the reopening roadmap will proceed as planned on 17 May is welcome news for theatres and audiences alike. While many theatres in England are planning to reopen in some capacity, whether in their usual buildings or in temporary outdoor performance spaces, there are still be tough times ahead for the sector. Most theatres are not financially viable with audiences below 70% capacity. Therefore, many theatres reopening at this point will be doing so at a loss and others will be unable to reopen until fuller audiences can be welcomed back. We hope the results of the government’s Events Research Programme will enable the confident return of full audiences at Stage 4.