Theatres Trust is the UK’s advisory board for theatres across the country. Director of the Theatres Trust, Jon Morgan, responds to the Chancellor’s announcement of business support and the further £30 million being added to the Culture Recovery Fund to support theatres during the impact of Omicron and the Covid-19 pandemic this winter:
Theatres Trust welcomes the government’s decision to release an extra £30m from the Culture Recovery Fund to support theatres and other cultural organisations in urgent need of support. The additional mandatory grants of up to £6,000 are also welcome and will be particularly helpful to smaller theatres. We hope that both funds are distributed as quickly as possible to help protect theatres. Theatres across the country are already struggling with shows being cancelled due to infections and falling ticket sales as audiences follow government advice to be cautious, so this support is very much needed.
Theatres Trust has responded to the Scottish government’s announcement that there will be new Covid-19 restrictions:
In the face of rising Covid numbers, Theatres Trust understands the need to introduce additional precautions but the news today that capacity limits will be introduced in Scotland will have a devastating impact on theatres, many of which were only just managing to survive following the difficult past two years. It comes at the worst possible time with theatres in the middle of their busy festive season, which generates the income to keep many going through the rest of the year. We therefore welcome the additional financial support announced by the First Minister and hope this will be distributed quickly.