Theatres fear ban will be their f inal curtain

West end theatres face disaster following the decision to put London into tier three, impresarios warned last night.

Andrew Lloyd Webber said it seemed ‘arbitrary and unfair’ to ban performances while shopping was still allowed. Cameron Mackintosh said forcing venues to close was devastating and ‘smacked of panic’.

‘It is a disaster for London’s theatres,’ said Jon Morgan of the theatres trust.

‘theatres have worked incredibly hard to create safe environments for audiences and through no fault of their own will now face enormous financial losses. they have done so at great risk as it is currently impossible to secure production insurance.’

He said the tier system meant ‘more uncertainty and risk for months’ and called on the Government to introduce an insurance scheme to support the industry.

tier two restrictions had allowed for socially-distanced performances and museums to welcome visitors.

Among shows to be affected by the capital being plunged into tier three is Pantoland at the London Palladium, which opened on saturday starring Julian Clary and elaine Paige.

sir Cameron said: ‘the sudden volte face in deciding to immediately put London into tier three and shut down the West end is devastating for both the theatre and the economy.

‘even worse, it smacks of panic and makes all our considerable and costly efforts to ensure the safety of both performers and audiences alike, widely praised by the health authorities, seem worthless. It breaks any sense of trust between us as an industry and the government departments we’ve been trying to build a rapport with.

‘the commercial theatre has had virtually no support from the treasury, apart from the offer of quite expensive loans – which we, unlike the subsidised theatre, have been asked to give personal guarantees to repay.’

Lord Lloyd-Webber said: ‘theatres have worked tirelessly to make themselves as Covid safe as possible.

‘It does seem arbitrary and unfair that people can jostle uncontrolled in crowded shops yet orderly socially distanced theatre-going is banned.’

the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge saw Pantoland last week with their three children. Miss Paige tweeted: ‘Oliver Dowden [the Culture secretary] saw it for himself. And yet tubes and flights still allowed?

‘these rules are illogical. the audience response shows how desperate they are for two hours of escapism. If it’s so terrible – cancel Christmas!’