Arlene is all set to stage theatre demo
FORMER Strictly judge Dame Arlene Phillips has threatened to chain herself to the railings outside a theatre in protest at the extension of lockdown restrictions which she says has “left the industry on its knees”.
The dancer, choreographer and theatre director said the continuation of restrictions on theatres and the arts beyond tomorrow has “ripped the heart out of the industry”.
She says there is now a real feeling of “desperation” and insisted the “next two months are critical for our future”.
She says she will stand alongside Andrew Lloyd Webber who had previously said he was prepared to be arrested if his theatres were not allowed to open to full capacity.
Lockdown restrictions were initially set to be lifted tomorrow.this would have meant no social distancing in theatres, enabling them to pack out venues again and restore much needed revenue to the industry.
The extension of restrictions to July 19 – and potentially longer – may leave theatres deciding it is not financially viable to open if they cannot get a big enough audience to cover costs.
Dame Arlene, 78, feels so strongly that she says she would become “a theatre suffragette”.
She said: “I could lock myself to the railings and say come join me.which theatre would I chain myself to?
“Probably one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s if there is one with railings.there have been a few sirs in jail before but I don’t know about any dames – a dame in jail fighting for the rights of theatre to perform?”
With Euro 2020 football matches allowed to welcome crowds of tens of thousands while theatres still face tough measures, she said: “I am outraged that football fans have been allowed to trash, scream and behave appallingly while considerate theatregoers are treated so poorly. It’s a disgrace.the industry is on its knees.the next two months is critical and I feel on a knife edge.”
Dame Arlene says the latest setback has “diminished” young people in her industry and the arts as a whole.
“Theatre has suffered massively.the confidence has been ripped out of it and so many people.
“The heart has been ripped out as well.”
Lord Lloydwebber has now backed down over his threat to reopen his theatres without social distancing in place because he was warned his staff and audience could have been fined hundreds of pounds each. He had said he would have been willing to face arrest by going ahead at full capacity when Cinderella premieres in London on Friday.
It will now go ahead at 50 per cent capacity.
Arlene is choreographer for What’s New Pussycat? at Birmingham Rep this autumn, featuring the hits of Sirtom Jones.