■ SHOWS AND THEATRE

Scarborough Open Air Theatre and Stephen Joseph have reacted to the Prime Minister’s announcement about live entertainment.

Under the four-step roadmap theatres may reopen from Monday May 17 – and all restrictions could be lifted by Monday June 21.

Scarborough Open Air Theatre has rescheduled shows due to take place before June 21.

The events affected are Crowded House, June 8, Lionel Richie, June 12, The Beach Boys, June 13, UB40 featuring Ali Campbell and Astro, June 19, and Ru Paul’s Drag Race, June 20.

A spokesman for Cuffe and Taylor, which promote the shows, said: “We are pleased yesterday’s announcement provides a roadmap for live shows to return to Scarborough Open Air Theatre this summer.

“However, due to the new government guidelines, it is clear a number of events scheduled before June 21 will need to be rescheduled.

“We are currently working with artists, their management and production teams to find alternative dates.

“As you can imagine this is a complex process, one which involves multiple organisations, and we would ask customers to please bear with us until we are able to release further details.”

The Stephen Joseph Theatre opened in the autumn and for its Christmas run of one-woman show the Snow Queen and closed again at the end of last year as the country went into its third lockdown.

Caroline Routh, executive director at the theatre said:

“The announcement of the roadmap has made us optimistic for our summer season, although we do of course know that things may be postponed again and so are proceeding with caution.

“We still have some planning to do before we can announce anything.”

The theatre also ran a programme of films in its McCarthy studio space and is looking to do the same.