Playwright James Graham has said the theatre industry has been “decimated” ahead of the closure of venues in London and some surrounding areas.
Entertainment venues in the capital and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire will be welcoming visitors for the last time on Tuesday before new Tier 3 restrictions come into force.
Graham, who wrote Ink, This House and The Vote, as well as TV dramas Quiz and Brexit, labelled the move as “sad”.
The largest concentration of theatres on earth managed to open last week, only to close tonight. The hope was to revive a decimated sector & tell stories at Christmas
2020/12/16 18:08 A woman dances with purple feathers in the West End of London after pubs close, before London moves into the highest tier of coronavirus restrictions . A woman dances with purple feathers in the West End of London after pubs close, before London moves into the highest tier of coronavirus restrictions from Wednesday as a result of soaring case rates, Tuesday Dec. 15, 2020. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP) People sit at restaurant and bar tables in central London, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. London and some of its surrounding areas will be placed under Brita. People sit at restaurant and bar tables in central London, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. London and some of its surrounding areas will be placed under Britain s highest level of coronavirus restrictions beginning at 00:01 local time on Wednesday as infections rise rapidly in the capital. Under Tier 3 restrictions, the toughest level in England s three-tier system, people
New West End comedy The Comeback now has to close
Credit: Marc Brenner
The Government’s decision to move London and most of the rest of the country first into Tier 3, and as of December 31, Tier 4, is devastating for the capital’s theatres. Around 30 venues had reopened, with producers taking a major financial risk – only to be forced to close again, with ticket-holders losing out on their Christmas cheer. There is no official word on when venues can reopen.
If you had booked, or were thinking of booking, for a show, here is the latest status on London’s productions, plus some of the online entertainment that is going ahead. In some form, at least, the show will go on.
Your morning briefing: What you should know for Wednesday, December 16 Sean Morrison
Johnson resists pressure to scrap Christmas bubble plans
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove will resume crisis talks over the plans for up to three households to mix between December 23 and 27 with leaders of the devolved administrations on Wednesday morning.
A UK Government source acknowledged the four UK nations may take differing approaches, but insisted there would be no change in the law for the festive freedoms in England.
However, while it is unlikely that rules surrounding the mixing of households will change people are expected to be urged to think carefully about travelling and to stay local where possible.
Playwright James Graham has said the theatre industry has been “decimated” ahead of the closure of venues in London and some surrounding areas.
Entertainment venues in the capital and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire will be welcoming visitors for the last time on Tuesday before new Tier 3 restrictions come into force.
Graham, who wrote Ink, This House and The Vote, as well as TV dramas Quiz and Brexit, labelled the move as “sad”.
The largest concentration of theatres on earth managed to open last week, only to close tonight. The hope was to revive a decimated sector & tell stories at Christmas