Sun 18 Jul 2021 04.15 EDT West End theatre and venue managers across Britain are calling on the government to let them rely on regular Covid testing of cast and crew to avoid the âcripplingâ isolation rules that are shutting shows. While the lifting of social distancing restrictions in England on Monday will allow capacity audiences back, the live entertainment industry is being pummelled by the Covid tracking system and will not survive the summer, leading voices have claimed. âThere are so many shows shut right now because of it,â said Julian Bird, chief executive of the Society of London Theatres and UK Theatre. âIt is a kind of âclosing down by stealthâ when we should be opening up. We are already doing all we need to stay safe, with daily tests and strict cleaning.â