‘Bah humbug’: Theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh hits out at London Tier 3 move
PA
14 December 2020, 5:55 pm
Sir Cameron Mackintosh has said the Government’s decision to put London into Tier 3 of coronavirus restrictions is “devastating” and “smacks of panic”.
The theatre producer said the “volte-face” by the Government damages theatre and the wider economy.
Under the new restrictions, which also apply to parts of Essex and Hertfordshire, entertainment venues including theatres, concert halls, art galleries, cinemas and museums must close from Wednesday.
In a statement, Sir Cameron added that the move “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”.
London’s theatres will face “disaster” according to the director of the Theatres Trust, after London and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire were placed into Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions.
Jon Morgan, director of the Theatres Trust, said the Health Secretary’s announcement has “compounded” a difficult year for the sector.
The move means entertainment venues including theatres, concert halls, art galleries, cinemas and museums have to close from Wednesday.
(John Walton/PA)
Mr Morgan said: “It is a disaster for London’s theatres that the capital and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire will move into Tier 3.
“Theatres have worked incredibly hard to create safe environments for audiences and through no fault of their own will now face enormous financial losses.
The theatre producer said the “volte-face” by the Government damages theatre and the wider economy.
Under the new restrictions, which also apply to parts of Essex and Hertfordshire, entertainment venues including theatres, concert halls, art galleries, cinemas and museums must close from Wednesday.
In a statement, Sir Cameron added that the move “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”.
The Sondheim Theatre, which usually shows the Les Miserables musical (Victoria Jones/PA)
He said it breaks “any sense of trust between us as an industry and the Government departments we’ve been trying to build a rapport with”.
Hospitality bosses lashed out at Matt Hancock s illogical plan to move London into Tier 3 lockdown
David Moore of Pied à Terre said the move feels like Armageddon and admitted that he feels like crying
UKHospitality s Kate Nicholls said it pushes businesses towards failure and effectively cancels Christmas
The Confederation of British Industry warned thousands of jobs could be at risk from Tier 3 restrictions
Theatre bosses described No10 s yo-yoing as frankly appalling and said it could decimate the industry
The theatre producer said the “volte-face” by the Government damages theatre and the wider economy.
Under the new restrictions, which also apply to parts of Essex and Hertfordshire, entertainment venues including theatres, concert halls, art galleries, cinemas and museums must close from Wednesday.
In a statement, Sir Cameron added that the move “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”.
The Sondheim Theatre, which usually shows the Les Miserables musical (Victoria Jones/PA)
He said it breaks “any sense of trust between us as an industry and the Government departments we’ve been trying to build a rapport with”.