April
30 April - Exclusive: Social distancing not needed at big events, Boris Johnson to be told
Report to say crowds can return from June 21 after trials with fans found no increase in Covid cases
30 April - Crowds can return for big events, PM will be told
Social distancing for large events can be scrapped from June 21, initial results from a pilot scheme suggest.
Government scientists monitored test events including the FA Cup semi-final, Carabao Cup final and the World Snooker Championship.
30 April - London arts institutions sign up to improve working conditions for freelancers
Battersea Arts Centre, the National Theatre, Camden People’s Theatre, Studio Wayne McGregor and Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre are among nearly 50 London arts organisations pledging to collaborate with freelancers to improve working practices.
30 April - Nicola Sturgeon’s disgraceful ‘two-metre rule’ threatens a cultural catastrophe
The Scottish Government’s rules, baffling and illogical, have arts figures up in arms. Is irreversible damage about to be done?
29 April - Challenges lie ahead as theatres reopen, but there is new hope and possibility
There is an air of incipient excitement wafting through the theatre community as vaccinations rise, restrictions are incrementally lifted and productions murmur about their return. It’s a bit more pronounced in the UK, wherefirm dates have begun to appear, and it would seem in May or early June – barring any setbacks – that will begin to happen in the US as well.
29 April - Scottish culture minister intervenes over social distancing in theatres
Scotland’s culture minister Fiona Hyslop has stepped in to address concerns that two-metre social distancing in arts venues would leave them unable to operate and leave some venues facing closure.
29 April - New freelance scheme launched to help creative organisations improve work practices
An upcoming scheme will see 50 performing arts freelancers collaborate with organisations to improve work practices.
With 60 per cent of London's freelancers having lost all of their income during the pandemic, the project aims to build sustainable models for the freelance community to prevent more calamities like the one seen over the last year.
29 April - Pandemic has further increased cultural inequality – report
The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities in cultural engagement, with under-represented groups hit hardest by the financial impacts of the crisis, new research has suggested.
29 April - Scott Rudin outcome could be a watershed moment for global theatre industry
Since that front-page story broke, Broadway leading lady Karen Olivo – Tony-nominated for her performance in the musical Moulin Rouge! – demanded improvements in the industry – as well as leaving the musical as a point of protest – and hundreds of Broadway workers marched on the Great White Way demanding Rudin’s removal from the Broadway League.
29 April - Arts venues urge PM to act over post-Brexit touring 'crisis'
The Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Opera House and Ed Sheeran's manager have signed a letter urging Boris Johnson to avert a "crisis which is threatening our industry" since Brexit.
28 April - Two-metre distancing rule 'economically untenable' for Scottish theatre – directors
New Covid-19 guidelines that specify two-metre social distancing in Scotland could leave theatres unable to reopen, with warnings of redundancies and permanent closures as a result.
28 April - No sign of infection after test concert in Spain, researchers say
Researchers in Spain have found "no sign" of higher levels of infection among people who took part in a large test concert last month.
Six people tested positive within 14 days of attending the gig in Barcelona, but the incidence was lower than that seen in the general population.
28 April - 300 arts organisations warn time running out to solve EU working crisis
Hundreds of high-profile cultural organisations in the UK have warned time is rapidly running out to solve the EU working crisis, criticising the government for a lack of progress in fixing the problem.
28 April - Time running out to solve post-Brexit touring visas, theatre world warns
Britain’s leading cultural organisations have warned Boris Johnson that time is running out to solve the “crisis” for companies wishing to tour in Europe.
The heads of Royal Opera, the Royal Shakespeare Company and scores of other organisations have claimed that despite the prime minister’s promise to fix the visa problem there has been little progress.
28 April - MIF's John McGrath: Pandemic could permanently change international festivals
Arts festivals have the opportunity to reimagine how they work internationally in the wake of the pandemic, including reducing their environmental impact with less travel, Manchester International Festival artistic director John McGrath has said.
28 April - Our actors and musicians need help with Brexit red tape
In the first great era of globalisation, from 1890 to 1914, Britain’s export industries included not only manufacturing but the performing arts. Musicals such as A Runaway Girl (1898) and The Silver Slipper (1901) transferred seamlessly from London to Berlin, Vienna, Paris and Budapest. Yet more than a century later, despite the continued vitality of British theatre and music, such cultural exchange risks being choked off.
27 April - Two metre social distancing imposed on Scottish theatres, concert halls and comedy clubs
Scotland’s arenas, concert halls and comedy clubs will be forced to impose two metre social distancing if they want to reopen - despite warnings that the vast majority of events will be totally unviable.
27 April - Long lockdown has given us all stage fright
After a year in which we’ve been conditioned to fear our fellow humans, we may feel like nervous players at curtain-up
26 April - #FundFreelanceDance: the crowdfunding scheme getting dancers back on their feet
During the pandemic, dance freelancers have been among the groups worst affected. The founder of an initiative designed to keep them employed speaks to Rachel Elderkin about creating a new way of working and the importance of collaboration
26 April - The Guardian view on reopening the arts: behind the scenes, all is not well
Festivals are being cancelled and jobs are disappearing. That’s the truth behind the joyful return of culture
26 April - Nica Burns expands on Nimax testing hub as confidence grows for restrictions lifting
Nimax has advanced its plans to set up a Covid-19 testing hub at the West End’s Palace Theatre, which will be in place when it reopens its venues in May.
Speaking to The Stage, chief executive Nica Burns expanded on the company’s centralised testing centre at the Palace, and said she felt optimistic that the roadmap will roll out as planned, backing proposals for Covid-status certification for theatre audiences.
26 April - Theatre leaders support calls for Covid status certification in open letter
Theatre figures have called for the introduction of Covid-status certification to help revive the arts sector.
The likes of Ralph Fiennes, Meera Syal, Tom Stoppard, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Adrian Lester, Simon Rattle and Andrew Lloyd Webber have all signed an open letter to the Prime Minister and opposition party leaders, stating that certifications would help revive "the beating heart of society, providing jobs and entertainment to people of all ages".
26 April - Silence can harm. Those in power must do more to condemn bullying
Silence in an auditorium – those rare, glorious moments when it feels as if the audience is collectively holding its breath – is one of the reasons I love theatre. The silence I detest in theatre is the silence that cloaks so much bad behaviour and abuses of power in our industry. It is a silence fuelled predominantly by fear – the fear of never working again.
25 April - Theatre newcomers get their chance to shine as London’s West End reopens
When the curtains finally rise on West End stages again in May, should there really be an immediate return to the same hit shows for the same audiences? Many theatre-goers may hope so. But the enforced shutdown has been a chance to reconsider. And now, in a bold experiment – unveiled today in the Observer – the spotlight is to turn in a new direction.
25 April - Cameron Mackintosh on Phantom of the Opera: ‘This is not the Civil Service – we’re creating art’
As the long-running musical gets set to reopen, its impresario gives The Telegraph an exclusive tour, and defends some controversial changes
23 April - Phantom of the Opera orchestra members take aim at ‘abhorrent’ cuts
Musicians from The Phantom of the Opera’s orchestra have spoken out at “abhorrent” plans to reduce the band by half when the show returns, claiming some face “financial ruin” as a result.
23 April - UK arts figures call for Covid certificates to revive industry
Arts world luminaries including actors, directors and festival organisers have written to the government calling for the introduction of Covid-status certificates, saying this is the only way their industry will bring about the return of audiences.
23 April - Arts Council England defends delivery of Culture Recovery Fund
Arts Council England bosses have stood up for the body’s handling of the Culture Recovery Fund in the face of questions from MPs about the speed it was distributed and its failure to provide grants to freelancers.
23 April - Beyond the Pandemic: London's West End readies for next act
Noah Thomas saw his name in lights, and then the lights went out.
22 April - £75k fund launched to help venues and creatives to prepare for Edinburgh Fringe
A £75,000 pot of funding has been established to help companies, creatives and venues prepare to return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2021 and 2022.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society said the fund would prioritise projects that seek to “improve opportunities for access on the fringe by underrepresented groups”
22 April - 'The clock is ticking' for summer music festival season
Music festival organisers say they're "running out of time" to save their events this summer, as they renew calls for the government to intervene.
In recent weeks, Download, Boomtown and Deershed have all pulled the plug, joining Glastonbury, which cancelled its 2021 festival in January.
22 April - Box-office data: England recovering but struggles continue in Scotland and NI
Performing arts venues in England accounted for 91% of all box-office revenue in the UK last week, according to data analysis that suggested arts venues in Northern Ireland and Scotland are facing a struggle to recover from the impact of the pandemic.
22 April - Theatre's return is an opportunity for joy, but also reflection
As lockdown eases and, in the words of lyricist Don Black, “the dance begins to stir”, we can begin looking ahead to recovery. Richard Jordan says the arts have a key role to play in this.
22 April - Brit Awards to have live audience as part of Covid event trials
The Brit Awards will go ahead with a live audience next month, as part of the government's research into how live events might work after the pandemic.
The 4,000-strong audience won't need to wear masks or be socially distanced, but will need a negative Covid test.
It's the latest addition to the Events Research Programme, which examines how venues and events can reopen safely.
21 April - ACE defends Culture Recovery Fund distribution
Serota and Henley told MPs they could not have handled the emergency funding response any better, failing to acknowledge the lack of support for freelancers.
21 April - British stage schools have produced stars like Kate Winslet. So why are so many closing their doors?
The pandemic has exacerbated financial challenges, and the value of drama is being steadily eroded. Is school out forever?
21 April - Birmingham Rep boss: Using venue as temporary court staved off further redundancies
Birmingham Repertory Theatre artistic director Sean Foley has defended a decision to use the venue as a temporary court during the pandemic.
He said the move meant the theatre did not have to make more people redundant.
When Birmingham Rep was used as a court, the venue was heavily criticised, with theatre company Talawa pulling out of a partnership because of the move.
21 April - Boomtown festival cancelled amid Covid insurance row
The Boomtown festival will not go ahead after organisers said the lack of a government-backed insurance scheme left them staring at a £10m "gamble".
The 66,000-capacity event sold out in February and was due to take place at the Matterley Estate, near Winchester, from 11-15 August.
Organisers said they needed government help to insure against a late cancellation out of their control.
20 April - Theatres Trust announces £100,000 grants for not-for-profit venues
The Theatres Trust has launched a £100,000 small grants programme for not-for-profit theatres across UK to carry out essential works.
Funded by the Linbury Trust, the scheme will provide grants of up to £5,000 for small projects that impact a theatre’s resilience, sustainability or accessibility.
20 April - Government faces the music as festivals are forced to cancel again over Covid threat
Organisers of a 70,000-person music festival have cancelled this summer’s event, blaming the lack of a government-backed insurance scheme.
Large live events have been warning the government that their inability to secure insurance means that even falling Covid cases and deaths might not be enough to give them a normal summer.
20 April - Michael Grandage, the director who brought us Nicole Kidman, predicts West End resurgence
The man who brought Oscar winner Nicole Kidman to the West End stage says he has no doubt major stars will return to London’s theatres as they begin to reopen.
20 April - Covid-cautious festival cancellations dampen ‘great British summer’ hopes
A trickle of festival cancellations is poised to “become a flood”, with more than nine in 10 independent events privately indicating they may not go ahead, senior industry figures have said, after Boomtown festival became the third in a week to cancel.
19 April - The arts are returning – let me buy a single ticket so I can enjoy them alone!
Some ticket booking sites are impose a minimum ticket buying option to allow for social distancing, and recoup costs. It’s understandable, but it rules out those of us who like the independence of going solo
19 April - Tony Nominee Jeremy O. Harris on Redirecting Awards Campaign Budgets to ‘People Who Needed Them Most’
Broadway, still shuttered, finds itself at the crossroads of several economic and political crises. Just this month, an exposé on Scott Rudin re-illuminated the industry’s long codependent relationship with the volatile producer, prompting Tony nominee Karen Olivo to step down from her leading role in “Moulin Rouge.” And this week, spurred by a growing frustration with industry unions, a “March on Broadway” is planned by several Black advocacy groups to protest the use of union dues.
19 April - Hardship fund for comedy sector launched as survey reveals impact of pandemic
Half of all workers in the live comedy sector have lost more than 50% of their annual income due to the pandemic, a new survey has revealed.
It comes as a fund is launched to help people working in the live comedy industry, which will see grants of £500 over two rounds, focusing on those who are self-employed, unemployed, or who run an organisation that has been ineligible for any existing government support.
17 April - The government must intervene to help West End theatres reopen
Bill Kenwright's Love Letters and the National's After Life have announced opening dates - but a full return for the London stage seems as far away as ever
17 April - Drive-in cinemas and Covid-compliant hedonism: welcome to 2021’s summer of arts
It is difficult to imagine – as we trudge past shuttered cinemas and boarded-up gig venues, theatres still displaying faded posters for 2019’s long-abandoned productions and galleries whose only patrons are security guards – that one day everything will be open again.
17 April - Tickets still being sold for June shows that can't take place as planned
Tickets for arena shows by Alicia Keys, Haim and Mrs Brown's Boys in June are still on sale despite the fact they can't go ahead as planned under the government reopening roadmap.
In February, the government said full-capacity indoor events would not return in England until at least 21 June.
17 April - Karen Olivo: Leading by Leaving
The actor and educator talks about the reasons for their departure from Broadway’s ‘Moulin Rouge!’ and about the theatre field they’d like to help build.
17 April - Art, gigs, theatre: 100 must-see events to book as Britain reopens
From David Hockney to Die Walküre, Sindhu Vee to The Suicide Squad – here’s what to catch as culture returns
17 April - Britain needs to stage a comeback
Britain needs its theatres back because Britain IS theatre - a country obsessed with role-playing
When I stumbled on the English National Opera’s rendition of Handel’s Messiah recently and watched it for a while, I suddenly burst into tears. There, in the empty London Coliseum where the ENO were performing amidst the shadows of the empty theatre, came the voice of the countertenor Iestyn Davies.
16 April - WarnerMedia donates £250,000 to the Theatre Artists Fund
WarnerMedia has donated £250,000 to the Theatre Artists Fund to help support UK theatre workers struggling during the pandemic.
Established by director Sam Mendes, the Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre, the Theatre Artists Fund provides emergency financial aid to freelancers, who make up an estimated 70% of the theatre sector and many of whom have received no government support.
16 April - Maskless events trial will not include Covid vaccine passports
Large maskless events will be trialled over the next month, the government has said, as it confirmed that vaccine passports would not be used at any of the pilots.
16 April - UK government releases guidance and further information for pilot events without distancing
Further information has been revealed about the pilot events being launched later this month to see how performances can go ahead without social distancing.
15 April - Edinburgh should take this chance to bring two festivals together
Suddenly, in the immortal words of Cole Porter, I feel like spring has sprung. I don’t mean weather-wise, of course. I mean spring in the metaphorical sense of rebirth and the end of hibernation.
15 April - The Government’s dithering over social distancing threatens to cripple the West End
The theatre sector is desperate to start paying its way again – yet Westminster seems strangely reluctant to help
15 April - It’s time to champion disabled theatre talent with an inclusive recovery
As he leaves the role of government disability champion, Andrew Miller looks back on progress achieved in the past three years and explains why promoting disabled artists and theatre workers remains crucial as the sector rebuilds
15 April - Coronavirus: Underwrite festivals and other events including the Great North Run, organisers plead
Organisers of big live events this summer will begin cancelling within days, the government has been warned, unless it agrees to underwrite an indemnity scheme.
14 April - Phantom 'will not return in original form', investors told in November 2020
The Phantom of the Opera will not return in "its original form" when performances start again in the West End, according to a letter to its investors seen by The Stage.
14 April - Edinburgh's International Festival to be outdoors with shorter shows
The Edinburgh International Festival will return to the capital this summer with huge outdoor marquees to stage events.
Three temporary structures, designed for live performance, will be erected in Edinburgh Park and Edinburgh University's Old College Quad.
14 April - Theatres join forces with Inc Arts UK for the launch of Unlock’s anti-racism tool kit for the arts
Today sees the launch of Unlock, which has been created by Inc Arts UK in collaboration with leaders across the creative sector. Unlock offers organisations a choice of over 100 suggestions and pieces of advice to help bring their anti-racist commitments to life in arts workplaces.
14 April - Two-thirds of online audiences viewed new art form during Covid – survey
Two-thirds of audiences have engaged with an art form digitally during the pandemic that they have never seen live, a survey has suggested.
14 April - ‘The heat is on’: top theatres act to root out ‘system failure’ of racism
The Young Vic and Royal Court theatres have entered into a pioneering consultation process that aims to identify and root out systemic racism from their venues. The artistic directors of both London institutions have signed up to a two-year partnership with the social enterprise Sour Lemons that will interrogate the internal structures that uphold institutional racism, raise awareness and accountability, and listen to staff’s experiences of racism inside the buildings.
14 April - Cutting Phantom’s orchestra to save money dilutes the sumptuous original
ver since I heard the depressing news about the near halving of the orchestra for the returning The Phantom of the Opera – from 27 players down to a meagre 14 – two songs have been in my head. Neither is by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
14 April - Phantom of the Opera cuts orchestra in half, leaving musicians with no job to come back to
A member of the orchestra of a leading West End musical has spoken out after his job was eliminated ahead of the show’s return.
Principal percussionist Matt Dickinson said he is one of 13 musicians who will no longer have jobs on The Phantom of the Opera ahead of its return to the stage this summer.
13 April - Edinburgh international festival plans outdoor return for 2021
Edinburgh international festival will take place this summer, but will be outdoors for the first time in its 74-year-old history.
Organisers on Tuesday revealed plans for three large outdoor pavilions to be installed at locations across the city, including the university’s Old College Quad and Edinburgh Park. The third venue is yet to be confirmed.
13 April - As theatre returns to normal(ish), freelancers deserve better working conditions
Suddenly, it felt normal again. Maybe it was the arrival of the spring sunshine. Maybe it was getting a jab and hearing of others getting it too. Maybe it was the phone ringing with offers of work (inevitably, clashing) – all local, none for just quite yet, but soon. So if not completely normal, at least normal-ish after a year that was far from normal.
13 April - English theatres to return from next month: what to expect when the show goes on
The roadmap is in motion – we've just passed step two and, with the death rate continuing to fall, it's clear that increased risk mitigation and the inexorable vaccine roll-out have really given a big boost to society. So, as we wait for stage shows to return, what happens next in the world of theatre?
12 April - Phantom of the Opera orchestra to be cut by 50% when it returns to West End
The Phantom of the Opera’s orchestra will be cut in half when the production returns to the West End this summer, reducing its previous 27 musicians to just 14.
It comes despite promises from Really Useful Group president Jessica Koravos that the returning show would be the “original Phantom” that was running until theatres closed last year.
12 April - Drive-in performances given green light as England enters step two of roadmap
From today, drive-in cinema screenings and performances will be able to begin under "Step Two" of English reopening plans.
12 April - Global-majority artists are still hitting the wall – we need to grow our careers
The Stage’s recent article covering the exclusion of established artists in industry pushes for ‘diversity’ was welcome. It was also an exercise in sucking eggs for plenty of artists I know.
12 April - Data can help theatre tackle inequality, but beware over-optimistic claims
We’ve all heard the saying about data being the new gold, with Silicon Valley companies like Google and Facebook mining that gold from the personal data they hold on us. James Graham’s 2014 play Privacy alerted us to the fact that what those companies know about us is huge and a bit creepy. Facebook’s data can supposedly predict whether or not you will split up with your partner.
So how does this relate to theatre?
9 April - Covid passports and nights at the theatre don't mix - Liam Rudden
Three questions for you. Would you sit through a play if you had to wear a mask throughout? Are you ready to attend a performance of your favourite musical with no social distancing?
9 April - Home in Manchester launches Covid-safe outdoor theatre
An arts venue in Manchester is to open a new 400-seat socially distanced outdoor theatre space.
Home said the temporary venue would provide shows, music, cabaret and comedy for people "looking for a safe and fun night out as lockdown eases".
8 April - Letter urges government to 'prevent collapse of UK's touring industry' in EU
More than 150 artists, producers and managers have signed an open letter urging the government to "prevent the collapse of the UK’s touring industry" post-Brexit.
8 April - Fans at trial events to be tested for Covid afterwards
Audiences at large trial events will have to take a Covid-19 test several days afterwards to help ministers decide whether they can abandon social distancing later this year.
7 April - Tarek Iskander: Theatre leaders failed to reimagine sector during pandemic
Battersea Arts Centre artistic director Tarek Iskander has argued there has been a “collective failure of leadership” in terms of reimagining the theatre sector in the wake of the pandemic.
7 April - Vaccine passports threaten theatre’s future
With newspapers reporting that pubs will be spared from the government’s vaccine-passport scheme, it looks like theatres won’t be so lucky. Some reports even suggest a vaccine scheme could be in place as soon as May, when arts venues are due to reopen.
7 April - More than 5,000 sign petition urging council to reverse Anvil Arts funding cut
More than 5,000 people have signed a petition urging Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to reverse its funding cut to Hampshire-based Anvil Arts.
The independent charitable trust runs Basingstoke’s 1,400-seat concert hall the Anvil, as well as 400-seat theatre the Haymarket and studio space the Forge, which has capacity for 100 people.
7 April - Covid passports: Entertainment venues air concerns over plans
Leading figures in the UK entertainment industry have expressed reservations about the prospect of using Covid passports as venues reopen, especially if they require proof of vaccination.
The government has said Covid-status certificates could be used at theatres, nightclubs and festivals from June.
7 April - Southbank Centre announces new commission and poets collective
London’s Southbank Centre has announced new schemes to support emerging artists, including one for creatives who have experienced displacement or migration.
This new commission will be made in collaboration with Counterpoints Arts and will develop live work for public spaces.
7 April - Liverpool theatres unite to welcome back audiences
Three of Liverpool’s highest-profile theatres will work together for the first time to promote and sell tickets for each other’s shows, as part of a campaign to encourage audiences back to live performance across the city.
6 April - Theatres and live gigs must not bow down to perpetual Covid tyranny
The Government’s ‘pilot events’ in Liverpool seem like baby steps to freedom – but where is our liberal, no-nonsense, risk-taking spirit?
6 April - Mayoral election candidates urged to sign creative support pledge
A new campaign has been launched to encourage candidates for May’s metro mayoral elections to pledge their support for the creative industries.
Culture Commons, an organisation launched to bridge the gap between culture and politics, is behind the workforce pledge.
6 April - When cinemas, theatres and art galleries will reopen after lockdown
Lockdown measures across England have begun to be gradually lifted, as some freedoms are restored to the public.
Normality, however, is a way off. The Prime Minister has suggested that rapid testing or vaccine passports (known officially as Covid “certification”) may be required for audiences, in order to bring back larger events.
5 April - Back to showbusiness as usual? How producers aim to transform theatre post-Covid
While some producers may be tempted to programme sure-fire hits as venues reopen, others are keen to take risks to showcase diverse talent and reach broader audiences. Producers at different stages in their careers tell Amanda Parker how lessons learned from the pandemic could transform theatre for the better
5 April - How Liverpool’s Covid pilot schemes will determine the future of the arts
The Government has announced nine venues as part of their Covid pilot schemes for reopening, including a comedy club, cinema, and nightclub
5 April - 'Vaccine passports' won't be needed for socially distanced events from next month, Johnson confirms
Speaking today on national television, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that Covid status certification, often dubbed "vaccine passports", will not be necessary for socially distanced events.
5 April - Touring is theatre’s lifeblood, so we must protect it by supporting freelancers
Since the first lockdown, it feels as if we have often forgotten that this is the theatre industry, not the theatre buildings industry. Jo Crowley, ace producer with 1927, has patiently pointed this out several times on Twitter over the past year, and she is right to keep reminding us.
5 April - Government announces pilot events to pave way for larger audiences at sport, theatre and gigs this summer
The EFL Cup Final and an FA Cup Semi-Final are set to be among a range of pilot events hosting audiences as part of the government’s plan to get big crowds back this summer.
3 April - Broadway Reopened. For 36 Minutes. It’s a Start.
Before a masked, distanced and virus-tested audience of 150, the dancer Savion Glover and the actor Nathan Lane performed, celebrating theater and testing safety protocols a year after the pandemic caused theaters to close.
2 April - Culture Recovery Fund: Full list of performing arts organisations given CRF money in round two
More than 2,700 arts organisations have been supported in the latest tranche of Culture Recovery Fund money, totalling £400 million.
Among these are 477 theatre organisations, that have been granted a share of £56 million, alongside more than 400 combined arts and dance organisations. Grants ranged from £10,000 to £1.8 million.
2 April - Glastonbury Festival and Canterbury Cathedral get slice of £400m culture fund
West End theatres, comedy clubs, the Glastonbury Festival and Canterbury Cathedral will get a share of £400m emergency government culture funding.
A total of 2,700 English culture and heritage venues will share the latest round of the Culture Recovery Fund.
2 April - Let's unite to recognise the global theatre stars of the pandemic
Despite the interruption to various theatre awards during the pandemic, there have been manoeuvres to avoid completely passing over artists and shows – and the recognition they would get as a result – from 2019 or early 2020.
2 April - Glastonbury and Young Vic share in £400m from Covid arts fund
More than 2,700 arts and heritage organisations, from Glastonbury festival to Bamburgh Castle to the Young Vic, are to share £400m in grants and loans from the UK government’s culture recovery fund.
2 April - Nimax, Wise Children and Young Vic among latest recipients of CRF grants
Nimax Theatres, Wise Children, London’s Young Vic and the Wolverhampton Grand are among the latest recipients of grants from the Culture Recovery Fund, which has announced a further £56 million to help the sector prepare for reopening.
2 April - Will a trip to the theatre ever be the same again?
Theatres should reopen on May 17. But bosses in Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol and Cornwall still aren't sure how the show will go on
1 April - Setting the Stage Once Again for Shakespeare, and Live Theater
With coronavirus restrictions easing in England, several venues have plans to give classic plays new life.
1 April -New wave of Cultural Recovery Fund grants unveiled for Nimax Theatres, Chichester Festival Theatre and more
A further £400 million in grants and loans has been given to cultural venues and organisations across England.
These funds are part of the Cultural Recovery Fund, set to help arts companies while the pandemic continues and restrictions remain in place to help prevent the spread of Covid.
1 April - Ticket sales and box-office revenue down 90% since March 2020
Arts organisations in the UK have seen ticket sales and box office revenue drop by almost 90% in the 12 months since venues closed, according to new research.
The analysis looks at ticket sales in the 12 months from March 16, 2020 and compares it with the previous year.
1 April - Government updates performance guidance – outdoor amateur dramatics given the green light
The government's updated Covid guidance is good news for amateur dramatics fans.
From now, non-professional performing arts is permitted outdoors – as long as groups involved limit themselves to either two households or six people (as part of the rule of six)).
1 April - Future of Disabled Theatre, Disability Champion Andrew Miller, London Symphony Orchestra
Leading theatre makers discuss the state of disabled theatre. Plus Samira talks to the outgoing Government Disability Champion Andrew Miller.
1 April - To build back better, theatre must empower Black artists and leaders
While the arts sector looks to reinvent itself as it recovers from Covid-19, Talawa’s Michael Buffong and Carolyn ML Forsyth argue that progress can only be achieved through frank conversations about entrenched racism and privilege
1 April - Arts Council England announces Delivery Plan for 2021-24
Arts Council England have announced their delivery plan until 2024. This new plan directly links with their Let’s Create strategy that will set the agenda for the funding body for the next decade. There are some key changes within their funding streams that will impact freelancers, so here’s what you need to know.
1 April - ‘A perfect storm’: How is Brexit impacting UK theatremakers?
Endless red tape, dizzying lists of documentation and mounting costs are becoming the norm for UK creatives looking to work in the EU. Professionals from the worlds of theatre, opera, dance and music affected by Brexit tell Georgia Snow and Nick Clark about coping with the new rules and the risk of an artistic deficit