28 February - The Guardian view on a heritage culture war: stop weaponising history
Oliver Dowden should be championing museums and heritage charities, not stoking anger against them
28 February - Theatre designer warns of obstacles for arts workers in Europe post-Brexit
Andrew Edwards urges government in open letter to reopen talks to renegotiate an EU-wide visa system for arts workers
26 February - Hope Mill Theatre in lockdown: 'Our ambition is still there and it's driving us on'
In the latest in our series on how UK venues have coped during the pandemic, Joseph Houston of Manchester’s Hope Mill tells Chris Bartlett he was stunned by the generosity of its audiences and why he’s thrilled to be planning the return of live musicals
26 February - Weddings, plays and football matches to test safe reopening after lockdown ends
Ministers are drawing up plans to use football matches, theatre performances, concerts and wedding receptions to trial the effects of opening the most difficult parts of the economy.
26 February - Government's roadmap to reopening theatres: what to expect next
Venues, artists and producers are grappling with Monday's news that venues might be able to open at capacity from the summer.
26 February - New industry-wide alliance aims to protect theatre's future
Professional bodies representing theatre workers including lighting and sound designers, directors, stage managers and technicians have formed a campaigning alliance to protect the industry’s future.
25 February - Edinburgh Festival on a knife-edge: ‘Scotland could lose one of its biggest cultural treasures’
Without substantial support, the world's largest arts festival won't take place north of the border in 2021. Might it migrate to London?
25 February - Deploy culture and spectacle to bring people back to the high street
Give families just one good reason to walk (not drive) regularly through their town centres. Rebirth will follow
25 February - CFT and Northern Stage receive share of £100k for sustainability work
Chichester Festival Theatre, Northern Stage and the Marlowe in Canterbury are among five organisations granted a share of £100,000 to help them become more environmentally sustainable.
25 February - The Alliance Of Associations and Professionals In Theatre & Live Events Launches Not Here All Year Campaign
From 9th March, AAPTLE will be sharing freelancers' photographs of venues in the days ahead of the closure and throughout the last year.
25 February - Travis Alabanza: ‘Theatre matters when it’s used as a tool to speak back’
Our How theatre will rebuild series will bring you a new conversation each day about why the future of theatre matters
25 February - Theatres win extension to Culture Recovery Fund grants until June reopenings
Theatres in England are able to extend grants awarded in the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund, which will allow them to use the money until the end of June, Arts Council England has confirmed.
24 February - National Theatre says it hopes to 'resume performances as soon as possible' after roadmap news
The National Theatre has said it "remains committed to resuming performances as soon as possible" with social distancing, after Monday's roadmap announcement.
24 February - Why West End theatre audiences ‘are champing at the bit’ to return
Nica Burns and Eleanor Lloyd, who've worked on shows like Emilia and Everybody's Talking About Jamie, are full of hope for the year to come
24 February - The West End Will Be Al Fresco
After Boris has unveiled his roadmap to reopen the economy after the pandemic, with outdoor dining starting on April 12, and theatres the following month, the West End is ready to be transformed again.
24 February - BECTU chief urges chancellor to extend support schemes until theatres open fully
Entertainment union BECTU has written to chancellor Rishi Sunak to urge him to extend the furlough and self-employment support schemes until lockdown is fully lifted, to protect the live performance sector.
24 February - Why can't outdoor theatre return earlier than indoor?
There was cause for optimism on Monday with the publishing of the UK's roadmap back to some sort of normality.
Naturally a plethora of caveats applied to each step – the need to keep infection rates down to prevent overwhelming medical services, as well as the continuation of a sturdy vaccination scheme set to help immunise the wider population.
24 February - Drama schools welcome return of face-to-face teaching
Drama schools in England can return to face-to-face teaching from March 8 under the government’s roadmap plans, performing arts training bodies have confirmed.
24 February - Devastating, unviable, admin overload: UK stage companies count cost of Brexit
New visa rules, taxes and transport restrictions are some of the hurdles British dance and theatre organisations must now overcome to tour Europe
23 February - Prospect of spring awakening gives theatre cause for wary optimism
The government’s roadmap gives the theatre industry cause for cautious optimism, says Alistair Smith – but until venues reopen fully, producers and freelancers must be supported to ensure there are shows to put on.
23 February - West End warns stages may not reopen until months after May 17 roadmap date
Theatregoers have been warned that many West End stages may not reopen until months after the May 17 date announced by the Prime Minister.
23 February - Six West End venues to open 'as soon as possible' with social distancing, owner Nica Burns says
Nimax Theatres owner Nica Burns has revealed she will open up her venues as soon as possible with social distancing.
23 February - Roadmap to recovery
BBC London News piece on roadmap impact on London culture, including focus on Royal Albert Hall, and Eleanor Lloyd interview:
23 February - Reopening dates: theatre’s response to the government roadmap
As a timeline for when theatres and other live events venues may be able to reopen, The Stage news team rounds up what theatre figures including Nica Burns, Natalie Ibu and Rebecca Kane Burton think of the proposals
23 February - If Covid rates keep declining, it’s finally good news for our theatres
The roadmap, writes the Almeida’s artistic director, is transformative – it’s time to recover the intimacy of our small cultural venues
23 February - UK government to conduct review of vaccine passports for entering venues such as theatres
The Prime Minister has revealed that minister Michael Gove will lead an investigation into the use of vaccine passports.
Speaking this morning, Boris Johnson has highlighted that "deep and complex" issues exist around the introduction of such verification – and that Gove will examine the "best scientific, moral, philosophical, ethical viewpoints".
23 February - Stand up for the right to work across Europe – it’s a common-sense issue
Brexit shouldn’t prevent UK arts workers from continuing to earn a living in Europe, says Rob Halliday – we must join forces to demand urgent government action
22 February - Theatres will reopen in May – but limited to half capacity under coronavirus roadmap
A maximum of 1,000 theatre-goers will be allowed to attend as restrictions on indoor events remain the strictest
22 February - Theatres may be able to reopen this summer – everything you need to know
This afternoon has been a game-changer for the theatre world. While not providing concrete plans, they have given a rough ball-park for the industry to aim for, all while vaccines continue to be rolled out across England.
22 February - Theatre leaders ‘cautiously welcome’ Boris Johnson’s roadmap
Theatre leaders have welcomed plans to allow theatres to reopen as early as May 17, but have called for greater clarity on guidelines and for more financial support to help venues while they remain closed.
22 February - Government announces Events Research Programme to pilot performances without social distancing
The Government has unveiled a new programme to pilot non-socially distanced shows ahead of easing restrictions for stage shows and events.
22 February - Theatres allowed to reopen in May, Boris Johnson announces
Theatres in England will be allowed to reopen, with some restrictions, from May, prime minister Boris Johnson has announced.
22 February - English theatres may able to run without social distancing in June, Prime Minister announces
Boris Johnson has said that theatres may be able to open without social contact restrictions from 21 June.
Johnson was quick to highlight that this will be largely down to whether or not conditions are met, and may have to occur in tandem with rapid testing or other mitigation measures. Restrictions on large events may also be lifted at the same time.
22 February - Prime Minister: English theatres able to reopen in May if tests are met
Theatres and cinemas look set to resume performances with social distancing later this year.
22 February - Scottish culture secretary joins calls for UK to renegotiate EU touring rules
Scottish culture secretary Fiona Hyslop has added her voice to growing calls for the UK government to negotiate visa-free access for artists and other creative professionals touring to the EU post-Brexit.
22 February - At a time of desperate need, theatres overlook local talent at their peril
We talk a great deal about community in theatre. But, of course, theatres serve many communities in many different ways. One of those is the community of freelance actors and creatives who gather around a theatre, who share its geography. It’s a great pleasure to see different actors when going to Manchester or Bristol or Glasgow..
21 February - Equity must defend members’ interests
Tam Dean Burn says he and many other members of the union for actors and other creative workers have no confidence in the leadership of their Brexit-supporting general secretary
20 February - Mark Rylance on the future of theatre, time with family and saving the planet
The actor speaks about how the pandemic is an opportunity to spend time with family and think about our impact on the planet
19 February - Carlos Acosta: ‘There’s a danger we’ll lose a whole generation of young dancers’
The Cuban star talks about his battle to lift spirits at the Birmingham Royal Ballet and the film he has made to rally performers as their stages stay dark
19 February - Audience confidence knocked by lockdown and new variants, survey suggests
Confidence levels among theatre audiences have hit an "inevitable low point", with social distancing and vaccination now more important than ever to potential ticket buyers, according to new research.
19 February - How performers lost out in ‘eye for an eye’ Brexit talks
No one expected a pitch-perfect Brexit trade deal — but musicians are demanding to know why the two sides were so out of tune on visa-free travel.
Artists are proving to be the first casualty in what one British official called “an unholy war” on labor mobility between the EU and the U.K. that ultimately saw both sides put politics before people, according to officials familiar with the negotiations.
18 February - Almost half of live events companies fear closure by summer without support
Nearly half of businesses in the live events sector do not expect to survive beyond the summer, according to a new survey that highlights the plight of the companies within it.
18 February - London Mayor announces multi-million pound initiative to help safely reopen central London
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has unveiled a "major new campaign to promote a return to central London's hospitality, retail and cultural districts".
18 February - Risky business: how will we know when it’s ‘safe’ to return to theatres?
Even before Covid, enjoying the arts meant taking a calculated risk, says arts consultant James Doeser. But the pandemic has raised the wider issue – and the stakes – as to how we balance health and enjoyment
17 February - National Theatre to halt Europe tours over Brexit rules
The National Theatre is shelving plans to tour productions to mainland Europe due to uncertainty over work permits because of Brexit.
Before travelling to work in a number of EU countries, many working in the arts will now need to apply for short-term work permits.
17 February - Paule Constable: ‘My career was built on working in Europe - we need a solution’
Olivier award-winning lighting designer Paule Constable has told MPs she would not have built the career she has today without working in Europe, as she urged the government to resolve the "absolute chaos" surrounding EU working arrangements.
17 February - Andrew Lloyd Webber improves ventilation at his theatres (and installs more toilets) to ensure they are Covid safe when venues are allowed to reopen
Andrew Lloyd Webber has improved the ventilation in his theatres to ensure the safety of customers when venues reopen.
The theatre impresario, 72, who is hoping the curtain will be lifted on the West End in May, has also installed 167 new toilets at his portfolio of properties.
17 February - The National Theatre Halts 'Financially Unviable' Post-Brexit Europe Tour Plans
The National Theatre says it can no longer afford to put on blockbuster shows including 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' in the European Union because of Brexit.
17 February - European theatres warn generation of talent could be lost by Covid
Forty-four major theatres from across Europe are warning that the pandemic could create a "lost generation" of young creative artists, as the development of new work is put under strain.
17 February - Vaccines minister: 'Super-fast' Covid tests are being trialled to open entertainment industry
Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi has stated that Porton Down laboratories in Wiltshire is developing 'super-fast' tests that will help the beleaguered events industry.
17 February - Prioritise arts education post-lockdown or risk lasting damage, leaders warn
Theatre provision in schools is being put under increasing pressure amid the pandemic and the impact on arts education could have ramifications for years to come, experts have warned.
17 February - London's Barbican among new Nightingale Courts to clear legal backlog
London's Barbican is among 14 new Nightingale Courts across England set to clear backlog of 50,000 cases.
16 February - West End will bounce back from pandemic quicker than Broadway says Motown producer Kevin McCollum
Kevin McCollum, whose hits include Motown the Musical, Rent and the forthcoming Devil Wears Prada show, said he did not expect the famous New York theatre district to open until September.
16 February - Creative industries treated as 'afterthought' by UK government after Brexit
The creative industries have been left by the government to face the consequences of a “no-deal Brexit”, a parliamentary hearing into the impact of EU visa arrangements on artists and crew was told.
16 February - UK has three months to save touring, sector warns
Rejecting the EU's visa free touring offer was not an ideological decision, DCMS Minister says
16 February - UK to appeal to individual European countries over arts touring 'crisis'
The government has said it hopes to open negotiations with individual EU countries "very shortly" to help UK artists to tour after being told Brexit had created an "absolute crisis".
16 February - Almost sixty per cent would support vaccine passports for cultural events, research finds
Research by Serco has suggested the majority of the UK population would favour "vaccine passports" for cultural events.
Investigations into sentiment suggests that 59 per cent of people agree that a vaccine passport system should be used to allow spectators to enter sporting or cultural events. More significantly, only 18 per cent (less than one in five) opposed such a scheme.
16 February - Kneehigh and RSC sign letter calling for reopening of outdoor performance
Leaders at English National Opera, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Kneehigh are among more than 70 signatories of an open letter calling on the government to allow small-scale outdoor live performance to reopen as soon as lockdown ends..
16 February - Stars including Sir Ian McKellen urge changes to visa rules for artists
New visa rules for British artists, actors and theatre workers who want to work in Europe after Brexit are a “towering hurdle” that must be urgently addressed, according to an open letter signed by stars including Sir Ian McKellen, Julie Walters and Patrick Stewart.
16 February - Covid: Rapid tests could help reopen nightclubs and Theatres, PM suggests
Quick coronavirus testing could enable nightclubs and theatres to reopen, Boris Johnson has suggested.
The PM said "rapid" lateral flow tests could be used by "those parts of the economy we couldn't get open last year".
16 February - Boris Johnson: rapid Covid tests could help theatres and clubs reopen
Describing events with full auditoria as "the toughest nuts to crack", the Prime Minister suggested that a combination of mass vaccination and lateral flow testing will likely be a route back to performance.
15 February - From West End stage to supermarket food delivery
An actor has given up the job he loves for one he enjoys but "never dreamed of doing" as a result of the pandemic.
Andy Mace, who had been starring in Only Fools and Horses: The Musical, is now a supermarket delivery driver.
15 February - Open-air theatres pen letter to culture secretary asking to open 'at the earliest opportunity' in Spring
An assortment of open-air venues and companies as well as think tank "Out to Perform" have penned a letter asking the Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden for permission to open with social distancing 'at the earliest opportunity'.
15 February - You can’t stop the beat: artists need to keep creating despite lockdowns
Michael Ball brought me an epiphany this week. If you’re reading this, Michael, thank you – firstly, for the gloriousness of your strut on BBC One’s Musicals: The Greatest Show and, secondly, for helping me process the internal debate that’s been chewing away at me this week.
14 February - Andrew Lloyd Webber Says Lockdowns Push London Theater to Abyss
Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer behind hit musicals including “Phantom of the Opera” and “Evita,” says the U.K. government needs to open up London theaters to prevent the industry from collapsing.
14 February - Latest Covid lockdown ends work for 700,000 UK freelancers
The number of self-employed people who have stopped working during the current lockdown is already 50% higher than the number without work during the first lockdown, and 41% have experienced a significant drop in earnings, according to a study by the Resolution Foundation.
12 February - Northern Irish arts organisations receive £10.8m in rescue grants
Arts organisations across Northern Ireland including Belfast’s Grand Opera House and theatre companies Big Telly and Prime Cut Productions have been given lifeline rescue grants to help them survive the pandemic.
12 February - Chancellor urged to strike new settlement for self-employed in Budget
An Inquiry backed by unions and business groups calls for a rebalancing of risk for the self-employed after the pandemic
11 February - Classical musicians on life after Brexit - 4: singers speak out
Forget the pandemic, it's Brexit which could ring the death knell for artists who are currently hoarse from begging to be taken seriously as a respected export.
Forget the pandemic, it's Brexit which could ring the death knell for artists who are currently hoarse from begging to be taken seriously as a respected export. From Tchaikovsky to Britten, music itself has always been offered visa free but as the repercussions of Brexit are truly felt in the UK, the stories I've collected below from my singing colleagues highlight our increasingly vulnerable position as artists.
11 February - Welsh government commits to further £8.9 million for freelancers
Freelancers in Wales’ creative sector are to be supported by an additional £8.9 million from the country’s Cultural Recovery Fund.
It means that each of the freelancers already supported by the fund will get an additional £2,500.
11 February - Theaters Go Digital to Talk About Life (and Death) in the Pandemic
German playhouses are finding innovative ways to forge connections while their doors are closed.
11 February - Covid may have brought about a quiet revolution in theatre
While in-person performances have halted during the pandemic, the use of technology and blurring of genres has democratised theatre in a way that we could never have previously imagined, argues Jack McNamara
11 February - As Brexit bites, British musicians should be first in the queue for jobs
Online concerts will only go so far — it’s time for organisations to make a point of employing British-based performers
11 February - Julian Bird, chief of SOLT: ‘We’re about to see an impetus towards outdoor theatre’
The industry supremo has a leading role in the fight to get audiences back into venues – and he is adamant the show will go on.
10 February - ‘A staggering act of self-harm’ – MPs press government for EU touring resolution
MPs have called for an end to the “blame game” between the UK and the EU over post-Brexit touring arrangements, demanding that a resolution for the performing arts is urgently sought..
10 February - Embracing the art of the possible
The theatre industry needed a champion in a time of crisis. National Theatre Scotland answered the call and it’s not turning back, writes Jackie Wylie.
10 February - Open letter urges ACE to make diversity criteria a funding condition
Arts Council England has been urged to make diversity criteria a condition of funding for future projects in an open letter from Equity’s equalities committees..
10 February - Tenor Peter Hoare laments mound of paperwork to perform in Barcelona
A British tenor has outlined the extra complications and costs for musicians wishing to work in Europe.
Peter Hoare, who starred in the world premiere of Lessons in Love and Violence at the Royal Opera House in 2018, had to complete almost ten extra pieces of paperwork to play the role at Liceu opera house in Barcelona this month.
10 February - Audiences will return for theatre’s social aspects as well as art – David Greig
Audiences will return to theatres after the pandemic because they crave the “social and ritual” aspects of going, Royal Lyceum artistic director David Greig has claimed.
09 February - VIDEO: The future of London Theatre
New report looks bleak for London's theatres and its recovery.
09 February - The arts crisis is deepening — but there are solutions to stopping a cultural catastrophe
A punchy new report says that the arts are crucial to London’s recovery — but they’re on the brink. Robert Dex talks to culture leaders about what they need to survive
09 February - Cuomo announces more than 300 pop-up performances across New York.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, who has made it clear that he sees the return of art and culture as key components of the economic revival of the state, announced on Monday that a series of more than 300 free pop-up performances, “NY PopsUp,” would begin Feb. 20 and run through Labor Day.
09 February - 'The pandemic will be a thing of the past': the producer taking a gamble on a 2021 theatre tour
Rob Fennah is leading the way with this year's first announced tour – and he believes it won't be socially distanced
09 February - The great big get-out: theatres plot open-air comeback for summer
From a derelict urban site to the depths of the woods, theatre-makers are planning new stages for outdoor shows when lockdown is lifted
09 February - All theatre departments need support to ensure they are truly Covid-safe
Costume workers deserve the same protections as everyone else in theatre, says Catherine Kodicek – and the key to safe working during the pandemic is pragmatic planning
08 February - Arcola Theatre to work with Imperial College to understand venue airflow and viral transmission
The new experiment will allow for greater conversations around how risks can be mitigated
08 February - The arts industry – and the country – cannot wait ‘years’ for large gatherings to return
A seemingly off-hand remark from a scientist has terrifying, potentially ruinous implications for every aspect of British culture
08 February - Sport, music and drama 'should be part of England's pupil catch-up'
Extra hours of academic learning - as well as sport, music and drama - will be needed to help England's pupils make up ground following the pandemic, the new education catch-up tsar says.
08 February - Arcola and Imperial College scientists team up to explore theatre ventilation
London’s Arcola Theatre is working with scientists from Imperial College London to explore how the air quality in arts venues affects the spread of viruses..
08 February - Music stars raise pressure over EU touring
Music stars including Sir Elton John and Radiohead are putting pressure on the government to resolve the problems around post-Brexit EU touring.
08 February - When mainstream theatre closed, the avant-garde got busy
With productions shuttered, theatre has to break new ground to reach audiences
08 February - Get creative to help artists through pandemic
David Cockayne points to how other European countries are supporting workers in the performing arts, while Joe Hallgarten suggests a plan to help children who are isolated through art
08 February - BBC's Musicals: The Greatest Show was most-watched TV show for time slot with 4.1 million viewers
The BBC's epic stage event, Musicals: The Greatest Show, was the most-watched show for its Sunday night slot, Broadcast has revealed.
08 February - Demand for emergency support increases amid fears for freelancers’ well-being
Emergency support funds for theatre workers have reported increasing demand for financial help as the pandemic continues, amid warnings that freelancers are in a “terrifying, vulnerable and lonely place”.
08 February - From National Theatre to Netflix: how theatre created some of our biggest TV stars
Fleabag, Quiz and The Crown all started life on stage – but with theatres still closed, a vital talent pipeline is in danger of short-circuiting
07 February - I learned by touring Europe in the 60s. Young artists need the same chance - Elton John
Brexit negotiators have screwed up the deal for Britain’s emerging musicians. They need our support
06 February - Simple change to UK immigration rules can stop Brexit killing off permit-free music tours, inquiry told
The disaster of Brexit killing off permit-free tours of the EU by musicians can be averted with a simple change to UK immigration rules, an inquiry has been told.
05 February - Pay freeze for backstage workers until April 2022 under new temporary contract
Backstage theatre workers across the UK will have their pay frozen until April next year, under temporary contract changes aimed at helping the industry reopen following the pandemic.g.
05 February - Broadway’s closure exposes its sway on the economic ecosystem
Prior to the pandemic, Broadway was booming. But curtains haven’t risen since March, with deep personal and financial impacts. By one count, Broadway is directly responsible for nearly 100,000 jobs in New York City alone and, as a leading attraction for people who travel to the city, it has an economic impact of nearly $15 billion.
05 February - Bolton Octagon under fire for making in-house stage mangers redundant
Bolton’s Octagon Theatre has been heavily criticised for making permanent staff redundant – including three stage managers – despite recently receiving almost £1 million in emergency funding.
04 February - Second Culture Recovery Fund needed to keep arts alive, Government told
A second Government-backed Culture Recovery Fund is needed to keep the struggling Arts sector afloat, a senior MP warned.
The fund, created by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport last year in response to the pandemic, distributed £1.57bn to thousands of arts and heritage associations across the UK facing a desperate plight.
04 February - West End theatre legends plead for Eat Out To Help Out scheme to get shows touring
BRITAIN'S theatre producers are pleading for a ‘Eat Out To Help Out-style scheme to ensure they can get touring productions can get back on the road post pandemic.
04 February - Without action to underwrite risk, touring faces a precarious future
Continued uncertainty has put the brakes on touring’s vital contribution to the industry, and government inaction leaves venues and producers facing stalemate. Royal and Derngate artistic director James Dacre and Fuel director Kate McGrath outline the steps needed to unlock the sector’s potentialc.
04 February - Simple change to UK immigration rules can stop Brexit killing off permit-free music tours, inquiry told
The disaster of Brexit killing off permit-free tours of the EU by musicians can be averted with a simple change to UK immigration rules, an inquiry has been told.
The Home Office is being urged to exempt EU artists from requiring a “certificate of sponsorship” to come to the UK, which would fit with the Brussels offer that ministers controversially rejected.
04 February - Industry leaders demand lower VAT rates remain in place for arts sector
Industry figures have united to demand that VAT rates remain low for ticket sales over the coming year.
In a letter sent to UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak ahead of his March budget, a plethora of sector leaders pushed for the reduced five per cent VAT rate to be maintained (in lieu of the usual 20 per cent), due to the fact that the majority of businesses have yet to benefit from the initiative, as most have been unable to open for a large portion of the last six months (when rates were first lowered).
04 February - A year on, the theatre industry has been brought to the brink
Exactly one year ago, I wrote the first opinion piece about Covid in The Stage. I wrote: “In the UK, while we are unlikely to see coronavirus close theatres, we may still experience a tourist slump from people reluctant to travel. This would be bad news for the UK theatre industry, both with possible cuts to funding and uncertainties over Brexit.”
04 February - Fix gaps in furlough for self-employed workers, government urged
The government is under mounting pressure to plug gaps in its emergency coronavirus wage subsidy schemes at the March budget to support millions of self-employed people and other workers excluded from furlough
04 February - Andrew Lloyd Webber wants ‘game-changing’ chemical to be trialled so theatres can reopen
Andrew Lloyd Webber has called on the government to trial a “game-changing” chemical he claims could allow theatres to reopen.
The composer and theatre maker has spent months lobbying the government to test the chemical triethylene glycol (TEG) and see whether it could be used to help open up venues and schools.
04 February - A vanishing industry: Will magic shows survive the pandemic?
When theatres closed last year, it wasn’t just theatremakers who were forced online. Magicians Piff the Magic Dragon, Ben Hart, Morgan and West and Laura London tell Natasha Tripney how they have adapted their act for online and socially distanced audiences and how the last few months have affected the magic industry
03 February - Sir Elton John lobbies Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden over EU touring
Sir Elton John has had "very positive" talks with Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden about EU travel for UK musicians, but said visa-free touring is not currently "on the cards".
Last month, the star signed a letter demanding action to cut red tape and fees for musicians after Brexit.
The matter was "swept under the carpet" before the UK left the EU, he said.
03 February - Unions warn MPs of arts workers’ exclusion from support schemes
The continued exclusion of many arts workers from government Covid-19 support schemes will cause the industry to “slip back into elitism”, unions have warned members of parliament.
BECTU head Philippa Childs and Equity policy development officer Louise McMullan were speaking in an evidence session for the Gaps in Support All-Party Parliamentary Group on February 2.
03 February - The end of 'stage-dooring'? Why Covid could stop actors meeting their fans
Meeting actors at the stage door long been a sacred theatrical tradition – but will it survive social distancing?
03 February - After the pandemic, I will build a better and brighter future for the arts in London
Our creative industries have helped power London’s economy for decades and can play a huge role in our economic and social recovery from this awful pandemic
The last year has been the hardest in living memory for London’s creative industries. Our theatres, cinemas, museums, venues and clubs have been forced to close their doors. Thousands of people have been furloughed or lost their jobs. And the entire industry has been turned on its head.
03 February - Surviving isn’t enough: the sector needs activity
Office for National Statistics figures released last week suggest that 56% of the arts and entertainment workforce is now furloughed – up from 50% during the first lockdown.
This makes the sector the worst-affected in the UK economy and is just the latest in a long line of statistics illustrating how our once thriving live performance industry has ground to a halt.
03 February - Zainab Hasan: a remarkable star calling time on stereotypes
The nation’s theatres may be dark, but in a new series of fortnightly articles we are shining a light on arresting stage talent across the breadth of the industry. The actors, writers, directors, designers and others we’ll be profiling are not necessarily new faces – many have been grafting for years – but they all deserve the spotlight for their virtuosity. We start with Zainab Hasan, an actor who has battled to break into a sometimes elite and exclusive industry, and who has proved herself, time and again, to be a remarkably intelligent performer
02 February - Mental health warning as theatre workers dip to ‘lowest place psychologically’
Theatre workers are facing long-term mental health problems as a result of the pandemic and many are “at their lowest psychologically" following the third lockdown, support organisations have warned.
02 February - Festivals could be 'as safe as Sainsbury's'
Festivals have the potential to be "as safe as Sainsbury's", despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, MPs have been told.
02 February - Philanthropy to UK arts organisations fell by more than 30% in 2020 – report
Money raised from philanthropy by UK arts organisations fell by 32% in 2020 compared with 2019, according to new data.
This equates to a drop of £3 million, down from £9.1 million in 2019 to £6.2 million in 2020.
02 February - Children are miserable, actors are out of work – this could be the answer
With schools set to reopen before theatres, actors are itching to perform for pupils in need of cheering up. But will schools allow them in?
02 February - The lockdown boom in audio plays: 'it's drama the pandemic can’t touch'
Mike Bartlett, Alan Ayckbourn, Adjoa Andoh and other top theatre-makers reflect on why listening to drama is perfect for our times
02 February - Could ‘working-class’ claims obscure theatre’s true picture of privilege?
Class has long been an important influence on the theatre industry, shaping who is in the audience as well and who is making the show. It is a complex category, distinct from some of the demographic characteristics given protection under the 2010 Equality Act, yet no less influential in the inequalities that characterise theatre today.
01 February - Jean-Michel Jarre: People need to pay for arts online
The musician Jean-Michel Jarre says people should stop considering music "to be as free as the air we breathe" and pay for art and entertainment online in the same way as if they were attending a real event.
01 February - Garfield Weston gives £30 million of grants to UK arts organisations
Garfield Weston Foundation has provided major grants for arts organisations across the UK.
Recipients included the National Theatre, Ballet Black, Paraorchestra, Lakeland Arts, Northern Ballet and the NoFit State Circus, with grants ranging from £100,000 up to £1.5m based on the size of the organisation.
01 February - Not just star casting – community work is key to theatre’s future
Theatre must rid itself of old-fashioned attitudes towards participatory projects, says Lyn Gardner – community activities have a vital role to play in the recovery of the industry and wider society
01 February - Even before Covid, music was broken. Let's use this moment to hit reset
The present streaming model makes artists acutely vulnerable to shocks like the pandemic. Something’s got to change
01 February - Gender equality in performing arts ‘set back decades by Covid’ – report
Decades of progress towards gender equity in the performing arts is at risk of being reversed and the sector will “haemorrhage” its female talent without urgent action, a study into the impact of Covid on the parent and carer workforce warns.
01 February - Female performers losing work as they deal with increased Covid care duties
Female performers are walking away from the arts as they struggle to deal with Covid caring duties, according to a new report.
Research by Parents and Carers in Performing Arts (PiPA) revealed the impact of the pandemic with almost two thirds (63%) not certain they will be able to stay in the industry.
01 February - Covid crisis prompts Rose Bruford to ramp up mental-health support
Drama school Rose Bruford College has appointed a counsellor to its permanent staff team for the first time, as it expands the mental-health support offered to students in response to the pandemic.
The London college has also set up a mental-health helpline for students, to provide direct access to a trained counsellor 24 hours a day and from anywhere, as the school continues to deliver all its teaching remotely.