January 2021
31 January - ‘It would be a crime’: Why the Government must not scrap the performing arts BTEC
A proposed education policy change would narrow theatre's talent pipeline and severely disadvantage young people.
29 January - Freelancer support tops leaders’ demands on government to aid sector’s recovery
Leading arts figures including Tamara Rojo, Rufus Norris and Athena Stevens have outlined measures they want the government to take to aid the sector’s post Covid-recovery, with a particular emphasis on supporting freelancers.
Their demands include sending paid creative freelancers into every local authority to engage with communities and requiring publicly funded arts organisations to include freelancers in their leadership models, as well as expanding tax reliefs in the creative industries.
29 January - Funding delay in Northern Ireland as emergency grant announcement pushed back
Arts organisations in Northern Ireland will have to wait another week before finding out whether they have been allocated coronavirus recovery grants due to the complexity of the application process, the country’s arts council has said.
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland also warned that more than £24 million had been requested by organisations struggling with the effects of the pandemic, but the fund only has £7.75 million to hand out.
28 January - Future of Scottish theatre at risk post-pandemic, committee hears
Scottish theatre will not be revived after the pandemic unless more measures – including additional funding and a government-backed insurance scheme – are put in place to help it, the Scottish parliament’s culture committee has been warned.
28 January - Industry figures pen letter to government warning of 'devastating consequences' for touring after Brexit
Theatre industry figures and MPs have warned of the 'devastating' impact on European touring after Brexit.
In a letter released today, the government was told of the "devastating consequences of (and possible solutions to) the lack of clarification on provisions of the Brexit deal for the performing arts across the UK."
28 January - MPs and arts leaders call for funding to mitigate cost of Brexit on touring
MPs and leading arts figures have jointly written to the government calling for urgent financial support to “mitigate additional costs and lost work” caused by Brexit rules on touring.
28 January - The Vertical Theatre Group Announces New Era Of Performance Venues With 'The Vertical Theatre'
The newly established The Vertical Theatre Group today announced the launch of The Vertical Theatre, a vision for a 'future-proof' live performance venue. This new innovative, tourable, free-standing venue is designed to help guarantee the new future of live entertainment.
28 January - English National Opera lessons for long Covid sufferers
Mum of two, Sheeba, is one of the early participants of a joint venture between English National Opera and Imperial College London to help those feeling the effects of long Covid.
With great results, the pilot programme is now being extended to another 1,000 long Covid patients.
28 January - All the world’s a stage – how theatre keeps going in a global pandemic
While venues are closed in some countries, live performance continues in others where Covid is under control. Theatremakers from around the world tell Nick Awde how they are adapting to local restrictions and keeping creative whether their audiences can attend in person or online
28 January - List of theatres at risk in 2021 revealed in new Theatres Trust register
The Theatres Trust has unveiled its 2021 register, highlighting venues that are in need of refurbishment but could be of great value to communities across the UK, if given the right level of support.
28 January - We must protect and nurture talent to rebuild our industry
Now is the time to develop a sector that topples structural inequality and truly serves everyone in it, says artistic director Natalie Ibu. Only then will we hold on to our talent and be able to invite new artists to take a seat at the table
27 January - COVID-19 crisis will have ‘massive and lasting’ impact on Europe’s culture sector, says report
The study on the state of the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in Europe also says that the industry can be “one of the drivers to help boost and revamp” the EU economy.
27 January - UK government to unveil 'roadmap' to reopening society in week commencing 22 February
The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that the government will unveil plans for reopening the country in the week commencing 22 February.
Speaking to the public tonight, Johnson said that: "With every jab that goes in we become more confident that we will reach our target of giving a vaccine to those in the top four groups".
27 January - Hardship fund established for Manchester's arts freelancers
Manchester City Council has set up a hardship fund for freelancers working in the city’s creative sector, to help alleviate financial difficulty caused by loss of work
27 January - Supporting freelancers would be 'relatively cheap'
A year's worth of income support payments for arts sector freelancers would cost an estimated £880m – less than 1% of the subsidy bill to date.
26 January - ‘Brexit draws a massive line through cross-border work’: can theatre tours go on?
Unless visa requirements and border delays are solved, UK theatre-makers will lose their global market – and that affects work at home too
26 January - Arts workers still 'in serious need of help', Equity tells government
Arts union Equity has written to the chancellor and culture secretary to say most of its members are still "in serious need of financial help".
Government schemes so far have proved "inadequate and patchy at best", its general secretary and president said.
"Creative workers need action now," they wrote, adding that many were "struggling to stay afloat".
26 January - Equity demands 'urgent financial support' for creative workers
Equity is calling on the government to urgently increase financial support for creative workers, who it argues have endured almost "a year of devastating blows" since theatres first closed due to Covid-19.
26 January - EU’s creative sector ‘faces economic devastation from Covid’
Europe’s cultural and creative sector has been hit harder by the coronavirus crisis than every other industry except aviation, according to a study that calls for major public and private investment to avert possibly irreparable long-term damage.
According to the report, revenues in the sector – which includes TV, cinema, radio, music, publishing, video games, the performing and visual arts – plunged by 31.2% last year compared with 2019. It was hit even harder than tourism, which lost 27% of its income.
25 January - HMRC waives penalty for late filing of self-assessments
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced that it will waive fines for self-assessments that miss the 31 January deadline, as long as they are filed online by 28 February.
Typically, not meeting the deadline would result in an automatic £100 penalty.
The tax agency said more than 8.9 million customers have already filed their tax returns.
However, taxpayers are still required to pay their tax bills by 31 January.
25 January - NT’s Rufus Norris calls for next CRF round to be ‘ring-fenced’ for productions
National Theatre director Rufus Norris has called for money awarded in the next round of the Culture Recovery Fund to be “ring-fenced” for productions, claiming this will help support freelancers who have so far not been eligible for support.
Speaking to the BBC’s Newsnight programme, he addressed the timelines for CRF grants, particularly in the next round – in which the money is to be used by the end June.
25 January - Scots musicians ‘need exchange scheme’
Writing in The Times, he called for an initiative such as a new Erasmus Scotland scheme, adding that the conservatoire would be “all the poorer if European and Scottish students cannot trade experiences and ideas”.
25 January - American theater may not survive the coronavirus. We need help now Jeremy O'Harris
Recently, I was in a taxi and the driver asked me what I did. When I told him I’m a playwright, he looked back at me with true pity. “I feel for you people. I’m real poor on money right now, like most cab drivers, but at least I can work … for hospitality and the arts it’s like the light just got turned off. It ain’t right.”
25 January - UK government working on 'realistic return date' and exploring insurance 'challenge'
Responding to The Times over the weekend, the UK government issued a statement of intent for the reopening of venues.
Rather than a firm schedule, the government pledged that it was looking for a "realistic return date" – which may be in line with the current tier restrictions currently in place and the ongoing vaccination process.
25 January - This year’s tax return is salt in the wound for struggling freelancers
There’s one conversation theatre freelancers hate. I’ve noticed it in dressing rooms, pubs and in the chatrooms for the Green Room feature – mention tax returns and you’ll instantly be shut down.
25 January - Roll up, roll up: why circus owners want to help with the vaccine effort
With capacity for social distancing and experience travelling up and down the country, the Circus's use in the vaccine roll-out is no joke
25 January - We all want theatres to reopen, but responsible producers know patience is a virtue
I admire the stance of Kenny Wax, producer of Six and The Play That Goes Wrong, who said he won’t necessarily reopen West End shows as soon as all over-50s have been vaccinated because “I have a responsibility to my cast”. He said: “Even if the over-50s have been vaccinated by May, most of our cast members and a high percentage of our audience are under 50, so how can we put them all at risk? I would need a great deal of reassurance from the scientists.”
25 January - Lloyd-Webber battles to bring Broadway-style bailout to West End
Theatre producers will prioritise reopening shows on Broadway before the West End as Joe Biden’s government launches generous support packages for productions in America, British impresarios fear.
22 January - 44% drop in BME female arts workers branded ‘highly alarming’ by unions
The number of black and minority ethnic women working in the entertainment sector has dropped by 44% over the past year, according to new data.
Entertainment unions Equity and BECTU have described the findings as highly alarming, and said they confirmed fears that the pandemic has disproportionately affected the arts’ minority ethnic workforce.
22 January - 44% drop in BME female arts workers branded ‘highly alarming’ by unions
The number of black and minority ethnic women working in the entertainment sector has dropped by 44% over the past year, according to new data.
Entertainment unions Equity and BECTU have described the findings as highly alarming, and said they confirmed fears that the pandemic has disproportionately affected the arts’ minority ethnic workforce.
22 January - Government stalls on insurance scheme for UK music festivals
Culture minister claims getting start date for events is first step, but organisers say festival planning is impossible without cover, as offered to the film and TV sector
21 January - New horizons: has Covid helped to spark positive change in the industry?
During the first lockdown, some felt this seismic shock offered a chance for the industry to rethink and reset, but how true has that proved? Theatremakers speak to Natasha Tripney about the developments that give them hope
21 January - 'The total confusion about post-Brexit rules adds to the distress': classical musicians speak out
“Fuck business,” Boris Johnson is alleged to have said while Foreign Secretary. (He didn’t deny it). We have seen enough over the past three weeks of the impact of Brexit on fishermen, hauliers, wine merchants and a host of business people to know that he wasn’t joking.
21 January - Brexit will leave UK theatremakers stranded from the world unless ministers act now
Desperate for a vibrant re-emergence in 2021, UK theatre could yet be scuppered by another crisis, this time imposed by the government’s flawed EU deal. Selladoor Worldwide chief David Hutchinson says cross-border artist exchange must be protected
21 January - As the cancellations mount, so do the fears about theatre's likely return
From Les Misérables to Disney's Frozen, cancellations are piling up in the West End. The vaccine isn't enough to rescue the arts just yet
21 January - The West End is facing its most radical shake-up in decades
Throughout its history, the West End has leant heavily on its long-running shows: those durable bankers that are Theatreland’s economic backbone, whose brands are as strong a sales pitch to audiences as a star actor.
20 January - #LoveDanceScotland announces recipients of £70k award
Recipients of a new £70,000 award to help sustain Scottish-based independent dance artists during the pandemic have been announced.
Dance Base Scotland, Dundee Rep Theatre, Scottish Dance Theatre and Tramway in Glasgow have partnered for the first time to award the #LoveDanceScotland Commissions.
20 January - MPs demand answers over lack of Covid support for self-employed
Parliament’s spending watchdog has called on the government to explain and fix issues with the tax system that have denied whole groups of freelancers and self-employed workers financial support during the coronavirus pandemic.
20 January - Kenny Wax: ‘I will not put my casts at risk – even when over 50s are vaccinated’
Producer Kenny Wax has indicated he would be reluctant to remount his shows even when over 50s have been vaccinated in the spring, warning he would not want to put his cast members at risk.
20 January - Musicians 'failed by government' over EU touring, stars say
Some of the UK's biggest music stars have written to the government demanding action to ensure visa-free touring in the European Union.
Sir Elton John, Liam Gallagher and Nicola Benedetti are among 110 artists who have signed the open letter.
It said they had been "shamefully failed" by the government over post-Brexit travel rules for UK musicians.
19 January - Producers call for government cash to kick-start touring theatre market
Independent commercial producers are preparing to launch a joint bid to Arts Council England for funding that would underwrite touring productions, warning that social distancing will make taking work around the UK untenable.
19 January - Allowing vaccinated older Britons back to theatres is a dangerous idea
The German foreign minister's proposal shows a lack of foresight about what spreading Covid to entertainment staff could cost the industry
19 January - Returning to normality is a long way off, but vaccine passports could help
As the vaccination programme continues across the UK, hopes rise of a gradual easing of restrictions later this year. But we need a globally accepted proof of vaccination for things to change across the theatre industry, says Rob Halliday
18 January - UK reimposes Covid-related travel restrictions on film and TV crew
Film and TV crew are no longer exempt from coronavirus restrictions related to job travel, it has emerged. The UK government’s list of jobs that qualify for travel exemptions has been updated to remove “television production” and “high end television production and film”, which means that executives and crew arriving in the UK will have to isolate for 10 days.
18 January - Nimax Theatres to launch West End Covid testing 'centre' when reopening is allowed
A significant amount of uncertainty remains over when exactly venues will be able to re-open for live performances (though recent reports are now suggesting the tier system may be re-introduced from early March) but we are starting to know what exactly to expect when shows are able to get up and running, even with socially distanced audiences.
18 January - Seize the moment, theatremakers – we’ll regret not doing what we can today
When theatre shut down at the start of the pandemic, I considered it might be an opportunity to finally read War and Peace. In the end I didn’t, because I thought that surely theatre would return a few weeks later, before I was even halfway through.t
18 January - 'Another rocky road': UK theatre bosses eye 2021 with resilience and realism
Artistic directors at four venues look ahead to what challenges this year might bring
18 January - Keep the light burning – theatre has a bright, inclusive future post-Covid
Though things may seem hopeless right now, we must remember the flashes of light we have seen and felt in the past year, says Stephanie Street
17 January - Further £3m granted to Covid-hit Scottish performing arts organisations
The Scottish government has allocated an extra £3 million to three performing arts charities as part of the £185 million of targeted Covid-19 funding announced last month.
Aberdeen Performing Arts, which operates His Majesty’s Theatre, the Aberdeen Music Hall and the Lemon Tree, will get the largest portion of the money, £1.4 million, taking its total emergency Covid-19 funding to £2.38 million.
15 January - A plague on all your houses: when Shakespearean theatres went dark
During the Elizabethan era, London was repeatedly hit by plague – leading to periods of extended theatre closures and quarantines. Historians Will Tosh and Giles Ramsay tell Natasha Sutton Williams about how it affected actors and theatremakers
15 January - Empower artists to get Britain back on its feet
Tony Haynes thinks creative artists and artist-led companies are well placed to help develop a strategy for cultural regeneration, Simon Tait says the government must provide wholehearted support, and Katie Beardsworth points out the contribution the arts make to the UK economy
15 January - Theatres set to win lockdown insurance payouts after Supreme Court ruling
Venues fighting insurance claims after being forced shut by coronavirus are set to receive payouts thanks to a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
Theatre industry companies that have outstanding business interruption claims will be among thousands of firms expected to benefit from the judgement, while in some cases payments to theatres will also increase, a leading entertainment lawyer has said.
15 January - Has Covid ruined Britain’s next generation of stars?
Practically every British A-list actor has come through drama school. A mixture of Covid rules and Government incompetence threatens that
15 January - Musicians' Union presses prime minister for urgent resolution to EU touring debacle
The Musicians’ Union has written to prime minister Boris Johnson, urging him to negotiate a solution to European touring arrangements for performers as soon as possible, as the government and the EU continue to blame each other for the failure to reach an agreement..
14 January - EU blames UK after outcry over end to visa-free touring for musicians
The EU has insisted it was the UK government's choice to end visa-free touring for musicians on the continent, following an outcry from performers.
Officials in Brussels told the BBC that the UK "refused" a plan that would have let musicians tour without visas.
14 January - Major Covid testing initiative announced – with plans for rehearsals and streamed performances
A major programme of asymptomatic testing has been announced.
First unveiled by the government on 10 January, the scheme will see those who are unable to work from home (for example, artists working on streamed performances) able to use lateral flow testing to guarantee they are Covid-free.
14 January - Theatres call for CRF grants to be extended to prevent them ‘going under’
Theatres are calling for Culture Recovery Fund grants to be extended beyond the March deadline, warning their futures are at risk without it.
They are asking the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and Arts Council England to allow funds to cover their activity until the end of June at least, and say the extension is needed following the announcement of a third national lockdown, which has thrown theatres’ plans into disarray and left them unsure of when they will be able to open.
14 January - Brexit and the arts: why the battle isn’t over for this beleaguered industry
So, how are you finding that new Brexit deal? Whatever your view on the matter – and no, please don’t tell me – I think we can all agree that it’s a relief at least that we got one. Unless, unfortunately, you work in the performing arts. For this industry, already so pummelled by Covid, it was a signal that life is about to get even harder.
14 January - The internal tug of war over whether to leave theatre or recommit is exhausting
Already struggling in a precarious industry when Covid shut the theatres, director Sophie Ivatts retrained as a teacher. But in beginning a new career, she has discovered there is still much to admire in the theatre industry
13 January - Andrew Lloyd Webber interview: ‘There will be an explosion of live theatre once this is over’
As our theatres remain on their knees, Andrew Lloyd Webber tells Nick Curtis about the toll of Covid, volunteering as a vaccine guinea pig and why the show must go on
13 January - Boris Johnson agrees to urgent meeting over EU touring visas for creatives
Prime minister Boris Johnson has committed to meeting with MPs over the need for a creative visa arrangement with the EU, amid growing pressure for the government to resolve bureaucratic barriers to touring in Europe.
13 January - How 8 Countries Have Tried to Keep Artists Afloat
In December, owners and operators of theaters and music halls across the United States breathed a sigh of relief when Congress passed the latest coronavirus aid package, which finally set aside $15 billion to help desperate cultural venues. But that came more than six months after a host of other countries had taken steps to buffer the strain of the pandemic on the arts and artists. Here are the highlights, and missteps, from eight countries’ efforts.
13 January - Damaging effects of Covid on night-time economy to be probed by MPs
MPs have pledged to investigate the existential threat of Covid-19 to the UK’s night-time economy, in an inquiry launched by the newly formed parliamentary group dedicated to the sector.
13 January - National Theatre adds further resources to help home learning and digital lessons
2021 has started turbulently for the education sector. Thousands of parents will be facing the prospect of home schooling, while teachers have to mobilise digital resources to keep students engaged and learning during the pandemic.
13 January - Live theatre was getting interesting. Then Covid arrived
One billion years ago, before the advent of TikTok musicals and streamed monologues on YouTube, plays were staged in buildings called theatres. It’s difficult to imagine now but viewers sat side by side, with little space between them, in the presence of actors giving live performances. Like other odd rituals of yesteryear, such as fertility dances and human sacrifices, live plays no longer exist in this moment in time.
13 January - Pressure mounts on UK government to resolve EU touring visas for musicians
Pressure is mounting on the UK government to resolve issues around EU touring visas for musicians and crews.
Since leaving the EU, British musicians are no longer guaranteed visa-free travel and may need additional work permits to play in some countries.
13 January - Spotlight acquired by global casting technology company Talent Systems
Spotlight has been acquired by global casting technology company Talent Systems, which it says will connect members to more audition opportunities worldwide.
Talent Systems is the parent company of audition software provider Casting Networks and audition platforms Cast It Systems and Casting Frontier.
13 January - Freelancers essential for post-Covid recovery, report states
A new report has highlighted the vital contribution made by the freelance community to the arts world.
The freelance community has had a particularly fraught time during the pandemic – a large portion have found they are ineligible for the government's Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and, as a result, received very little by way of direct state support while venues remain closed and opportunities are sparse.
13 January - Theatre freelancer spend could fall by two thirds
With plans to resume activity at a standstill, freelancers face an uphill climb that could scar the theatre industry.
13 January - UK report reveals 'disgraceful' gender inequality in the arts
Research exposes sustained levels of gender imbalance across theatre, film and TV, with fears that it will be worsened by pandemic
13 January - Major survey of 96 theatres highlights freelance workforce ‘in crisis’
A survey of 96 theatre organisations including the National, Nottingham Playhouse and Shakespeare’s Globe has highlighted the importance of freelancers to the sector, with eight out of 10 respondents saying they will be essential to their recovery.
However, a report accompanying the findings warns that the freelance workforce remains “in crisis” without substantial government support during the pandemic.
12 January - UK festivals need just one thing in order to return for summer 2021 – insurance
Our biggest cultural events can't endure another year like 2020, and nor can they plot a comeback without help from the Government
12 January - When do theatres hope to reopen in 2021?
Last week, theatres were thrown into disarray as the government announced a third lockdown. Producers and theatre owners including Nica Burns, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Fiona Allan have told The Stage about the time frames they are working towards in 2021
12 January - It was an earthquake for theatre in 2020 but now there is no better time to rebuild
A career in the arts’ lower echelons can feel more like a masochistic fetish than a job – a Sisyphean boulder that crushes us back into the muck whenever we think we’re nearing the summit.
12 January - ‘I don’t really feel part of society any more’: why UK culture’s ‘excluded’ are at breaking point
Stephen Liddell once made a good living showing the culture-mad around London. Now he's one of 3m workers broken by Goverment indifference
12 January - The return of theatre won’t be an event – it will be a process
Last September, it felt like the theatre sector was in Act II of a long, three-act play on the path to recovery. Then interval came with a devastating blow just before Christmas, when theatres were forced to close in Tier 3. Now, we find ourselves in a new national lockdown without knowing how long it will last, nor what to expect in Act III.
11 January - 100 Club to trial new air-cleaning system to reduce Covid-19 risk
London’s 100 Club is to pioneer trials of new air-conditioning technology that claims to significantly reduce the risk of the transmission of Covid-19 and other diseases inside venues.
The creator of the technology, Pathogen Reduction Systems (PRS), hopes it can be used alongside the vaccine and other safety measures to help entertainment venues, offices and gyms reopen sooner.
11 January - How Britain’s theatres and venues are at the heart of the vaccine rollout
The great NHS drive is under way, and the UK‘s arts industries are throwing their doors open to lead the charge to the pandemic‘s end
11 January - UK government denies claims it rejected EU offer of visa-free touring
The government has denied claims it rejected proposals to allow musicians and creative workers visa-free travel within the European Union, maintaining that EU officials prohibited an agreement.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport doubled down on its assertion, first made two weeks ago, that it had pursued an arrangement that would have freed up business travel for artists and claimed a news report suggesting otherwise is false.
11 January - US theatres could open by autumn, the country's next chief medical advisor says
At a conference held this weekend by the Association of Performing Arts Professionals, infectious disease expert Dr Anthony S Fauci, who is currently a lead member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force and, from later this month, is set to be Chief Medical Advisor to the President-Elect Joe Biden, suggested that theatres and other live performance venues could possibly be reopened in the USA by autumn, depending on a variety of factors.
11 January - Lloyd Webber sticks with plan to open Cinderella in April at 75% capacity
Andrew Lloyd Webber is pushing ahead with plans to begin performances of his Cinderella musical at the end of April, revealing that he hopes to reopen with 75% capacity.
Prior to closing last year, theatres were having to operate at 50% capacity or with a maximum of 1,000 audience members, whichever was lowest.
11 January - Embracing slowness would make theatre more thoughtful and inclusive
We have long valued ‘slow food’ and there is growing interest around the ‘slow travel’ movement, which is likely to swell in the face of climate emergency. But what about slow theatre?
The reality is that in theatre almost everything is done at a gallop – from the funding system and the way we recruit to how we rehearse. Short-termism and the need to get things done trumps long-term thinking and dreaming at every turn.
10 January - NI live events staff struggle as sound of silence continues
The live music and events industry has been a high-profile casualty of the coronavirus crisis.
We all miss the collective, communal excitement of the gigs and festivals banned under current restrictions.
But what about those who work behind the scenes?
10 January - Musicians hit out after report UK rejected visa-free EU travel
The government has been called spineless after a report it rejected a deal with the EU that would have given musicians visa-free touring on the continent, saving acts from expensive and potentially prohibitive post-Brexit bureaucracy.
The Independent reported that despite the government’s claim Brussels had rejected an “ambitious” reciprocal touring arrangement, an EU source said it was the UK that refused to accept European acts having 90 days of visa-free travel.
09 January - Fauci Suggests Theaters Could Reopen ‘Some Time in the Fall’
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci told performing arts professionals that if the vaccination program was a success, performances could resume with relatively few restrictions.
09 January - UK ‘rejected offer’ of visa-free tours by musicians in EU, despite blaming Brussels for permit blow
The UK rejected an offer of visa-free tours by musicians to EU countries, despite blaming Brussels for what the industry is calling the devastating blow of them requiring permits.
A “standard” proposal to exempt performers from the huge cost and bureaucracy for 90 days was turned down, The Independent has been told – because the government is insisting on denying that to EU artists visiting this country.
09 January - Redundant theatre workers in Manchester use skills to retrofit homes
Manchester theatre staff have swapped stage doors for kitchen floors in a bid to tackle the climate crisis and make homes more energy efficient during lockdown..
09 January - Theatres and events venues aid vaccination effort across the UK
All hands are currently on deck trying to make the vaccine roll-out as efficient and as accessible as possible.
Arts venues are playing a part in this – across the UK theatres and event spaces are either currently being used or being earmarked for vaccine distribution.
09 January - London theatres bosses say trying to reopen after Covid lockdown ‘gave us whiplash’
Theatre bosses today said it felt like the industry was suffering from “whiplash” after moves to reopen abruptly ended with tougher restrictions and then the new lockdown which has again devastated the West End.
08 January - Brexit barriers for the arts 'heartbreaking'
Post-Brexit barriers facing the arts are "heartbreaking" and "confirm worst fears", industry leaders have said.
Extra paperwork, costs and uncertainty over future funding are causing concerns for those in the sector.
08 January - Side Hustles and Handouts: A Tough Year Ahead for U.K. Theater Workers
With playhouses closed for the next few months, actors and backstage crews are looking for new ways to make ends meet.
08 January - Theatres become Covid vaccination centres as mass distribution begins
Closed theatres across the UK are offering up their spaces as coronavirus vaccination centres as part of the effort to ramp up distribution.
As widespread delivery of the vaccine begins at scale, and with the government aiming to hit two million jabs every week, the NHS is hiring out hundreds of new locations to administer the vaccine to communities nationwide, including performing arts venues alongside sports clubs, libraries and racecourses.
08 January - The Guardian view on culture in 2021: a tough road ahead
The past 10 months have been cataclysmic for the arts: unimaginable, unprecedented. No other part of the UK economy, with the exception of hospitality, has been so gravely impacted by the pandemic. Soon after the shock of closure last March, the financial consequences for arts organisations began to sink in. Without shows, there was no way to earn. Cultural workers were faced with the personal catastrophe of seeing a year’s employment abruptly cancelled.
08 January - Partnership announced to help theatres generate streaming income
The Creative Industries Federation has partnered with digital content agency Little Dot Studios to help UK theatres stream their work to global audiences and generate income.
08 January - Six reasons why we should fear for the arts this year — and beyond
I don’t wish to come across as a cock-eyed optimist, but I think it’s worth pointing out that the lockdown imposed this week won’t in itself make much difference to the arts. Nearly all venues, museums and galleries were closed anyway. Those performing companies that had organised streamed shows can continue to do so behind closed doors. Either way, nobody was expecting much income this spring from the paying public, and that grim but inevitable acknowledgment of reality was already factored into survival plans.
08 January - Nimax plans central Covid testing site for reopenings
Nimax Theatres is planning to open a centralised Covid-19 testing hub for all backstage staff and performers at its six venues, following a successful pilot last year.
Chief executive Nica Burns said that, prior to theatres in London having to close in December last year, the company had operated a Covid testing site from the Palace Theatre, where a nurse gave nasal swabs to anyone working on productions at its venues.
08 January - ‘The cancellations get blamed on us’: how theatre’s frontline workers are coping with the pandemic
Box office staff have spent the last few months rescheduling, fielding angry calls or fearing for their jobs – and it's been heartbreaking
08 January - There are only glimpses of optimism for US theatre as uncertainty reigns
With US politics dominating the headlines throughout the holiday season, culminating in Wednesday’s eruption of domestic terrorism at the Capitol, it’s easy to miss other developments.
08 January - Culture is London’s business
London’s cultural and commercial sectors have always had a symbiotic relationship, writes Tony Matharu. Fostering those links is now more important than ever.
08 January - Theatre festivals plead for insurance scheme to save 2021 season
The organisers of major theatre festivals including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Brighton Festival and London International Festival of Theatre have joined calls for government-backed insurance to safeguard events planned for later this year, warning that their livelihoods are at risk without a scheme in place.
07 January - Music venues beg the Government to let them help speed up the vaccine roll-out
Thousands of trained staff and numerous large venues are standing idle, say industry leaders. Why not use them to get society open again?
07 January - The Stage 100: Fighting for the future of the performing arts
From big names such as Andrew Lloyd Webber and James Graham to entertainment unions and campaign group Freelancers Make Theatre Work, the industry united to speak out for theatre – the following are some of the exceptional voices that made a difference in 2020
07 January - Drive to promote Welsh language skills among arts freelancers
Freelancers in Wales are being funded to take part in a learning programme aimed at encouraging the creation of new Welsh-language theatre.
It follows concerns raised at the end of last year by the Arts Council of Wales that provision of Welsh-language arts events and activities was uneven, and “poor, relative to the population”.
07 January - MPs urge chancellor to save summer music festivals as live music faces ruin
MPs have written to the chancellor, asking him to launch a Covid-19 insurance scheme to protect live music.
It comes days after a parliamentary inquiry heard that the majority of UK festivals face ruin if they are forced to cancel events for a second summer.
The appeal is backed by more than 100 industry figures, including organisers of the TRNSMT and Parklife festivals.
06 January - At-risk freelancers offered support in project to prevent talent drain
Freelancers at risk of leaving the industry because of the losses they have suffered during the pandemic are being supported by a major new project aimed at offering career support and mentoring.
Resilience is a year-long initiative being launched by Stage Directors UK and backed by Arts Council England. It is aimed at providing support, advice and mentoring to directors and the freelance creative workforce, which has been severely impacted by the pandemic – often falling through the gaps of government support schemes.
06 January - There will be a huge appetite for theatre post-Covid
With England and Scotland joining Wales and Northern Ireland in lockdown, all theatres across the UK are now shut for the third time in 12 months.
06 January - 23 workers win £95k claim in employment tribunal against Southport Theatre
Backstage and front-of-house workers have won an employment tribunal claim totalling £95,000 against Southport Theatre and Convention Centre for failing to consult them before they were made redundant.
The claim was put forward by entertainment union BECTU on behalf of 23 members, which include technicians, supervisors, front-of-house staff, box-office workers, bar staff and ushers.
06 January - What will 2021 hold? Theatre leaders share their hopes and fears
After an immensely difficult year for theatre, The Stage news team spoke to some of the industry’s leaders about how the sector can weather another challenging 12 months, from rebuilding after Covid to improving accessibility and inclusivity
05 January - The loss of theatre businesses such as the Corner Shop in London should worry us all
Last August, I wrote about the difficulties facing theatre PRs across the country as the pandemic brought theatre production to a halt. I wanted to do it because it was a reminder that every corner of the theatre industry has been touched by the pandemic, everything in theatre is interconnected, and many businesses and individuals are affected by the shutdown – not just those who directly make theatre and put work on our stages. We forget that at our peril.
05 January - Government offers firms new grants to survive lockdown
Businesses in retail, hospitality and leisure will receive new grants to help them keep afloat until spring, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said.
The grants will be worth up to £9,000 per property, the Treasury says.
The help is in addition to business rates relief and the furlough scheme which has been extended until the end of April.
Separately, £594m will be made available to affected firms outside these sectors, Mr Sunak said.
05 January - If the vaccine roll-out falters, the worst is still to come for the theatre industry
With the arrival of two vaccines, theatres had hoped to re-open in April. But the logistical challenges of the roll-out is sapping optimism
05 January - New lockdown order forces all theatres to close again
Theatres across all of the UK must now stay closed for at least six weeks, as new national lockdowns come into force in England and Scotland.
Following sharply rising numbers of coronavirus cases, prime minister Boris Johnson announced a full national lockdown for England on January 4, shortly after first minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that mainland Scotland and the island of Skye would be locked down and the public urged to stay at home.
05 January - UK music festivals face cancellation without government support
Summer music festivals face cancellation unless the government steps in to provide support, the British music industry has warned.
The call for action came as Emily Eavis, who co-organises Glastonbury festival with her father, Michael, turned to social media to deny that this year’s event has been cancelled. “There’s no news this end yet, we haven’t cancelled,” she tweeted on Monday after the Spice Girls singer Mel B said Glastonbury was not happening this June.
04 January - Live-stream performances, rehearsals and more can take place during new lockdown, guidance confirms
The government has specified further rules for the newly announced lockdown, which confirms digital offerings are able to continue.
As per Gov.uk guidance, "training and rehearsal without an audience (in theatres and concert halls)" will be exempt from the rules regarding business closures, while auditoria will be able to open "for the purposes of film and TV filming". Individuals and companies should take important risk mitigation measures to prevent the spread of infection during these practices.
04 January - Prime Minister confirms national lockdown – English theatres expected to close for at least next month
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has unveiled a new English lockdown, in line with Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish measures, will begin from Wednesday morning.
As part of the restrictions, live performances will naturally not be able to take place and English citizens are advised to stay at home where possible, unless unable to work from home.
04 January - Lloyd Webber spends £6m on theatres to improve audience experience
Andrew Lloyd Webber has used the pandemic and closure of his theatres to bring forward £6 million of improvement works, including adding 168 toilets in a bid to ease congestion for female audience members.
04 January - National Theatre's executive director Lisa Burger: 'We've always sought to be more accessible'
Andrew Lloyd Webber has used the pandemic and closure of his theatres to bring forward £6 million of improvement works, including adding 168 toilets in a bid to ease congestion for female audience members.
04 January - London PR agency the Corner Shop closes due to Covid-19
Theatre PR agency the Corner Shop – which represented some of the biggest shows in the West End including The Lion King and The Book of Mormon – has closed its London office due to the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic..
04 January - Government faces fresh calls to support EU touring after Brexit deal blow
Musicians and creatives are being dealt a double blow by Covid-19 and Brexit and now face a "mountain of red tape" when seeking work in Europe, industry bodies have warned, as they intensify calls for a visa-free travel arrangement that covers touring artists and crews.
It comes as nearly a quarter of a million people sign a petition to the government demanding that a free cultural work permit be negotiated for creative professionals on a reciprocal basis with the European Union, after specific provisions for cultural workers were not included in Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal agreed last week.
04 January - UK performers raise alarm as Brexit deal threatens EU touring
Actors, musicians and comedians have reacted with alarm to provisions in the Brexit trade deal that will prevent British performers moving around many European countries without a work permit.
Leaders of the culture sector fear the clauses will severely curtail the ability of performers to go on tour in Europe, and will hamper the recovery of the arts after the devastating impact of the pandemic.
04 January - Theatr Clwyd to leave council control after 44 years
Theatr Clwyd in Wales is to be run by an independent charitable trust after 44 years of being under Flintshire County Council control.
The move comes as part of organisational change at the local authority and, according to Theatr Clwyd, will help the venue "to align itself with all other major UK producing theatres".
04 January - West End shows reschedule runs and cancel performances in face of tier guidance
The theatre world ended 2020 in a rather manic place – with tier restrictions closing off venues across the UK as tighter measures were brought in to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.
04 January - Theatre is changed – things will never be the same, but that’s no bad thing
Few of us are sad to see the back of 2020. It was a devastating year for theatre and has changed us as individuals and as an industry. Things will never be the same again. Things should never be the same again.
03 January - Cash for Cate? Struggling arts groups offer donors online access to stars
As Zoom fatigue sets in, organisations are seeking creative ways to bring art to patrons to keep them – and their wallets – engaged
02 January - “For Many Of Us, It’s The 21st-Century Church”: The West End’s Brightest Stars Reflect On The Unique Power Of Theatre
As many British theatres stand dark, artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah considers their unique place in our collective culture, while Vogue introduces some of the great performers now waiting in the wings, in a piece that originally appeared in the December 2020 issue
01 January - When our theatres re-open, the paying public must be welcomed with new respect
After the worst year since the Puritan era, a second Restoration is possible – but nothing bar a capacity audience can restore life in full
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