reopen

Theatres, music and performance venues can reopen with social distancing in August

By Jaime E. Love 3 months ago
Man walking past theatre poster saying "We'll be back soon" outside the Sondheim Theatre in London
Man walking past theatre poster saying “We’ll be back soon” outside the Sondheim Theatre in London

Indoor performances with socially distanced audiences can take place in England from the start of August, the prime minister has said.

The government is working with the sector on pilots of performances with socially distanced audiences in theatres and music venues.

Boris Johnson said the findings would feed into final guidance for venues in the run-up to them reopening.

But the head of Theatres Trust said the move “will not be economically viable”.

Dame Judi Dench was among many theatre figures to voice concerns for her industry
Dame Judi Dench was among many theatre figures to voice concerns for her industry

Although Jon Morgan, director of Theatres Trust welcomed the news as “a step in the right direction”, but he said that “for most theatres it will not be economically viable to reopen with 30-40% audience required under social distancing”.

“We now need to progress as quickly as

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Why will none of London’s museums or art galleries reopen on July 4?

By Jaime E. Love 4 months ago
The British Museum - Getty
The British Museum – Getty

Not one of London’s major museums and galleries will reopen on July 4, despite being given the green light to do so from the Government.

The latest easing of lockdown measures means that from this Saturday, cultural institutions, along with pubs, restaurants and hotels, will be permitted to welcome visitors, provided that they adopt a raft of safety and social distancing measures. 

While many hospitality businesses have been clamouring to reopen and quickly announced their plans after the Prime Minister’s statement, the capital’s cultural attractions have been much more reticent.

After the announcement, the Directors of the Tate, Science Museum Group, Natural History Museum, National Gallery, British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum issued a joint statement, which offered no concrete plans:

It stated: “We welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement to allow the safe reopening of our galleries to the public this summer. We will

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