22 of the 46 Society of London Theatre members that ran shows had their performances canceled.
These included Hamilton, Matilda and Wicked as well as Cinderella, Cabaret, Come From Away, Cinderella, Cinderella, The Lion King, Cinderella and Wicked.
Sir Cameron Mackintosh, producer, said that it was “hugely disruptive” in an industry that was in a “dreadful condition”.
BBC News: He said that it was literally every day. We spent all morning trying to figure out if the show is possible.
“The most important thing is that it is safe when we do it. We have found the public to be remarkable in their willingness to attend the shows – in fact, they show up almost exclusively in our experience.”
“Desperate for government assistance”
He said that bookings for the first half of 2022 were far below expectations. This is “really worrying” for nearly everyone in the business.
“It’s understandable why. But this is why we urgently need the government help the commercial theater, because the vast majority of the commercial theatre has not had any assistance at all during the pandemic.
“We have all used our reserve funds to get the shows up again. We are currently trying to recover some of our losses and we are in an awful situation right now. The government must help us keep the commercial theatres going for the next few weeks.
The Culture Recovery Fund does not cover most commercial theatres that are located in the West End or big regional venues that have hit shows.
Monday’s government meeting was focused on further restrictions. This could include the possibility of closing indoor entertainment venues.
Sir Cameron said, “It’s terrible if we have too close again.” He has eight West End productions, including Hamilton, Les Miserables, and Mamma Mia!
“Whether we are shut down by the government, or closed by stealth due to all the mixed messages that we’ve been receiving – whatever happens the government must step in and support the hospitality and commercial theatres that keep London running.
“Uncertainty is wearing us out”
Some theatres have decided to cancel their performances until after Christmas or New Year in order to allow crew and cast members who are infected to recuperate and isolate.
The musicals Dear Evan Hansen, The Book of Mormon and Come From Away will be suspended from 27 December through 29 December. The Curious Incident of a Dog in the Night Time will continue until 29 December.
Shakespeare’s Globe’s Measure For Measure won’t return until January 4, and the curtain on the National Theatre’s Christmas show Hex 5 will remain up until January 5.
Numerous cancellations have occurred elsewhere in the country as well, with Six and The Book of Mormon being cancelled at the Lowry Theatre in Salford and Manchester’s Palace Theatre.
Leeds’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks were not possible to stage over the weekend at Grand Theatre. Wendy & Peter Pan died at Leeds Playhouse.
The Edinburgh Playhouse did not have a White Christmas on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday and Tuesday, the Newcastle Theatre Royal had to cancel its pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
Equity, an arts union, urged Rishi Sunak last week to protect creative workers.
Paul Fleming, general secretary, wrote that “this worrying situation threatens to the fragile return of live performances in theatres pubs clubs and other venues across an important Christmas season.”
David Pugh, theatre producer and whose Pride and Prejudice, (Sort of) has stayed on the West End stage, shared his thoughts on Twitter.
Stephanie Sirr, chief executive at the Nottingham Playhouse, and president of UK Theatre, stated to BBC Breakfast that Christmas is when all theatres make the most of their money.
It’s when you can be certain you will have a certain income. Many theatres are charities. It is a concern if your main income period is at risk.
A spokesperson for Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport stated that the unprecedented PS2bn Culture Recovery Fund had given out PS1.5bn worth of grants and loans, and nearly PS200m to devolved administrations. Applications for the Culture Recovery Fund’s third round, PS300m, are still being accepted. This fund provides vital support to the creative, cultural, and heritage sectors.
“We will continue to review the delivery of this programme and look at how we can adapt it to meet the needs of the sector.”
The West End is currently free of affected shows like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Frozen, Back to the Future and Frozen.
