Theatres continue the struggle to survive but need more help

Step by step theatres are struggling to re-open after being hammered by lockdown.
It’s marvellous to see venues gradually testing the water with a variety of socially distanced performances.
But the truth is that for every venue making those tentative steps back to some form of theatrical normality there are dozens for whom it is simply not possible.
Prohibitive costs and the prospect of massively reduced income make it simply not economically viable to re-open their doors.
And that is the tragedy that everyone in this industry is living with. We hear that in the West End, Nimax which owns the Apollo, Duchess, Garrick, Lyric, Palace and Vaudeville theatres, is planning to stage a mixture of previously running shows and new productions from next month. The National too is about to welcome limited but no doubt grateful audiences back.
But for many other venues in both the West End and across the UK, the outlook remains bleak.
If the performing arts industry is to survive beyond this pandemic it desperately needs more, much more, help from the government. It is vital they do something now. Otherwise we risk finding an effective vaccine maybe this year, next year or in 18 months time only to realise that our beautiful, inspiring theatres are dead. Please don’t let it happen! As anyone who regularly reads these blogs will know that I fervently believe that eventually the theatre industry - packed with brilliant and creative people - will find a way to survive and thrive once again. Certainly Clive Conway Productions is looking forward to getting our many shows back on the touring circuit. Watch this website for more information.