News yesterday that the UK government is putting London under the strictest Tier 3 coronavirus lockdown was met with grief by the beleaguered live entertainment industry.
Venues such as cinemas and theaters reopened in the capital on December 2, when the country exited a four-week statewide lockdown, and many have put huge efforts and investments into getting back up and running ahead of the lucrative holiday season.
Immediately after yesterday’s announcement, the UK Cinema Association said the move was “devastating” for its members, especially since Wonder Woman 1984 will soon be available for programming (window issues aside).
Today, the cast and crew of Pantoland At The Palladium, the annual celebratory stage show at the iconic London theater, joined the chorus of disagreement to express the negative impact this will have on the long-term health of live venues.
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“We are deeply concerned about the economic impact of today’s decision to move to West End businesses and believe we have done all we can to provide our audience with a Covid-proof environment in the London Palladium,” wrote Michael Harrison, Producer and Director of Pantoland , in a statement on Twitter.
The show didn’t start until December 12th and should run through January 3rd. It is now unlikely that they can reopen in time. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended an early performance this weekend.
There is no set duration for the new tier restrictions, but the government has promised regular reviews. However, London’s status is not expected to change again before the New Year. A planned five-day Christmas break, which allows households to mingle so people can visit their families on vacation, won’t change the enforced closings of entertainment venues.
“While the safety and health of our visitors, staff and artists is of the utmost importance, the government’s yo-yo approach to advice is frankly appalling,” continued Harrison. “It is not possible for any company to function in an environment where our leaders just seem to have no idea what our country will be like from one week to the next. The advice borders on incompetence. “
Actor Beverley Knight, who made her debut on the show earlier this year, got involved on Twitter:
I’m leaving our producer / director to share my thoughts because I have no words right now. https://t.co/vpO5W5dN62
– Beverley Knight (@Beverleyknight) December 14, 2020
Julian Clary hosts the variety show, which also includes Elaine Paige, Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers, Gary Wilmot and Ashley Banjo, as well as the dance group Diversity.
Around 30 London theaters had managed to reopen after the four-week lockdown. Other notable figures, including producer Cameron Mackintosh, weighed the government’s recent decision calling it a “Christmas fiasco”.
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