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A joint statement from concert managers and
theatre producers, also including Cameron Mackintosh and Sonia
Friedman, said the industry had repeatedly urged the government
to spell out its reasons for keeping restrictions on audiences
in place.
"We simply must now see the data that is being used to strangle
our industry so unfairly," said Lloyd Webber
"The Government's actions are forcing theatre and music
companies off a cliff as the summer wears on, whilst
cherry-picking high-profile sporting events to go ahead. The
situation is beyond urgent,” the theatre entrepreneur added.
British authorities have conducted a pilot scheme in recent
months, testing audiences at live events from soccer matches to
the Brit Awards, to see if they can be held with full crowds.
The producers said reports suggested the pilot events had gone
well, but the government had "refused to publish the results
from the first phase of the Events Research Programme, despite
saying that it would do so on numerous occasions".
A government spokesman said the research programme was still
running. "(The ERP) is gathering important evidence to help get
all live events, including theatre shows, festivals and gigs,
fully back up and running once it is safe to do so," he added.
The results would be published before the next stage in the
government's road map out of the restrictions, the spokesman
added. That "Step 4" has been pushed back to July 19 from June
21 because of the spread of the more infection Delta variant.
The pandemic initially forced all British theatres and concert
halls to close their doors. Some briefly re-opened in December
and, under Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown, smaller
productions resumed in May though at 50% capacity and with
social distancing measures.
Bigger musicals had been waiting for the wider lifting of
restrictions.
The joint statement from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful
Group, the LIVE music industry body and others also called for a
government-backed insurance scheme to cover any cancellations of
live shows over the summer and beyond.
"A joint insurance scheme to protect us against another enforced
closure is vital," Mackintosh said.
"Opening without any sort of protection is impossible for many
producers, live event organisers and theatre buildings across
the country."
Last week, Lloyd Webber said he would not take part in the pilot
scheme but would comply with social distancing rules when his
new musical "Cinderella" begins previews on Friday.
(Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Additional reporting by
Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
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