‘Bah humbug’: Theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh hits out at London Tier 3 move

Sir Cameron Mackintosh has said the Government’s decision to put London into Tier 3 of coronavirus restrictions is “devastating” and “smacks of panic”.

The theatre producer said the “volte-face” by the Government damages theatre and the wider economy.

Under the new restrictions, which also apply to parts of Essex and Hertfordshire, entertainment venues including theatres, concert halls, art galleries, cinemas and museums must close from Wednesday.

In a statement, Sir Cameron added that the move “makes all our considerable and costly efforts to ensure the safety of both performers and audiences alike, widely praised by the health authorities, seem worthless”.

He said it breaks “any sense of trust between us as an industry and the Government departments we’ve been trying to build a rapport with”.

Sir Cameron is currently putting on Les Miserables in the West End.

He added: “We have almost 100 mostly self-employed performers and staff working on Les Miserables – The Staged Concert at the Sondheim Theatre.

“At a stroke, this government has tipped them into unemployment just in time for Christmas – Bah Humbug to the Prime Minister and the men in white coats.

“We will have to disappoint thousands of patrons over the next few weeks who were booked to safely see Les Mis over the holidays.”

Michael Harrison, director of the Pantoland pantomime which opened at the London Palladium on Saturday, said he is “deeply concerned” about the financial impact of Tier 3 restrictions on the West End.

He added: “Whilst the safety and health of our visitors, staff and performers is of extreme importance, the Government’s yo-yoing approach on advice is frankly appalling.”

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with their three children, went to watch the pantomime last week.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden was also in attendance.

Discussing Mr Dowden’s visit, Mr Harrison said he was “thrilled to see him crying with laughter”.

He added that “it’s just a shame my entire cast and company are now crying because of the Government’s decision to put London into Tier 2 just 12 days ago encouraging us all to press on with our productions only to realise that was in fact a mistake”.

Actress Elaine Paige, who is starring in Pantoland, said she is disappointed that the theatre has to close.

She tweeted: “Oliver Dowden saw it for himself. And yet tubes & flights still allowed?

“These rules are illogical. The audience response shows how desperate they are for 2hrs of escapism. If its so terrible – cancel Christmas!”

The Creative Industries Federation said the Tier 3 announcement is “devastating news” for London’s creative sector.

A tweet from the trade body said: “Devastating news for London’s £58bn creative sector, particularly for the many who will see a total loss of income due to today’s Tier 3 announcement.

“Greater support inc insurance for those planning future performances & events is needed for all parts of UK facing restrictions.”

Jon Morgan, director of the Theatres Trust, an advisory public body for theatres, said the Health Secretary’s announcement has “compounded” a difficult year for the sector.

Mr Morgan said: “It is a disaster for London’s theatres that the capital and parts of Essex and Hertfordshire will move into Tier 3.

“Theatres have worked incredibly hard to create safe environments for audiences and through no fault of their own will now face enormous financial losses.

“They have done so at great risk as it is currently impossible to secure production insurance.”

He added that the tiers system means “more uncertainty and risk for months to come” and the Government should introduce an insurance scheme to support the theatre industry.

“2020 has been a catastrophic year for theatre and today’s announcement has compounded that,” Mr Morgan added.

Julian Bird, chief executive of Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, the membership organisations which aim to promote the sector, also said the announcement is bad news for the industry.

“The past few days have seen venues beginning to reopen with high levels of Covid security, welcoming back enthusiastic, socially distanced audiences,” he said.

“Theatres across London will now be forced to postpone or cancel planned performances, causing catastrophic financial difficulties for venues, producers and thousands of industry workers – especially the freelancers who make up 70% of the theatre workforce.

“We urge Government to recognise the huge strain this has placed on the sector and look at rapid compensation to protect theatres and their staff over Christmas in all areas of the country under Tier 3 restrictions.”

West End producer Sonia Friedman said the move is “yet another blow” for the theatre industry.

Writing in The Telegraph, she added: “All the effort and energy, not to even mention the expense, of re-opening shows safely has once again been undercut by a decision that will devastate our industry and its freelance workforce – many of whom have still not received any Government support and now face a further loss of employment.”

Current Tier 2 restrictions in the regions allow for socially distanced performances to take place, while galleries and museums could also welcome visitors.

However, entertainment venues now find themselves having to shut up shop once again after the lockdown in England came to an end on December 2 and planned performances across the region will now have to be scrapped.

The Government is currently distributing its £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to the arts sector.