Livestreams, theatre rehearsals and live television can go ahead in new lockdown

Audiences can still look forward to new theatre offerings, albeit in a virtual manner.

UPDATED: Latest news added 8 January.

With news that England has entered a new national lockdown, all public performances in theatres are suspended until at least mid-February. On the up side, digital productions have been given the green light to continue, as confirmed online by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden.

The government has confirmed that theatres can stay open as a place of work, including "training and rehearsal of performances, recording studios and film and television production."

Upcoming livestreams this month, both filmed in advance and due to be filmed include Lazarus and I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. Productions affected by the lockdown include the world premiere of The Sorcerer's Apprentice at Southwark Playhouse.

In an article with The Stage, Nimax Theatres will open a venue as a centralised Covid-19 testing hubs. Pilot tests used the Palace Theatre, so it's likely that future tests will happen here too.

Public performances will be able to resume in London once the capital has been downgraded to a "tier two" area. Currently, it is unknown when London will be able to reopen its theatre doors once again.

^{Photo credit: Theatre seats (Photo by Jonatan Moerman on Unsplash)}