Theatregoers in England will be required to wear face coverings when visiting venues as part of the UK Government’s move to ‘Plan B’ proposals in face of concerns about the Omicron variant.
The announcement of extra mandatory measures comes just days after the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and UK Theatre expressed concern that theatre operators and staff were not being offered the same legal protection as retail establishments and public transport operators in enforcing mask wearing.
Aside from making the wearing of masks mandatory in most public indoor settings, including cinemas, theatres and places of worship, from 15 December (subject to parliamentary approval) the NHS Covid Pass on the NHS App will become mandatory for entry into nightclubs and settings where large crowds gather – including unseated indoor events with 500 or more attendees, unseated outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees and any event with 10,000 or more attendees. People will be able to demonstrate proof of two vaccine doses via the app or proof of a negative lateral flow test before entry.
Trafalgar Entertainment, the second biggest theatre company in the UK, was among the first within the industry to react to the Government announcements.
In a statement welcoming the extra legal measures introduced but warning of fears that further measures could damage the theatre industry’s fragile recovery, the joint chief executive of Trafalgar Entertainment, Rosemary Squire said: “There are positives and negatives in the announcements made last night. We’re encouraged that the Government has acknowledged that theatres are a safe environment by not extending the ‘proof of vaccination’ rules to indoor seated settings at our scale.
“This is a proportionate response and one which recognises the energy, hard work and commitment that the whole industry has put in to ensure Covid-safe operation since reopening. Similarly, the changes to the 10-day self-isolation rules are balanced and will be hugely helpful to producers in keeping shows open and touring through the winter. This is a positive step for an industry still recovering from the worst period in its history.
“Our sector was ahead of the game in recommending that face-coverings should be worn in theatres (unless exempt or consuming food and drink in bars or auditoriums) and, whilst there will be some challenges for our venue teams in enforcing the new rules, we welcome the fact that this move provides a clear and consistent line on this issue. We hope it will offer further reassurance to customers, performers and venue staff.
“However, whilst these measures will increase confidence for some, there is a danger that further restrictions may amplify concern for others particularly our more vulnerable audience members. We expect to be fielding calls as a result; and after a fairly extraordinary bounce-back over recent months we are concerned at the potential for some customers simply to ‘stay-away’ over the crucial Christmas period. As we are once again faced with challenges and uncertainties, we stand firm in our position that we must do everything in our power to protect our world-leading industry, keep our theatres open and oppose any further restrictions that could risk a return to the unimaginable.”
A statement from SOLT and UK Theatre on Government Plan B measures read: “We understand the government’s decision to introduce Plan B and are heartened to see amendments have been made to make it easier for our theatres to operate.
“Theatres remain fully open and will continue to offer much-needed respite from the current challenges, in a safe and ordered environment. We are grateful to all our audiences for their ongoing support.
“Our industry-wide See it Safely protocols give audiences confidence that theatres are operating in accordance with the latest official guidelines – as part of these, we have always strongly recommended the wearing of face coverings throughout our buildings, and the government’s move to make them mandatory will help our hardworking Front of House staff keep our venues safe.
“Although the current NHS Covid Pass recommendations do not apply to theatres, it is good to see that the government has included lateral flow test results as part of the pass alongside proof of vaccination – something our industry had been advocating for.
“Finally, we welcome the news that isolation requirements are to be replaced by daily testing for contacts of people infected by Omicron – this will avoid the disastrous ‘pingdemic’ of the summer and help keep our shows open and our audiences entertained.”
Angela Thomas
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