Arts Venues Welcome £1.57Bn Government Support

[naomi24]

With so many theatres, etc., on the brink of collapse, good news indeed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-53302415

[gollob]

Absolute waste of money. They cannot put any shows on so what is the point. Plenty of more deserving cases. In a short while they will be wanting more

[Maydup]

Great news for the arts; the devil will be in the detail as to how it is distributed, but its a start.

In response to why not pubs and restaurants - because they can reopen albeit it gradually. Theatres cannot achieve social distancing either back stage or in the audience.

In response to accusations of elitism - nonsense! How is The Rocky Horror Show, or An evening with Jason Manford, or Mamma Mia, or Dancing on Ice, or loads and loads of other things elitist?

[andy-hughes]

The definition of 'elitist' tends to be something you don't go to, that you regard as a waste of money, and for snobs only.

That can apply to theatre, and in some cases that criticism is valid, but as in all things, a generalisation and dismissal does not help what is a vibrant and important part of culture and art stay alive, and it's important to make money available to ensure that it does stay alive.

As far as football is concerned, history shows that top-end clubs are very often victims of the twin malaises of appalling management and rife corruption, usually both - and therefore sympathy tends not to be extended in its direction for those reasons.

[ichkeria]

“Deeming theatre 'elitist' is nothing but sour inverted snobbery. Ohhh yes it is!!!”

Indeed it is. There’s far more to the theatre than “posh” west end venues.

[jno]

Ohhh yes it is!!!

sorry to say, naomi, that it's starting to look unlikely there will be any pantos this year.

[Cloverjo]

If we do get theatres open with social distancing I’ll be glad not to have someone (usually a man) taking up my leg space and the chair arms.

[Maydup]

Its one long pantomime on here jno!

[naomi24]

//sorry to say, naomi, that it's starting to look unlikely there will be any pantos this year. //

I think some are trying to get something together for Christmas. Fingers crossed. One of my most memorable evenings was spent with the children chucking rubber bricks at Captain Hook!! Elitist? Not 'alf!

[tomus42]

Undoubtedly good news, but it depends how it's distributed. I can see most of it going to the big name things like the national opera, ballet, and various philharmonics rather than the local theatre and music venues that most of us attend.

[naomi24]

tomus, theatres need to apply. I don't expect every application to be successful - I think it will probably depend on individual circumstances - but this from the government website:

//This new package will be available across the country and ensure the future of these multi billion-pound industries are secured.//