Performing arts can now take place outdoors from 11 July with a socially distanced audience present, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden announced today.

DCMS given Performing Arts the green light to resume outdoors on July 11th

This means that outdoor theatres, opera, dance and music can resume from Saturday so long as they take place outside and with a limited and socially distanced audience. This gives the green light for the likes of outdoor opera at Glyndebourne, Sussex and plays at Cornwall’s Minack Theatre, to go ahead. London’s West End will also return through the Six, The Musical Drive-In.

The Government will also work with the sector to pilot a number of small indoor performances with a social distanced audience to help inform plans about how best to get indoor venues back up and running.

The Government  released  guidance for people who work in performing arts, including arts organisations, venue operators and participants entitled Performing Arts – Working Safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)

Julian Bird, CEO Society of London Theatre | UK Theatre stated: We welcome the publication of the guidance on re-opening theatres and other performances, along with clarification around rehearsals and other areas of the sector’s work. Importantly the date of 11 July for outdoor performances to recommence is now clear (stage 3 of the government roadmap) – and we continue to urge the government to publish “no earlier than” dates for initial indoor performances with a socially distanced audience and most importantly for full venue reopening (stages 4 and 5 respectively) to allow theatres and producers to plan and prepare.

Please click the link to view the guidance:

DCMS Document on Working Safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)

DCMS given Performing Arts the green light to resume outdoors on July 11th

Further relevant COVID-19 Guidance can also be found here: https://www.abtt.org.uk/resources-guidance/covid19/back-to-work-working-safely/