'False hope' over indoor theatre reopening, says London choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne

The announcement that live indoor theatre and concerts can resume next month with socially distanced audiences has sparked a mixed response.

Indoor performances with live audiences will be allowed, subject to the success of pilots, from August 1.

Iain Farrington, a composer and pianist whose work kicks off this year’s Proms on Friday night, welcomed the move, but choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne said it offers “false hope”. And the union Bectu said venues will not be ready to reopen in a fortnight.

But Farrington, who performed Chariots Of Fire in a comedy sketch with Rowan Atkinson at the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony said:

Head of Bectu Philippa Childs called the move a “significant development for the industry”.

The arts recently welcomed a £1.57 billion support package to “protect” the future of Britain’s theatres, museums, galleries and independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues.

On Friday, the Royal Opera House announced it has begun a restructure process because of the scale of financial pressure, alongside continued restrictions on the ability to perform to live audiences.

The opera house’s director of music, Antonio Pappano, has waived his salary since the beginning of the crisis and chief executive Alex Beard has taken a significant reduction in salary.

Outdoor performances were allowed to resume on July 10 with restricted audience numbers and social distancing.

The London Symphony Orchestra at St Luke’s in London is among the arts venues piloting new arrangements.