Andrew Lloyd Webber To Reopen His Theatres Without Social Distancing This Month

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER has claimed that he is determined to open his theatres on June 21, even if it runs the risk of him being arrested.

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER has claimed that he is determined to open his theatres on June 21, even if it runs the risk of him being arrested. Lord Lloyd Webber’s West End production of Cinderella is due to begin previews on June 25, four days after so-called “freedom day”.

“We are going to open, come hell or high water,” he said.

The government has said it will make a decision soon on whether to continue with the easing of lockdown restrictions on June 21. According to reports, the BBC has said, the date may be pushed back because of concerns regarding the Covid variant.

Currently, theatres are allowed to operate with reduced capacities and if audiences are socially distanced.

Lord Lloyd Webber has said previously that productions such as his large-scale musicals are “impossible” under current restrictions. He told the Telegraph that he is prepared to be arrested if his plans for reopening are intervened by authorities.

The Phantom of the Opera composer said: “We will say ‘come to the theatre and arrest us’”.

The theatre and entertainment industries have been severely affected financially by the pandemic restriction, with many remaining closed despite the ease in Covid measures.

“If the government ignore their own science, we have the mother of all legal cases against them,” Lloyd-Webber continued.

“If Cinderella couldn’t open we’d go, ‘look, either we go to law about it or you’ll have to compensate us.’”

“We can open safely,” the composer insisted. “Please, please let us get open.”

Cinderella was scheduled to open in August last year, however, it is now due to have its opening night at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on 14 July.

Lord Lloyd-Webber also has plans to re-launch his West End productions of The Phantom of the Opera and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

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