Theatre industry could face 3,000 job losses due to 'perfect storm' caused by Covid-19, warns union
The UK’s largest arts union has warned 3,000 theatre jobs are at risk as the sector has been hit by a “perfect storm” that will “turn into a tsunami” as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
The head of the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union (Bectu), Philippa Childs, warned on Friday that after more than three months of shuttered doors and zero box office takings, “theatres have no income coming in and no plan for when they can truly start to operate again”.
The warning came as regional theatres around the country this week confirmed they would make redundancies and permanently close.
They include the Royal Exchange in Manchester, which announced 65 per cent of its staff could be made redundant due to continued uncertainty around reopening dates, and Nuffield Southampton Theatres. The Southampton venue, which went into administration in May, confirmed it would permanently close after attempts to find a buyer were unsuccessful.
Theatre industry newspaper The Stage has begun redundancy consultations. Even the world-famous Royal Albert Hall revealed this week that despite a £5m Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and public donations, it will have to close in early 2021, in its 150th year, if the government fails to intervene.
Ms Childs said the pandemic is seeing “cultural vandalism beyond repair”, and called for the Government to provide a long a long-term plan for the return of live theatre performances in front of profit-making audiences.
The 3,000 job loss estimate provided by Bectu does not include freelancers, whom the union claim make up around 70 per cent of the UK theatre workforce.
The union leader also called for short-term cash injections, a release for theatres for having to pay a percentage of furloughed workers’ wages from August, and support for freelancers.
Ms Childs said: “A perfect storm is taking place across the theatre industry, which is only set to turn into a tsunami as each day passes without government intervention.
“The clock has been ticking since it was announced that employers will have to contribute to furlough scheme from August.
“Bectu officials have been working night and day to save these people’s jobs, but the reality is that theatres have no income coming in and no plan for when they can truly start to operate again.
“This is cultural vandalism beyond repair.”
She added: “That package must include a short-term cash injection to allow theatres to remain open, a specific exemption for theatres to contribute to the furlough scheme and support for freelancers currently excluded from financial support. We also need a long-term plan for how live performances can take place again and the money to allow that to happen.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has said he is working “intensively” to ensure theatres can reopen. He recently unveiled a five-stage plan that could see the return of the performing arts, but gave no further updates on a financial rescue package previously pledged.
He has said: “I am determined to ensure the performing arts do not stay closed any longer than is absolutely necessary to protect public health.”
In response to the Bectu statements, a Government spokesperson told The Guardian that it had provided “unprecedented financial assistance” and is currently considering ways in which it can provide further support to the sector.
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