The big West End productions postponed to 2021 ...

This is the announcement made yesterday by Cameron Mackintosh. The English producer, who heads the group Delfont Mackintosh Theaters, owns 8 theaters in the West End. He announced that half of his productions would not reopen before 2021. The others are canceled until August 2 if nothing changes in the meantime.
This comes after the announcement of a new wave of layoffs within the group.

Cameron Mackintosh and Delfont Mackintosh Theaters Statement - June 2020
Wyndham's Theater, in the colors of the Delfont Mackintosh Theaters group.

The groups LW Theaters (the company of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber which owns 7 theaters) Nimax, ATG and Nederlander have also followed this movement. No performances will take place before August 2.

Artists' desperate appeal to the British government

98 theatrical creatives wrote to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling on the government to take action to prevent the collapse of the industry.
La full letter can be read here.
The letter follows a report by Oxford Economics warning of 400 job losses and a loss of £ 000 billion in annual revenue in the arts industry. They describe this as a "cultural catastrophe" brought about by the complete closure of arts venues amid the Covid-74 crisis.
I advise you to read this Guardian article which gives a detailed account of the impact of the Covid on the world of performing arts.

Here's an update on West End musicals and their situations:

  • Dear Evan Hansen
    All performances until August 2 have been rescheduled and affected viewers have been contacted with their new performance date.
  • Hamilton
    All performances are currently on hold. The show will not welcome a spectator until 2021.
    To be kept informed of the reopening of the ticket office, it's here.
  • Mary Poppins
    Same here, performances will not resume before 2021. The ticket office will reopen when there is clearer visibility on the reopening of the theaters. To find out when the ticket office will reopen, register here.
  • The Book of Mormon
    Cancellation of all performances until August 2.
  • Les Misérables
    Again, the show will not reopen until 2021.
    To be the first to know about the reopening of the ticket office, register here.
  • The Phantom of the Opera
    Performances are postponed until 2021. Spectators affected by cancellations will be given a voucher to reserve seats at a later date.
    Rumors are circulating about the show. The creative and technical teams were made redundant. This suggests that a new production of Phantom would be in progress ...
  • Wicked
    The musical will not resume until November 2, 2020.
  • Mamma Mia!
    Performances for the musical (which has been playing for over 20 years in London) have been canceled until August 2.
  • The Lion King
    The musical will resume performances on November 3, 2020.
  • Pretty Woman: The Musical
    Performances until August 2 have been postponed to 2021. The list of new dates can be found here.
  • Everybody's Talking About Jamie
    Cancellation of performances until August 2, 2020.
  • Sunday in the Park With George
    The New York production was supposed to make its transfer to the West on June 5. This production, with Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford, will take place at a later date.
  • City of Angels
    Cancellation of performances until August 2.
The plays

Harry Potter And The Cursed Child
The magical play will not reopen until September 6, 2020.

Suspension also of The Seagull with Emilia Clarke, Baby reindeer, Uncle Vanya, Life of Pi, To Kill A Mockingbird, and many more until further notice.

The facade of the Victoria Palace

A new model for going to the theater?

English composer Andrew Lloyd Webber wants to prove to the British government that theaters are capable of reopening. The international tour of Phantom of the Opera reopened in South Korea with new measures. All spectators must wear a mask and wash their hands. We take their temperature at the entrance to the theater. Thermal cameras and self-washing handle covers are in place in the theater. Backstage too, unnecessary contact is banned and actors wear masks backstage. Costumes are washed and disinfected more frequently.
Andrew Lloyd Webber therefore wants to use his theater The London Palladium to do a test. This test will determine whether we can welcome the public again without social distancing. Because social distancing means that only 20% of tickets can be sold, a loss of turnover of up to 80%.

You will therefore have to be patient before you can rediscover the excellent English productions. In the meantime, one can enjoy large numbers of online shows. Discover a list of the best English shows to watch online.

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