Coronavirus: 78% of comedy venues could close within a year, report warns

Almost eight out of 10 live comedy venues could be forced to close within the next year without help, it has been warned, as the industry demands inclusion in the government’s cultural rescue plan.

The first UK-wide survey of the comedy industry suggests a serious threat to its ecosystem, with artists warning that they may have to leave the industry because of the pandemic and venues admitting that they could face closure if they are unable to access some of the £1.57 billion confirmed last week for the arts and heritage sectors.

The report is published by the Live Comedy Association, a newly formed industry body.

It is arguing that the comedy industry is in "dire straits" due to the pandemic, with respondents to the survey admitting they fear being unable to pay their rent once the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme ends, while others who have not been eligible for any government assistance said they were now unable to sustain careers in comedy.

Venues also reported fears that they could be forced into bankruptcy if audiences do not return.

The survey’s findings also include:

• A third of comedy venues could close within the next six months, with 78% at risk of closure within the next year.
• Almost half (roughly 45%) of respondents said they had given serious thought to leaving comedy as a result of the effects of the pandemic.
• 60% of respondents said they would need to resume performing before February 2021, otherwise they would have to find alternative work.
• More than 75% of respondents said they had earned less than 5% of the income they estimated they would receive prior to the pandemic.
• Nearly three-quarters (73.5%) said their mental health had been negatively affected by the uncertainty of the pandemic.

The LCA is calling for comedy to be eligible for government support alongside other performing arts and wider creative industries.

LCA chair Bríd Kirby and vice chair Owen Donovan said: "We’ve long been overlooked within the performing arts; live comedy isn’t viewed as being equal to other art forms by funding bodies across the UK. But we have always been working, contributing to local economies and communities, and producing work that is known worldwide.

"So to the UK government, national governments, Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales and Arts Council of Northern Ireland, we have one simple request: to be treated like the rest of the performing arts. In the first instance, that means being given the same access to the £1.57 billion of government funding to save the arts."

The group has established the #SaveLiveComedy campaign and written an open letter to raise awareness of the importance of comedy to the arts and the influence it has on British theatre, festivals, TV and radio success.

The letter calls for comedy to be given the same access to the rescue package as other art forms, for the Job Retention Scheme and SEISS to be extended for the performing arts and for a clear timetable around reopening to be published.

"If the UK governments do not act immediately and comprehensively to support the live comedy industry, the sector will risk disappearing as an art form and cultural industry and the thousands of talented people, organisations and venues which make up the industry we love will face financial ruin," the letter said.

Read the full report here.