London night tsar calls on theatres to stay open later

London night tsar Amy Lamé has encouraged theatres across the capital to open later, describing them as “the backbone of London’s evening economy”.

Her comments come as the Creative Industries Federation launches a report on the importance of the night-time economy to the creative industries, which explores the threats facing it.

Speaking at a CIF event on February 23, Lamé spoke of how she wants to make London a “totally 24-hour community”.

She said: “I’m looking at ideas about encouraging theatres to stay open late.

“Camden People’s Theatre already run late-night shows and I’d like to see how we can expand that and get restaurants to open late so we can relax and have dinner after a show.

“I think there is the possibility of looking into late-night shows on a Friday and Saturday when the Night Tube is running. I know certain theatres are already thinking about this. The Night Tube means that people going to the theatre or working at the theatre can get home safely.”

Lamé added: “Anything we do would be keeping people who work in theatres in mind. We have a great relationship with Equity.

“Theatre is the backbone of the evening economy. It is not a late-night industry but it can be a bridge to the late-night economy, or it can be the centrepiece of someone’s night.”

Her comments follow similar observations by Society of London Theatre chief executive Julian Bird, who said the introduction of the Night Tube could lead to more flexible start and finish times for shows and special late-night events.

They also coincide with the publication of a CIF report arguing that the success of the UK’s creative industries is at risk because the UK’s night-time economy is under threat from budget cuts, planning policy and noise complaints.

According to the report, the night-time economy – nightclubs, live music venues, theatres, pubs and bars – is vital to enabling the creative industries to thrive.

Statistics from 2015 showed 50% of venues in Bristol said they had been threatened by development, noise or planning issues, while London lost 35% of its grassroots music venues, declining from 144 spaces to 96 between 2007 and 2015.

The report states: “The night-time economy contributes to the physical infrastructure of the broader British creative scene, offers opportunities to showcase and develop talent, grows audiences and fosters local creative networks.

“For many creative businesses, the night-time economy is important in attracting and retaining staff who want to live and work in vibrant towns and cities.”

The report goes on to outline some of the reasons night venues are closing, which include cuts to local authority and policing budgets. It makes recommendations for local government, city government and national government to address these issues.

It suggests councils in England and Scotland should assess how the power to adjust and retain business rates might help support the night-time economy.

The federation also advises local authorities to adopt the ‘agent of change’ principle when dealing with noise complaints from music venues and performance spaces, which puts the responsibility in preventing noise disturbance on new developments rather than existing establishments.

The report also calls for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to consider a more relaxed approach to regulating recorded and live music in grassroots venues.

Commenting on the report, Bird described theatre and the performing arts as “crucial” to the night-time economy UK-wide.

“Theatre contributes to the cultural identity of a place at night, often setting the tone for a location, and in addition often leads the financial health of a locality – both directly and through secondary spend and employment in the hospitality trade.”