Nica Burns set to reopen Nimax’s six West End theatres from May 17

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Nica Burns. Photo: Danny Kaan

Nimax chief executive Nica Burns has revealed plans to reopen all six of the company’s West End theatres from May 17.

The government announced yesterday that theatres could reopen from May 17, with social distancing in place, subject to four conditions being met.

Burns told The Stage: “We are definitely going to open all six theatres with social distancing, and are now working on our reopening plan to do that. The moment we have completed that – we have lots of people to talk to – we will announce it.”

It it expected that full details of Nimax’s reopening plans, for London theatres including the Palace, Vaudeville and Apollo, will be confirmed later this week, along with details of the shows that will reopen them.

However, she was more cautious about the June 21 date, where theatres may potentially be able to reopen without social distancing.

She said bigger shows, in both the West End and across the UK, will need more time to plan.

“We have a no-earlier-than date for reopening without social distancing but it’s not guaranteed. Big shows need certainty and planning. All the producers will be looking at their options and we all have to wait, as that is much more complex,” she said.

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Her comments come as more theatre leaders share their thoughts on the roadmap unveiled by Boris Johnson.

Tom Morris, artistic director of Bristol Old Vic, described the roadmap as “sensible”, saying it is “measured and the risks of one step forwards two steps back are being managed well”.

However, he said the plan overlooks outdoor shows and said these should be allowed from April 12, in line with pubs and restaurants being able to serve outdoors.

“The roadmap sets out the first steps as we emerge from lockdown, now we need to plan how to rebuild the economy. The performing arts have a massive contribution to make to this. Not just in the West End, where the numbers are gargantuan, but in every town and city centre in every region of the country.

"We need government to help plan this. The tax breaks and insurance measures that the government is looking at should all be timetabled to support this and it should be linked with a reignition investment across the leisure and night-time economies,” he said.

Key measures being called for by the industry include:

• Greater clarity on the government’s Events Research Programme, which includes a series of pilots to see how events with larger crowds can be run without social distancing. Leaders say these pilots should include experts from the live events sector.
• An extension of the reduced rate of 5% VAT on ticket sales, warning that reversing it too soon will cripple the recovery of theatre and live events.
• An extension of financial schemes to support workers until theatres can reopen.
• Confirmation that theatres in receipt of Culture Recovery Fund grants will not be penalised if they continue to use the money until reopening is possible.
• An extension of business-rate holidays for theatres and performing arts venues until 2022.

Fiona Allan, chief executive and artistic director of Birmingham Hippodrome, told The Stage: “The government’s roadmap comes as welcome news and like all of our sector, I can’t wait to get back to work in the theatre, not just on Zoom. It feels positive to know what is likely to be allowed, and in what order, so that we can all start to plan properly – even if the dates may shift.”

She added: “It will be vital that we continue to access the Job Retention Scheme and programmes to support freelancers up until we are, not just allowed to reopen, but operationally able to reopen.”