Theatres in England could open as soon as 17th May

In a his much anticipated address to the House of Commons, Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled his lockdown exit plan for England which included the news that schools will be allowed to open again on 8th March.

But for those in the UK's theatre industry which has received blow after blow to their professions and livelihoods during the pandemic, there was a dash of hope.

According to the government's new roadmap to easing restrictions, theatres and cinemas in England will be permitted to open on the 17th May.

Wales unveiled their plans last week and Scotland are due to unveil their plans soon.

This is hopeful news for the theatre industry but it is assumed that the openings will of course have to operate within social distancing guidelines.

The Theatres Trust said: "but we recognise that this will be subject to the Covid data nearer the time. We also recognise that this means that many theatres, who cannot operate viably with lower audiences under social distancing, will need to wait longer before reopening."

However, in more good news we could see restrictions dropped all together on 21st of June with social distancing potentially no longer dictating how many are permitted to sit in the nations theatres.

After news of closures and postponements across the West End in the past few months, this dose of good news is just what the theatre industry needed.