Theatres to reopen to audiences from 1 August

During a press briefing on 17 July, Boris Johnson announced that 'We will restart indoor performances to a live audience, subject to the success of pilots, and we will also pilot larger gatherings in venues like sports stadia with a view to a wider reopening in the autumn.' He also suggested that it may be possible, by November at the earliest, to move away from social distancing rules such as the one-metre rule, if we are able to between now and then 'to keep the virus under control'.

At the moment the guidance in place is for theatres and other performance venues and organisations in England, with the devolved governments making their own rules for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will put together the guidance by running pilots with selected performance venues.