The show must go on: Morrison considers reopening theatres

Published by Florence McCrae on July 10th 2020, 10:10am

For Richard Morrison, nobody better encompasses the phrase “from zero to hero” than culture secretary Oliver Dowden. Dowden, who until last Sunday, was subject to almost daily criticisms of his “lethargy and ineffectiveness” has, according to Morrison, “conjured a giant rabbit out of a battered hat.”

The funds for the arts sphere have been widely discussed and examined, dissected with more discipline than the Turner Prize winners, yet for Morrison there is yet one more hurdle which Dowden must jump.

Morrison notes: “So are we out of the woods? Far from it.” For him, the reopening of the theatre is the final cultural frontier.

Indeed, Morrison goes so far as to reject the statistics which have suggested members of the public are reluctant to return to normality, citing the desperation of our nation to travel to warmer climes. “My feeling is that, now that shops and pubs are open and budget airlines are packing in holidaymakers cheek by jowl, promoters will discover that the public’s fear of entering entertainment venues is receding much faster than initial surveys suggested,” he notes.

For Morrison, the next part of Dowden’s role is as important as its first – “publishing sensible but not over-restrictive safety guidelines that allow performers to strut their stuff again in front of paying punters.”

The examination of the separation of audiences and performers alike, leads Morrison to conclude that perhaps “we may yet see some pantos staged this December. Wouldn’t that be a great Christmas present at the end of a nightmare year?”

Share this article


Leaders of Great Britain

About Leaders of Great Britain

Leaders of Great Britain hosts a series of engaging events featuring prominent figures from the worlds of politics, sports, business, and entertainment. Our goal is for every attendee to leave these gatherings with profound leadership insights that transcend boundaries. Learn More.


Related Features


Authored By

Florence McCrae
Literary Editor
July 10th 2020, 10:10am

Follow Us

Follow @LeadersGBNI on Twitter for more live updates

Share this article


Popular Features

FEATURES | Published October 7th 2024, 4:04 pm

Margaret Ollivier: Ensuring Respect and Inclusivity at Expect Ltd

FEATURES | Published September 16th 2024, 11:11 am

Andrew Martin: Steering the Course of Planning and Development

FEATURES | Published July 26th 2024, 7:07 am

Paul Bowley: Transforming Lives with Abbeycare Group

© Copyright 2024, Leaders of Great Britain.