Government’s roadmap to freedom is ‘light at the end of a very long tunnel’ but ‘devil is in the detail’, say Sheffield venue bosses

Outdoor and indoor performances will be able to return from May 17 with capacity capped at 50 per cent or 1,000 spectators under ‘step three’ of England’s exit from the current restrictions.

Then, from June 21, social distancing could be eased for large events such as stage performances – at this point, the Government hopes ‘all legal limits on social contact can be removed’, promising a return to somewhere approaching the kind of normality not experienced since early 2020.

Dan Bates, chief executive of Sheffield Theatres which runs the Lyceum and Crucible venues, said: “We welcome the Government's roadmap as the country takes the first steps towards easing lockdown. We already have shows programmed in May – when it’s hoped that performances will be possible with socially distanced audiences – and June, when it is hoped that full audiences can return to theatres.

"Though these dates are still subject to change, this provides a light at the end of a very long tunnel for everyone in theatre. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be working with our staff team, actors, creatives and our producing partners to prepare to welcome audiences back to the theatres. In the meantime, we’re continuing to make great theatre behind closed doors and our new production of The Band Plays On will be available to watch online from March 15.”

Dom Stokes, head of live events and venues for Sheffield City Trust which runs Sheffield Arena and the City Hall, said: “It is clearly very good news to finally have some dates to work towards in terms of hosting live gigs and concerts again. It is nearly a year since either the Arena or the City Hall hosted their last indoor events and ever since we have been planning and adapting for when we could welcome audiences again.

“As with all these things the devil is in the detail. Over the coming days and weeks we will be working with our partners that includes promoters, event organisers, industry associations and of course Sheffield City Council to work out what the fine print is within this roadmap so that when the time comes our venues are ready and events take place in a safe and enjoyable environment for clients and customers alike.

“Sheffield Arena continues to be a major part of the Covid vaccination programme working closely with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust as we have done since April 2020 and we will continue to support this vital project, our most important event ever staged, to ensure we play our role in doing everything we can to hit the roadmap dates.”

The Theatres Trust, the national advisory public body for theatre, welcomed the Government’s announcement, but its director Jon Morgan cautioned: "We want to play our part in helping keep people safe and we do not want to be in a situation where theatres reopen too early only to be forced to close again after a short period."

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