As it happened: Coronavirus in NI on 29 July

Theatres in Northern Ireland had been given an indicative reopening date of today – 29 July – but that date – according to the Department for Communities – was
never confirmed.

But how prepared are they for whenever they can reopen?

Ian Barr, manager of the
Waterside Theatre in Derry, hopes to open in September.

The organisation applied for
emergency funding from the Arts Council but won’t know if they have been
successful until 31 July.

He said the theatre can
stay afloat, adding: “We can
survive to the end of this financial year, what happens next year we’re not
sure.”

He said with 1m social
distancing measures, only 30-40% of audiences can return adding: “The long-term future
for the arts sector is still very much in doubt”.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Northern Ireland would receive £33m as part of a UK government support package for arts venues.

Sophie Hayles, Chief Executive of the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast, said the financial implications of closure were “significant”.

“The Crescent, on a normal weekday evening, pre-Covid, was home to around 800 people in and out of our Victorian building,” she told Good Morning Ulster.

“Social distancing measure are challenging and our financial model doesn’t work anymore. Our earned income in the last financial year was over £650,000. In the first quarter of this year, we’re looking at a loss of around £150,000.”

The Department for Communities said the executive would consider reopening of theatres as part of the wider review of the current restrictions.

“It is expected that it will be some time before they can operate as normal and further guidance in relation to live performance particularly in relation to singing is being developed.”