Theatres Trust response to Prime Minister’s New Deal speech

In response to the Prime Minister's announcement on 30 June about economic recovery plans, Theatres Trust Director Jon Morgan said:

"The Prime Minister's announcement of support for infrastructure projects to kick start the UK's recovery post Covid-19 is welcome. However, it is disappointing that he made no mention of theatres and other cultural infrastructure. Theatres are not only vital creative and community hubs, they are a major contributor to local economies and, with the decline of retail, are critical to town and city centre regeneration.

Alongside the urgent support the sector needs to survive the lockdown and avoid mass redundancies, our research has shown that in England alone there are more than 100 shovel-ready theatre capital projects at risk of delay or cancellation.  Timely investment by government in these projects would create and safeguard jobs and enable those buildings to play a pivotal role in reviving our town centres as part of our national recovery".