London manufacturer Mackintosh closes down ‘Hamilton’ and other leading shows up until 2021

Shows including “Hamilton” and “Les Miserables” will not go back to the London stage up until 2021, producer Cameron Mackintosh stated on Wednesday, blaming uncertainty over when the British federal government would lift social distancing procedures.

Theaers, movie theaters and other home entertainment locations were shut down in March as part of efforts to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, which has declared more lives in Britain than in any other European nation.

A prominent figure in London’s West End entertainment district where he owns a number of theaters, Mackintosh has actually produced hit musicals for years.

He said he had taken the “heart-breaking” choice to delay the return of his 4 present London shows, which likewise consist of “Mary Poppins” and “The Phantom of the Opera”, to make sure that his organisation might survive.

Read likewise: Disney to release ‘Hamilton’ performance in July on its streaming service

The decision might result in redundancies for all workers on the productions, and an internal assessment process had actually started.

” In spite of the government engaging with the desperate pleas from everybody in the theater industry, so far there has actually been no tangible useful assistance beyond offers to go into debt which I do not wish to do,” he stated in a statement.

” Their failure to state when the impossible restraints of social distancing will be lifted makes it equally difficult for us to correctly plan for whatever the brand-new future is.”

Mackintosh said his business’ reserves had actually been enormously diminished by the complete closure of the industry, and that he had to take drastic steps to ensure his shows could restart next year.

Culture minister Oliver Dowden said he had talked to Mackintosh and others in the market, and the federal government was working to resolve the obstacles they faced.

” It is going to be incredibly tough for theaters to open consistent with social distancing, which is why I continue to have conversations throughout federal government to see what further support we can give theaters,” he stated at a press conference.