Theatre News

National Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and Hampstead Theatre cancel shows given new lockdown

The sad news was confirmed today

Cleve September
Cleve September
© The Other Richard
A few further venues have cancelled upcoming runs given the new national restrictions, set to last for at least six weeks.

Chichester Festival Theatre has postponed its production of Benefactors, which was set to open in February and star Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner.

After its Chichester run the piece was scheduled to head to Bath, Cambridge, Canterbury, Salford and Cheltenham.

Executive and artistic directors Kathy Bourne and Daniel Evans said: "We are bitterly disappointed by the postponement of Benefactors, which promised to be an outstanding revival of a play which would have been a real tonic for audiences around England. With the new lockdown, it's become clear that it's simply not possible to mount a touring theatre show over the next few months."

"We are now focusing all our energies on planning for Festival 2021, which will open in April, and we look forward to sharing what's in store for our audiences this Spring in due course."

Elsewhere, Hampstead Theatre has completely pulled remaining performances of The Dumb Waiter on similar grounds.

The National Theatre has also cancelled all remaining live performances of its in-the-round pantomime Dick Whittington. The venue says it is "devastated" by the news.

— National Theatre (@NationalTheatre) January 6, 2021

For anyone missing a panto fix, the venue is still preparing to present the show via its brand new streaming service National Theatre At Home.

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