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Andrew Lloyd Webber finally wants to show his new musical
Photo: John Angelillo / UPI Photo / imago images
For weeks, Great Britain has been looking forward to the "Day of Freedom" - the day on which Corona should finally be history in everyday life.
But the recent increase in the number of cases has put the adherence to the schedule into question.
"Cats" composer Andrew Llloyd Webber, who runs several musical theaters, does not contest that: "We'll open, come what may," he told the Telegraph.
The premiere of Webber's musical version of "Cinderella" is scheduled to take place on June 25th.
He went even further in the interview: If the authorities do not stick to their plans, he is ready to be arrested.
If he can't reopen, he'll have to sell six of the theaters he runs in London's West End, Webber said.
The corona crisis has hit the British theater landscape hard. Farms lost at least £ 200 million in the Corona year, according to a study published in March. Many of the freelance artists had to look for a new job outside of the industry. Celebrities like Sam Mendes, Cate Blanchett and Hugh Jackman started aid programs for the theater, and the government set up a £ 1.5 billion fund.
Theaters in Great Britain have been allowed to open since May 17th, but only with half the seat occupancy.
This is not enough for large theaters to be able to work economically.
Andrew Lloyd Webber is now pleading with the government to keep the theaters open.
"We can do this in a safe way," he told the radio station Radio 4. Recent attempts have shown that chains of infection are impossible to develop if the security protocol is followed.
In fact, the British government allowed live audiences to attend the Brit Awards in May without distance rules and mask.
Corona tests had to be completed beforehand.
However, the authorities have not yet published any results on this trial.
On June 14, the British government wants to announce whether it will stick to the opening program or move away from it because of the spread of the virus variant B.1.617.2.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson previously announced that the lockdown would only be extended via his corpse.
A few days ago, however, the Guardian smugly remarked that Johnson had already lost more life than the proverbial cat.
kae / dpa