Lyric make tough closure decision

Executive producer Jimmy Fay said the venue’s closure until 2021 would have implications for its 75 staff, audiences and hundreds of freelance artists.

He cited the lack of clarity on financial support for the Lyric’s decision.

He said: “We first thought this epidemic would last a few weeks. Then a matter of months. We planned, organised and programmed appropriately and have been able to maintain our permanent staff throughout with the furlough scheme.

“The Lyric has found new and exciting ways of creating employment for our beleaguered artistic freelance community through our online films, co-productions with the BBC and currently our season of audio plays – Listen at the Lyric. I hope we can continue to create these opportunities.

“However, none of these initiatives can make up for the loss of £2 million in earned income that the Lyric achieves through the work on our stages and in our café bar annually.”

He said: “At every stage of this pandemic, we have been working towards reopening the theatre in a safe and COVID compliant way for our wonderful audiences and brilliant artists. But each carefully thought-out plan has collapsed like dominos in the howl of the ill-wind of this pandemic.

“The Lyric has reluctantly come to the conclusion that this year, for the first time in our history, we will not be presenting our hugely popular and unique Christmas offerings. Therefore, we will not produce any work on our stages until 2021.”

He said: “We are asking for urgent attention to be given to what the arts and our culture sector needs through the £33 million grant. We are asking our politicians to work with our artistic community and Arts Council on this package.”