Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the scientific evidence he has received in support of the Government’s decision not to allow the reopening of outdoor and open air theatres yet; and whether he has made an assessment of the risks of covid-19 transmission at outdoor and open air theatres enforcing 2m social distancing compared with those at theme parks, open air gyms and outdoor markets.

We are committed to getting the performing arts sector fully back up and running as soon as it is safe to do so. It is a priority of my department to work with the arts and cultural sectors to address the challenges of reopening.

The Secretary of State recently revealed a five stage roadmap that the government will work through to get the performing arts sectors back up and running as soon as possible:

• Stage One - Rehearsal and training (no audiences)

• Stage Two - Performances for broadcast and recording purposes

• Stage Three - Performances outdoors with an audience and pilots for indoor performances with a limited socially-distanced audience

• Stage Four - Performances allowed indoors and outdoors (but with a limited socially-distanced audience indoors)

• Stage Five - Performances allowed indoors / outdoors (with a fuller audience indoors)

On the 11th July, we moved to Stage Three. This means that performances outdoors can take place in line with this guidance. DCMS will work with sector representative bodies to select a number of pilots for indoor performances with a socially distanced audience, as we look to move into Stage Four.

Capacity will be based on a risk management approach, and decided on by event organisations in consultation with local authorities. It will be limited to ensure social distancing guidelines can be adhered to. Venues should ensure that the government guidance on social distancing is followed at outdoor performances, including the limits on social mixing.