Petition · past parliament

Commit funds to save all UK theatres from permanent closure due to Coronavirus

Rejected 21 signatures

What the petition asks

All theatres have running costs, irrespective of whether productions are being staged. Many theatres are historic buildings requiring continual maintenance. Even with staff furloughed, costs still rise and there is no income until performances resume. Theatres are also part of our tourism industry.
The monetary needs of every arts venue in the UK should be thoroughly assessed by the British Arts Council, together with the Department for Arts and Sport, and money should be allotted to each to cover the running costs and losses of each theatre and venue.

Theatres are not luxuries. They are homes of artistic expression: our heritage of drama. We would be poorer without them.

It is evident from the uptake of recorded plays from the National Theatre and Globe Theatre that people need theatre.

Why it was rejected

There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.

Timeline

21 May 2020 Petition opened for signatures
23 Jul 2020 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 21
Status Rejected
Rejected 23 Jul 2020

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.