School trips to the panto will be axed in Ayrshire this Christmas.
Council chiefs have issued a blanket ban on visits to theatres for festive shows and concerts.
Officials said large gatherings brought with them "enhanced transmission risks" due to Covid.
South Ayrshire Council said allowing panto trips would be "inconsistent with current Scottish Government guidance" which bans school assemblies.
Both North and East Ayrshire councils are also implementing the guidance.
However, Ayrshire Live understands that not all Scottish local authorities are following suit.
Ayr's Gaiety, which is due to kick off its run of 'Jamie and the Unicorn' next Friday night, is among those set to be impacted.
Bosses there said the news was a "significant financial blow" to their plans.
School shows account for roughly 25 per cent of the theatre's income during the festive run.
CEO Jeremy Wyatt told Ayrshire Live: "We went ahead with this year's panto under the assumption that sales would be down anyway.
"But clearly this is a further significant financial blow to that outlook.
"However, it is not entirely unexpected given the current situation and clearly the health of our customers must be the priority."
Funding from Creative Scotland and private donors has allowed the Gaiety to push ahead despite ticket sales sitting at a projected 35 per cent of normal levels.
Jeremy added: "This year's panto won't earn us money like normal, but it's about far more than that – especially this year. It's about putting smiles on faces at a hugely important time and bringing back that sense of normality.
"People coming along will notice slight differences such as a one-act show lasting 75 minutes and slightly reduced capacities, but we are doing all we can to keep the show going as normal.
"We're also running a Christmas Appeal where people can donate to help children attend this year's show and all donations made before November 30 will be doubled by a generous local donor."
To donate, visit https://thegaiety.co.uk/christmas-appeal/
A South Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: "Schools in South Ayrshire will not be arranging any trips to theatres, pantomimes or concerts this winter.
"These type of trips are inconsistent with current Scottish Government guidance that does not permit school assemblies to take place because of the enhanced transmission risks of having large groups in close proximity in an enclosed space for an extended period of time."
A spokesperson for East Ayrshire Council added: "The council’s priority throughout the pandemic has been to protect our children and young people and ensure that they remain in school."
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