Pantomimes should be postponed until next Easter if they cannot take place this Christmas because of the coronavirus pandemic, claims TV personality Gyles Brandreth.
The presenter and actor hopes the idea could rescue struggling theatres hit by a massive loss of revenue during lockdown, reports MirrorOnline.
Brandreth, who has previously appeared in Cinderella with Bonnie Langford and Barbara Windsor, said: “The panto season is when most theatres are full and make most of their money.
"If they definitely can’t happen at Christmas, why not postpone them until Easter? In the 19th century pantomimes were often produced at Easter.”
Producer Paul Hendy, 54, said the idea had been investigated but warned difficulties would remain.
He added: “It’s an idea we thought of and discussed. It’s the same problem.
“With social-distancing in place, and without a vaccine, it’s very difficult to do a large-scale pantomime. The same logistics apply for Easter as Christmas.
"If things look better by January, we will explore it. But you probably wouldn’t be able to do as long a run over Easter as you would at Christmas.”
Last week it was revealed panto producer Qdos has put productions scheduled for Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh and Southampton back to next year, which would spark the “loss of £2.3million at the worst possible time for the theatres”.
Ministers last month confirmed a package of £1.57billion in emergency loans and grants to help entertainment venues such as theatres hit by the pandemic.
