Here we go again: Venues shut and tours postponed

Scores more live comedy shows have been cancelled today as the omicron variant continues to decimate the live industry.

London’s Soho Theatre and Leicester Square Theatre have closed their doors, and Jack Whitehall has postponed his tour with his parents until the new year.

Tonight’s shows at the Soho Theatre involving Le Gateau Chocolat & Jonny Woo, Dina Martina and Shaparak Khorsandi will be the last at the venue  until January 4.

They said: ‘While we had a cracking program lined up for you this festive period, due to increase Covid-19.self isolation cases across the company following tonight shows we've made the sad decision to close our venue for two weeks. 

‘Our audience team are currently contacting ticket holders due to attend during this time. We look forward to welcoming you back to Soho in the New Year. In the meantime 

‘We’re gutted but currently looking at rescheduling what we can. We’re reaching out to bookers now. Thanks very much x’

Shows due to be staged over the Christmas period include a revival of Natalie Palamides’s Laid, a series of Mark Watson gigs – including a live version of No More Jockeys, and shows by Elf Lyons and Sam Campbell.

Bridget Christie's promoters Show And Tell announced that her shows there at the weekend have been postponed, with new dates to be announced shortly. 

The next show now listed at the venue is Shit-Faced Shakespeare in December 27.

Also in Leicester Square, circus show La Clique has pulled all its showed until December 27 after one of its cast or crew had a positive Covid-19 test.

Jack Whitehall's short national tour How To Survive Family Holidays & Christmas, which also featured his parents Hilary and Michael Whitehall has also been rescheduled to next spring.

The Stand comedy clubs in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle have announced that from this weekend,  they have capped their venues at 50 per cent of normal capacity to allow more social distancing. 

Earlier today, Joe Lycett announced that his Channel 4 Christmas special has been cancelled because of fears over omicron.

The Live Comedy Association has called for immediate government support to prop up the sector, saying stay-at-home guidance was ‘pushing our industry to the edge’.

Published: 17 Dec 2021