In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the world. The deadly virus tested many areas of life, and the cultural industry was no exception. In the United Kingdom, the government imposed strict quarantine restrictions. All mass events were cancelled, theaters, concert venues, and clubs were closed, and any public gatherings were banned. Cities that had been bustling with cultural life just yesterday were suddenly plunged into an unusual silence.
Birmingham, England’s second-largest city, known for its diverse and rich musical life, theaters, and festivals, was no exception. Where crowds of spectators used to gather, music played and theatre lights shone, it became quiet, dark and sad. For the local entertainment industry, this meant a sudden halt to concerts, performances and tours, and with them, all public cultural life in the city. Read about how Birmingham’s entertainment industry survived in such conditions here: birminghamski.com.
Restrictions on meetings
It should be noted that at that time, the country had very strict rules regarding social contact. In England, gatherings of more than 30 people were prohibited, and later the so-called “rule of six” was introduced, which allowed only small groups of people to meet. Violation of these rules was considered an offence. The police were given the right to stop events, demand the closure of establishments, or issue special orders to shut down businesses that did not comply with quarantine rules.
A system of fairly severe penalties was introduced. For example, violations of quarantine restrictions were punishable by fixed fines of £200, which could increase to £6,400 or even £10,000 in the case of repeat violations or the organisation of large illegal gatherings. Separate rules were also introduced for businesses. For example, bars and restaurants had to close after 10 p.m., operate only with table service, and ensure that visitors wore masks.
It is therefore not surprising that these strict and, at times, even harsh measures have been a serious challenge for Birmingham’s entertainment industry. Concerts, theater productions, and tours disappeared from the billboards overnight. Nightclubs and concert venues remained closed for months, and festivals and major cultural events were either postponed or cancelled altogether.
As a result, many companies lost their main sources of income, and some found themselves on the verge of bankruptcy. What’s more, some independent venues were unable to resume operations even after a prolonged lockdown.
The death of live music
One of the biggest victims of the pandemic has been the live music industry, which has traditionally been an important part of Birmingham’s cultural and, importantly, economic life. Before the pandemic, the city was considered one of the UK’s major music centres. According to research, in 2019, around 877,000 music tourists visited the West Midlands region, spending over £250 million.
In Birmingham itself, there were approximately 197 venues for live music. These ranged from small clubs to large arenas such as the NEC Arena. On a typical evening, they could accommodate up to 98,000 visitors at a time, making concerts and performances an important part of the city’s nightlife.
However, with the onset of the pandemic, this huge mechanism effectively came to a halt. After the lockdown was imposed in spring 2020, most concert venues were closed indefinitely. According to researchers’ estimates, concert attendance in Birmingham fell by about two-thirds, and overall attendance at live music events in the city declined by about 75%.
For the music industry, this meant a virtually complete loss of income. Tours by famous artists were postponed or cancelled, festivals disappeared from the calendar, and local bands lost the opportunity to perform in front of an audience. It was especially difficult for small clubs and so-called grassroots venues—places where young musicians started their careers. Many of them simply could not operate, even after the partial easing of quarantine restrictions. The fact is that performances with social distancing naturally generated significantly less revenue.
Some club owners admitted that after the lockdown, they could barely pay their rent and utility bills. Some venues tried to survive by holding rare open-air concerts or switching to other formats, but this did not compensate for their losses. As a result, a significant portion of the industry’s employees—musicians, sound engineers, technical staff, and bartenders—were forced to look for other jobs.
Thus, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the COVID-19 pandemic has effectively destroyed Birmingham’s familiar live music ecosystem. What yesterday brought the city hundreds of millions of pounds and attracted tens of thousands of listeners every evening has, in just a few weeks, turned into an industry fighting for survival.
Theatre life that has disappeared from Birmingham’s billboards
The pandemic has also had a severe impact on Birmingham’s theatre scene, which has traditionally been one of the most active in the UK. Musicals, plays and Christmas pantomimes—events that usually drew full houses—suddenly disappeared from the billboards. In March 2020, the city’s theaters closed their doors one after another, not knowing when they would be able to welcome audiences again. For example, one of the country’s largest theaters, the Birmingham Hippodrome, was forced to close and was unable to stage performances until at least the beginning of 2021.
The situation forced theater administrations to take drastic measures. After several months of downtime, the Birmingham Hippodrome began the process of reducing its staff. More than 60 employees were threatened with dismissal. The situation was no better at another iconic theater in the city, the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Due to the prolonged absence of audiences, the administration considered cutting up to 40% of jobs in order to save the theater from bankruptcy.
The cancellation of traditional Christmas pantomimes and large-scale musicals, which usually brought in the most revenue for the year, was a particularly painful blow to the theater industry. When they did not take place due to the lockdown, the financial losses for many theaters became critical.
Transition to online
When it became clear that quarantine restrictions would last much longer than expected, part of Birmingham’s cultural industry began to look for alternative opportunities to work. Theaters, musicians, and event organisers began to gradually move online in an attempt to stay in touch with their audiences. Performances, concerts and creative meetings began to be broadcast via streaming platforms and social networks.
Some theaters recorded archived performances or created special chamber performances without an audience in the hall, which could be viewed online. Musicians also actively used digital platforms: they held live broadcasts, home concerts, and charity streams.
Therefore, it was only in 2021 that the situation began to change. The United Kingdom launched a phased programme to exit lockdown. First, outdoor venues were allowed to reopen, and then theaters, concert halls and clubs gradually reopened.
In July 2021, most restrictions on mass events in England were lifted, and cultural life in cities began to revive, but that is a completely different story.
Sources:
- https://www.aston.ac.uk/latest-news/covid-19-wrecked-live-music-sector-will-survive-according-industry-expert
- https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/coronavirus-restrictions-on-businesses-and-social-gatherings/
- https://www.sidley.com/en/insights/newsupdates/2020/03/covid-19-control-measures–uk-police-powers
- https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/coronavirus-more-than-60-staff-at-birmingham-hippodrome-face-redundancy