COLCHESTER Arts Centre will be “ready to put on a full programme” as soon as lockdown restrictions are eased.

The Government has unveiled a five-step roadmap to reopen theatres and arts venues.

The plan would involve allowing outdoor performances later this year although no clear dates have been laid out.

Indoor performances could then be piloted.

Anthony Roberts, director of Colchester Arts Centre, said the venue could not open until it is allowed to do so without restriction.

Mr Roberts is hopeful restrictions may be eased to the necessary extent by that time.

“We are anticipating our venue will be amongst the last places allowed to open, that is the feeling and we are working on that premise,” he said.

“I am following what is happening in Italy, someone I know there said when lockdown finished there things opened up quite rapidly.

“We are not spending too much time thinking about the social distancing modelling as the very nature of the theatre and the arts centre makes it difficult to follow those rules - it would bring capacity down by 50 per cent.

“At the arts centre we can put on a programme quickly, we don’t have rehearsals to worry about.

“It isn’t difficult for us to put something on the stage at relatively short notice. We should be ready to go and we will be.

“As soon as we are able we will have a show on every night of the week until Christmas, just as soon as we get that go-ahead.”

The Mercury Theatre’s £9 million renovation was scheduled to be completed this year, although in his recent Gazette column, executive director Steve Mannix said: “We are waiting like everyone else for guidance from the Government as to when we can reopen but, as will be no surprise to you, it’s going to be a lengthy process.”