Oliver Dowden announces 'Operation Sleeping Beauty' to bring back live indoor events

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has revealed that he is working on ‘Operation Sleeping Beauty’, which plans to resurrect live performances before Christmas.

In a piece for The Mail On Sunday, Dowden wrote that he couldn’t “wait to be back in the Royal Albert Hall next year, singing Land Of Hope And Glory at full voice”.

“Mass indoor events are now in my sights,” he added, concentrating much of the article around support for the theatre industry and classical concerts.

Dowden previously unveiled a £1.57 billion support package for the arts, following sustained pressure from the music industry.

Indoor gigs were permitted to resume from August 1st 2020 in England, although the Covid-secure measures required have made it difficult for promoters to make a profit on events.

My piece in today’s Mail on Sunday

My top task this autumn is working with arts, sports, & medical experts to find a way to get full audiences back in safely

Testing will be key, we will embrace tech to help, & we’ll fully examine all options https://t.co/qhC8QQJ3uf

— Oliver Dowden (@OliverDowden) September 6, 2020