British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is threatening the UK government with "the mother of all legal cases" if theatres do not fully reopen on June 21.
Lord Lloyd Webber said he was determined to open his theatres without social distancing, and he is prepared to be arrested if authorities try to stop him.
Theatres were allowed to partially reopen in England from May 17 but social distancing measures left many theatres making a loss.
The Phantom of the Opera composer said he may have to sell his six venues in London's West End if the government does not relax restrictions.
He said he had already remortgaged his London home.
"We are going to open, come hell or high water," Lloyd-Webber told The Telegraph.
Asked what he would do if the government postponed lifting lockdown, he said: “We will say: ‘come to the theatre and arrest us'.”
Several British newspapers reported on Wednesday that Chancellor Rishi Sunak was willing to accept a four-week delay to the final stage of reopening as the government considers extending restrictions beyond June 21.
Mr Sunak was previously keen to lift lockdown restrictions to allow the economy to flourish, but a Whitehall source told the newspapers he is now more concerned that the final step can be permanent.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will consider data on Covid cases and hospital admissions over the coming days before an announcement is made on Monday.
Lloyd Webber said he had seen scientific proof that theatres do not cause coronavirus outbreaks.
His new production, Cinderella, is due to begin previews on June 25 ahead of its world premiere three weeks later.
“If the government ignore their own science, we have the mother of all legal cases against them,” he said.
"If Cinderella couldn't open, we'd go, 'Look, either we go to law about it or you'll have to compensate us'."
The fourth and final stage of lockdown easing in England is in doubt because of the spread of Covid-19 variants.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Tuesday there was a “challenging decision” to be made over the final step.
However, former health secretary Jeremy Hunt said any delay to the road map would be for only a couple of weeks due the success of Britain's vaccination programme.
Mr Hunt, chairman of the Commons Health and Social Care Committee, said he was “feeling quite optimistic that we are going to see the restrictions lifted” because “being double-jabbed” works against the Indian variant.
“If freedom day ends up being put back a couple of weeks so we can get more people double-jabbed, I think it will only be a temporary setback,” he told Times Radio.
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HAJJAN
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Results
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m; Winner: Ghaiyyath, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Cliffs Of Capri, Tadhg O’Shea, Jamie Osborne.
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Zakouski, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: Waady, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
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Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The biog
Favourite book: Animal Farm by George Orwell
Favourite music: Classical
Hobbies: Reading and writing
More from UAE Human Development Report:
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
