The Mirror and the Light cuts its run amid fears over Covid ‘risk’

The producers of the critically-acclaimed The Mirror and the Light have cancelled plans to extend its run saying “the risk” is too great.

The play, the last in a trilogy based on Hilary Mantel’s best-selling novels, was due to end on Sunday November 28 but announced a two-month extension to January before it even opened.

The extension has now been cancelled with a statement.

It read: “Over recent days, it has become clear that the ever-changing environment creates a level of uncertainty that does not support the risk involved in extending the run beyond its original planned end date. The run will therefore end on Sunday 28 November at which time it will have played 75 performances to over 50,000 people.”

The show, at the Gielgud Theatre in the West End, tracks the rise and final fall of Thomas Cromwell as the power behind the throne at the court of Henry VIII features a 24-strong cast with seven making their West End debuts.

It comes amid fears rising Covid cases may see the introduction of measures including a working from home directive which would be expected to hit audiences.

Theatres closed their doors last March and stayed shut largely for more than a year in the pandemic with gradual reopening only beginning in May.

A survey by the Society of London Theatre found 186 theatre organisations reporting losses of over £1million each with industry-wide losses estimated to be more than £200 million.

The producers of The Mirror and the Light, which starred Ben Miles as Cromwell and Nathaniel Parker as the king, said ticket holders would be offered a refund or one of the remaining dates.

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