News | Entertainment
29 Jan 2026 3:31
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Andrew Lloyd Webber is set to receive a trial vaccine for coronavirus

    The 72-year-old composer says he’s determined to prove theatres can “re-open safely” amid the ongoing health crisis, and will even let himself receive the trial vaccination which has been developed by Oxford University


    He tweeted on Wednesday (12.08.20): “I am excited that tomorrow I am going to be vaccinated for the Oxford Covid 19 trial. I’ll do anything to prove that theatres can re-open safely. - ALW (sic)”

    If the trial vaccine is successful it will be a huge step forward in combating coronavirus.

    Meanwhile, the impresario of musical theatre has advocated for the safe reopening of theatres and live performance venues across the UK, and recently said the theatre industry finds itself in a "hopeless" scenario amid the pandemic.

    Speaking after it was revealed theatres could only reopen if they were socially distanced, he said: "The average play needs a 65 percent capacity and a musical needs more."

    Lloyd Webber also accused the government of inconsistency, observing that people are allowed on a plane and inside pubs while strict restrictions remain in place for theatres.

    He added: "All we want is clarity and consistency.”

    The theatrical mogul owns a number of West End theatres in London, and admitted they're currently costing him as much as £1 million a month to run.

    He reflected: "It's a lot of money and we can't do it indefinitely. We've reached our borrowing limits.”

    Lloyd Webber believes the theatre industry has been low down on the government's list of priorities amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    But Oliver Dowden, the UK's culture secretary, recently insisted that's not the case, saying the country's performing arts sector was "renowned across the world".

    He said: "I am pleased that we are making real progress in getting its doors reopened to the public with social distancing."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     28 Jan: Elle Fanning broke down in tears upon finding out she had received her first Oscar nomination
     28 Jan: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is pregnant
     28 Jan: Bart Johnson says High School Musical was "terrible" for his career early on
     28 Jan: Emilia Clarke fears her life-threatening condition could be inherited by her future children
     28 Jan: Martin Short nearly ruined Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco's wedding after he cut into their cake before it was served
     28 Jan: Jessie Buckley is "so proud and honoured" to have been nominated for an Oscar
     28 Jan: Taraji P. Henson wants to "convince" Viola Davis to join The Masked Singer
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    All Blacks halfback Cam Roigard is adamant the axing of Scott Robertson will not cause further fallout once they're in camp later in the year More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The Reserve Bank may have to step in and use interest rate hikes to cool inflation More...



     Today's News

    Cricket:
    While the result of tomorrow morning's fourth T20 against India remains important to Black Caps bowling coach Jacob Oram, the team is looking beyond the scoreboard 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Elle Fanning broke down in tears upon finding out she had received her first Oscar nomination 21:31

    Soccer:
    Auckland FC is thankful the A-League has become such a cut-throat competition 21:17

    Politics:
    Iranian doctor who fled to Australia after operating on massacre victims estimates death toll in tens of thousands 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is pregnant 21:01

    Entertainment:
    Bart Johnson says High School Musical was "terrible" for his career early on 20:31

    Entertainment:
    Emilia Clarke fears her life-threatening condition could be inherited by her future children 20:01

    Entertainment:
    Martin Short nearly ruined Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco's wedding after he cut into their cake before it was served 19:31

    Entertainment:
    Jessie Buckley is "so proud and honoured" to have been nominated for an Oscar 19:01

    Law and Order:
    The first victim of the Mount landslide's been formally identified by the Coroner as Max Furse-Kee 18:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd