News | Entertainment
10 Jan 2026 7:51
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
     10 Jan: Sheryl Lee Ralph glues her feet into her shoes to avoid red carpet mishaps
     10 Jan: Hacks stars Paul W. Downs and Megan Stalter appeared to poke fun at Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner as they dressed like the couple when walking the red carpet at the Critics Choice Awards
     10 Jan: Sophie Turner hasn't been on a date for "months"
     09 Jan: Gordon Ramsay was a "hot mess" before making his father-of-the-bride speech at his daughter Holly Ramsay's wedding
     09 Jan: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will reportedly release a cookbook this year
     09 Jan: Kelly Brook refused to move house because her dad's ashes were scattered in her garden
     09 Jan: Leonardo DiCaprio is worried people no longer have an "appetite" for cinema
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Kiwi Ben Robb will be throwing stress-free at the professional darts tour qualifying school in Germany starting overnight More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    It's full steam ahead for a local Wellington gaming company, as the sector continues to boom More...



     Today's News

    Soccer:
    A performance to back-up Auckland FC's spot at the top of football's A-League 7:46

    Environment:
    Records could roll as an Australian heat wave crosses the Tasman 7:36

    Law and Order:
    Police say a man wanted in Western Australia over the shooting of a woman on Wednesday is not a licenced gun owner 7:26

    Entertainment:
    Sheryl Lee Ralph glues her feet into her shoes to avoid red carpet mishaps 7:23

    Business:
    It's full steam ahead for a local Wellington gaming company, as the sector continues to boom 7:16

    Education:
    Otago University is giving high school students a taste of Dunedin student life 7:06

    Entertainment:
    Hacks stars Paul W. Downs and Megan Stalter appeared to poke fun at Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner as they dressed like the couple when walking the red carpet at the Critics Choice Awards 6:53

    Business:
    An industry professional believes you can only be optimistic about New Zealand's gaming industry heading into the new year 6:26

    Entertainment:
    Sophie Turner hasn't been on a date for "months" 6:23

    International:
    One person's dead and 38 missing after a mountain of garbage toppled in the Philippines 21:56


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd