Can the show go on? Britain's theatres fear the dark

A view of the Lyric Theatre at London's West End. Photo: Reuters

British theatres are negotiating with energy suppliers, investing in hot water bottles and dusting off generators as they live in dread of blackouts and utility bills they cannot pay.

Their problems echo those across society as the Ukraine war and its impact on energy supplies have exacerbated a cost-of-living crisis in Britain, where inflation rates are among the highest in the developed world.