Impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber has said he is determined to open his London theatres on 21 June, and is prepared to be arrested if authorities try to intervene.
The composer told the Daily Telegraph he may have to sell his six West End venues if the British government does not relax its restrictions. Its proposed 21 June "freedom day" is in doubt due to concerns over the impact of Covid-19 variants.
Lloyd Webber also revealed he has already remortgaged his London home.
The pandemic has resulted in a catastrophic financial impact on the UK's theatre industry and many venues have remained closed despite the ease in Covid-19 restrictions, as it is not financially viable for them to open with reduced capacities.
Lloyd Webber is preparing for a production of Cinderella, which is scheduled to open for previews on 25 June ahead of its world premiere in July.
"We are going to open, come hell or high water," he told the Telegraph.
Asked what he would do if the British government postponed lifting lockdown, he said: "We will say, 'Come to the theatre and arrest us'."
Lloyd Webber said scientific evidence shows theatres are "completely safe" and do not cause outbreaks.
He added: "If the government ignore their own science, we have the mother of all legal cases against them. If Cinderella couldn't open, we'd go, 'Look, either we go to law about it or you'll have to compensate us'."
This is not the first time Lloyd Webber, 73, has criticised those calling for a delay in reopening.
Last week, he told the Daily Mail he may take legal action if his theatres are not allowed to welcome back crowds at full capacity.
Source: Press Association
