Venues in Level One areas of local lockdown in Scotland are now allowed to stage shows as long as crowds are seated, strict social distancing is enforced, and track and trace measures in place.
This effectively gives the go-ahead to the return of small-scale gigs in venues across Shetland, Orkney, Moray the Western Isles and the Highlands, who are all deemed to have the lowest infection rates in Scotland at the moment.
New guidance published by the Scottish Government states:
“Performing arts venues are permitted to open where audience members have allocated seats (either physical seats or marked areas of the ground within which households must sit) and with restricted numbers, two metre physical distancing and hygiene measures in place.
“Capacity should be calculated based on ensuring two metre physical distancing up to a limit of 100. Discussions on restricted numbers should take place between the local authority and venue.
“Matters such as ventilation system, pinch points, transport, performance type, local circumstances and length of performance should be taken into account to determine appropriate number for the event which might be below the upper limit of 100.”