John Kani’s play, “Kunene and the King”, has been cancelled in London after novel coronavirus (COVID-19) measures were implemented to prevent the worldwide spread of the deadly virus.
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Kani’s play had been running at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. It was set to commence in London this week, but it was cancelled on Tuesday
The play, which had been running at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon and was set to begin in London this week, was cancelled on Tuesday after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged the public to stop visiting restaurants, pubs, theatres “and other social venues.”
Taking to Twitter, John Kani said: “London, the prime minister has closed all theatres, public gatherings, pubs, restaurants, football and sports to halt the spread of this virus. So my play has closed in London. We were only left with two weeks to go anyway. Thank you to all who supported us. What run!”
London, the Prime Minister has closed all theatres public gatherings pubs restaurants football and sports to halt the spread of this virus. So my play has closed in London. We were only left with two weeks to go anyway. Thank you to all who supported us. What run!!🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
— JohnKani (@JohnKani2) March 17, 2020
The Market Theatre in Johannesburg also announced that it would suspend all plays this week. The Baxter Theatre Centre in Cape Town announced on Monday that it would be closing its doors to the public until the end of April.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently declared the coronavirus as a national state of disaster saying: “This is in line with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of declaring … a state of disaster and the University of Cape Town’s executive decision to implement precautionary, proactive measures to minimise the risk of spreading coronavirus.”
All gatherings of 100 people or more have been banned and several restrictions have been implemented to stop the spread of the deadly virus in the country.
In South Africa, VIVOnation Festival, BC One South Africa, Lighthouse Family Tour, the South African Film & Television Awards, Amstel Radler Chillas Cape Town and Corona Sunsets Festival have all cancelled their events.
Image Courtesy: msn.com