A THEATRE group has announced it will cut jobs this autumn.

The Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), which runs the Theatre Royal in New Road, Brighton, will lay off more than 1,200 casual staff at its venues across the country in September.

Those on zero hour contracts will be affected and ATG said the jobs will be cut when the Government begins to reduce its contributions to furlough pay in September.

A spokesman said: “ATG has informed individuals working on a casual basis that they will no longer receive furlough pay through the Government’s Job Retention Scheme after the end of August.

“ATG confirmed that it is paying the additional costs of retaining staff on the scheme through August. The impact of the pandemic, which has left theatres closed since 16 March and without any clear opening date with no social distancing, has forced the company to make this difficult decision.”

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said on Wednesday that theatres are unlikely to be given a date when they can reopen with social distancing until November “at the earliest”.