Smoke ban hits actors' rehearsals

Equity has said actors should be allowed to smoke in rehearsals

Actors in England who want to rehearse scenes where they smoke will have to practise their puffing outside, the government has said.

On-stage smoking will be restricted to performances only from 1 July.

"It is almost impossible to expect an actor to smoke on stage unless they have been able to rehearse," Conservative peer Earl Howe said.

But health spokeswoman Baroness Royall said: "The government's view is that people can practise smoking outside."

She added: "If it is for artistic purposes, they can use pretend cigarettes."

Actors' union Equity said it had taken its concerns about the ban to the government.

"We believe that in terms of artistic integrity, performers should be able to rehearse properly with any prop, including a cigarette," spokesman Martin McGrath said.

Non-smokers needed to be able to get their timing right when holding cigarettes, he added.

Baroness Royall added that the government had received representations from the theatre industry.

But she said: "We believe it is necessary for people to be allowed to smoke only during the performance for artistic effect.

"We have considered it carefully, and that is the view."