In a letter in The Times yesterday (Wednesday 24 June), heads of leading performing arts organisations said the public needs to start lobbying the government to provide “immediate and substantial” financial support to give them any hope of survival.

It came after the news that around 70% of arts venues are predicted to be bankrupt by the end of lockdown. Considering that the industry usually employs about 300,000 people and has £1.3 billion annual ticket sales, this is devastating news for the UK.

Dame Judi Dench says theatres won’t reopen in her lifetime – and the reality is heartbreaking