Theatres Are At Rock Bottom, Please Save Them, Begs Joanna

Joanna Lumley says the theatre industry has hit “rock bottom” due to the coronavirus pandemic.

- Paul Jeeves

The Absolutely Fabulous star, 74, said that unless there is an urgent intervention the sector does not have “a chance of looking into the future”.

Her comments come following an announcement by the Prime Minister that while concert halls and theatres can now open, live performances continue to be banned.

The Daily Express has now launched its Raise The Curtain campaign, encouraging the public and Government to keep the theatre industry alive.

We believe that once the pandemic eases it will be essential for the health and wellbeing of Britain that we can once again enjoy our rich tapestry of culture.

Prior to lockdown, the UK’s creative industries, including theatre and the performing arts, were growing at almost twice the rate of the wider UK economy, worth £84billion a year and employing 1.9 million people.