Jennifer Saunders called for more Government support for the theatre industry as she led a two-minute silence drawing attention to the ‘devastating’ effect of continued closures.
The Absolutely Fabulous star, 62, was joined by a collection of actors, comedians, theatre directors and singers outside the shuttered Gielgud Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue, London.
The Government previously announced a £1.57 billion support package to ‘protect’ the future of Britain’s arts, with museums, galleries and theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues eligible for emergency grants and loans.
But producer David Pugh, director Caroline Jay Ranger, vocalist Louise Clare Marshall, theatre producer Lucy Ansbro and casting director Stephen Crockett stood side-by-side with Saunders to call for more support.
Their ‘silent stand’ – the latest in a series featuring a range of industry figures – also called for theatres to be allowed to reopen without social distancing and highlighted a perceived lack of Government guidance on the issue.
