We have been told the government is going to help theatres, galleries and museums to the tune of £1.57 billion but sadly it won’t save a lot of jobs.
So many are suffering and it’s going to get worse if we don’t get the entertainment industry back on track and also the club world.
Many theatres won’t get help, some have already closed.
A few years ago we saw lots of cinemas closing, when their industry changed because of streaming Netflix etc.
Many jobs were lost then.
This virus has caused yet another problem for movie-goers.
A lot of theatres have had some great ideas in lockdown, using online platforms to keep in touch.
The Royal Court Liverpool came up with a fabulous idea JIGSY starring Les Dennis which has been, and still is, free to watch on Liverpool Royal Court YouTube channel.
It’s a one-man show which I saw live at the court in 2012 after it’s critical acclaim at the Edinburgh festival - the audiences loved it.
It’s very funny, thought provoking, and very Liverpudlian.
This is a one-man show based on a Liverpool comic, the late Jackie Hamilton, an unmistakable scouse comedian who was funny from his head to his toes.
There are so many stories about him, I will tell you my favourite.
He went to try and get a job as an extra on Tenko which was partially filmed in Yorkshire.
A TV drama about a Japanese prisoner of war camp in the 80s.
He had to strip to his waist for the audition, and stand in line with a lot of thin actors.
Jackie had a beer gut, the casting director went along the line saying ‘yes, yes, yes’ then he saw Jackie and said “he’s no good, as he’s got a beer belly” to which quick as a flash Mr Hamilton replied “but I’ve only just been captured”.
Les Dennis brings this piece of theatre to life and makes it quite magical, I promise you it’s worth a watch.
So many artists of all calibre around the world have tried to lift people’s spirits using the internet.
One I was thrilled to see was Neil Sedaka, aged 81, playing the piano from his home in New York and singing some of his classics.
So many have also live streamed their performances - the list is too great to mention.
In Liverpool we have a very strong network of talent who have certainly done their bit, singers Asa Murphy, Steve Charles and George Gallagher have sung their hearts out over the weeks to cheer people up.
By the way, what amazing talents they all have.
To all the Merseyside entertainers, thank you for being there through lockdown, I hope you all get work again very soon.
I must mention one lady, she got a Granada Reports Local Hero certificate for all the joy she has been bringing with her ‘wake n shake’ in the morning and story time at teatime.
I’m talking about Miss Lindzi Germain described as Mersey Mouth, actress, writer, comedian, presenter for The Guide, Liverpool – I’m thrilled to say she is also a great friend.
She started work again but is still doing wake n shake on Facebook live, cutting down to Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays.
As story time has done so well keeping children enthralled with her story-telling she has decided to write her own children’s book – Miss Lindzi and the dream cloud. She now just needs a publisher.
With everything crossed, the play Pete Price is Dead with a local star-studded cast including Lindzi at the Royal Court comes back to life from October 9 - November 7.
All theatres somehow must try and get panto as it’s the lifeblood, as the takings get them through winter months.
Please let’s get the entertainment industry back on track - it’s vital to jobs and the British economy.
