HYTNER: THE SHOWS MUST GO ON

V THE NATIONAL Theatre’s former artistic director bemoaned a “lack of will” in government to make live events happen safely during the pandemic.

In discussion with writer Howard Jacobson which biographer Anne Sebba hosted for Limmud, Sir Nicholas Hytner declared: “If a restaurant is safe, if a pub is safe, if flying is safe, it just cannot be that gathering in relatively small numbers, with all the social distancing rules being observed, in theatres is unsafe.

“I fear that says something, not about the unpopularity of theatre, but how low it is in the current governmental priorities.”

Although the National and many other theatre companies had put archive performances online, his personal view was that they were not as exciting “as the experience of sitting together in the theatre”.

Mr Jacobson — who voiced his passion for the opera — made the point that there was something about collective laughter and crying which

Howard Jacobson; Nicholas Hytner

“liberates you from the inhibition of privacy”.

Sir Nicholas said “we should tip our hat to the government for their £1.57 billion [support package for the arts]”.

However, he was “very disappointed” that the piloting of live indoor performances due to start on August 1 had been delayed by the government at short notice.

The pair also discussed the boycott movement against Israel (BDS), Mr Jacobson arguing that artists should not be involved in boycotts, as it was in their interest to have their work spread as widely as possible. “Art abuses itself when it uses itself for political ends,” he observed.

Sir Nicholas said he would not have gone to South Africa under apartheid — but he would visit Israel.

“It has a government which I think is really nasty.

“But then I think Donald Trump is really nasty and that would not stop me going to America.”

Art abuses itself when it uses itself for political ends’