In times of crisis, we turn to the arts. Now the arts is in crisis.

Across Australian cities and towns, street lamp banners advertise exhibitions no one can attend and film festivals that will never happen. It has only taken days for the coronavirus to obliterate programs that took years to produce. Now in our increasingly empty streets, it’s as if these banners herald events scheduled to take place in some parallel universe.

In that parallel universe, Torch the Place – the play I wrote for the Melbourne Theatre Company – would’ve wrapped up its sold-out season this week. We’d be celebrating closing night. Instead our actors are taking curtain calls on Instagram and we’re asking ticket holders who missed out to consider donating their ticket to cover costs and keep the theatre alive.

by Benjamin Law

Full article HERE