WELL, for the first time for a very long time, we seem to have a wave of optimism. The vaccine appears to be doing the business and certainly Covid hospital admissions have dropped spectacularly.

The road-map seems to be a good combination of caution and opportunity, and certainly there has been a buzz in the theatre world – my producing company has been inundated with enquiries for autumn for our one-actor touring shows, and theatres are now booking with confidence.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that there are no more setbacks between now and the autumn.

It remains to be seen how many theatres and venues have gone for good and will not be returning. Already two have gone in this area, Worcester Arts Workshop and The Artrix, Bromsgrove.

Also, many theatre workers were made redundant around the country and it is unlike that they will return.

I suspect it will be a few years before theatres and music venues return to the buoyancy they were enjoying before the pandemic.

I do, however, think that audiences will have become even more appreciative of the arts while they have been deprived of them, and will be returning with relish.