Spalding actor suffers setback after London starring role in Agatha Christie thriller is postponed
A former Spalding Grammar School student whose London West End theatre debut has been postponed because of coronavirus has defended the "resilience" of his profession.
Paul Hilliar (30), who was due to have played the lead role in Agatha's Christie's The Mousetrap from this month, claimed that people working in the arts and hospitality sectors deserved "sympathy" due to the disruption caused by COVID-19.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak was heavily criticised earlier this month when he said that "everyone is having to adapt" because of the pandemic and its economic, social and cultural impact.
Paul, who was a member of Spalding theatre St Nicolas Players, said: "I don't believe that Rishi Sunak was wishing ill on the arts sector.
"But he was speaking frankly about people being forced into changing their outlook on life and that's true of the arts, as well as other sectors.
"People need to keep looking at the hospitality and theatre industries with sympathy because there's a need for people to earn money and when it comes down to survival, we'll have to adapt."
Despite a £1.57billion Culture Recovery Fund set up by the Government to help theatres, music venues, museums and other attractions survive, Paul and others like him are having to look for different ways to earn a living.
He said: "The acting community is very resilient and a lot of us have always had second jobs when we're not performing.
"But I've been forced over this period to sign up for Universal Credit because I had a period of employment in-between acting jobs.
"I was ineligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme so I'm actively seeking out work.
"But what is really tricky for myself and some of my friends is that some of the industries that would normally be there when we're not acting, such as hospitality, are shut as well.
"I'm part of a theatre company called Wildcard Theatre and we run a rehearsal studios in London where I worked as a receptionist.
"It used to be a source of income for me, but we have two solitary members of staff who are taking over that job because we can't afford to pay anyone else."
The postponement of The Mousetrap , the world's longest-running stage play, has wiped out six months' work for Paul.
He said: "The rehearsals were due to start at the beginning of October.
"But the week before that, the production company made the decision to postpone the production indefinitely.
"It's devastating to us because you clear your diary and get rid of any other work for six months, then it's gone."
