ACTORS launched a campaign today to restore arts funding, with a report showing a 16 per cent real-terms cut since 2017.

Research commissioned by actors’ union Equity found that arts funding had dropped in real terms by 11 per cent in England, 16 per cent in Northern Ireland, Scotland by 2 per cent and a whopping 30 per cent in Wales despite its Labour government.

Equity general secretary Paul Fleming said: “Equity’s members have faced central government austerity in the arts and entertainment industries for 20 years under governments of every shade. 

“Our five election demands put reversing the erosion of funding at the top of the list. The other four of our demands focus on the rights of our precarious, freelance membership.”

Equity members Olivia Colman and Imelda Staunton joined the chorus calling for greater funding.

Ms Colman said: “A lack of government funding increasingly means that only the wealthy can afford a ticket to a show or to build a career working in the industry.”