Buildings and theatres across Southend will be lit up red to support the events industry, which has suffered immensely during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Priory Park bandstand, the Civic Centre, the lighting columns on City Beach, as well as both the Cliffs Pavilion and Palace Theatre, will all be illuminated with red lights to show solidarity for theatres.

The event, organised online at www.lightitinred.co.uk, is a national campaign to lobby the Government in the hope the industry can be saved.

Southend Council have thrown their weight behind the campaign, which has called for specific grants to be made available to businesses in the events industry, the Furlough scheme to be extended until the industry is up and running, and an extension of the self-employment scheme, which must be tailored towards the industry.

The opening dates for the Cliffs Pavilion and the Palace theatre has yet to be confirmed.

Theatres across the country have been closing in recent weeks due to the financial struggles they have faced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bosses at Southend's theatres, the Cliffs Pavilion and the Palace, have demanded the Government act quickly to help save the struggling industry.

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Ellen McPhillips, theatre director for Southend theatres, said: “The live music industry, along with the theatre industry, are finding creative ways to make their voices heard.

“This is a nationwide initiative to draw attention to the plight of the live music industry.

"Venues up and down the land closed their doors in March with no prospect of re-opening in the near future.

"Thousands of jobs are at risk and massive economic damage looms if this industry does not survive intact.

"The goal of this initiative is to press the government to support this billion-pound industry, and to do so quickly.

"Many venues will not survive the next 100 days if support measures are not announced. Once lost, this industry cannot be easily rebuilt.

“The Cliffs Pavilion and Palace Theatre are part of this industry and are only too happy to add our voice to Light it in Red."

The Light It In Red action was inspired by the Night off Light in Germany on June 22, which saw more than 9,000 buildings, monuments, structures, towers, landmarks, castles, offices, houses, spaces and places illuminated to raise awareness of the industry’s need for government support.

Kevin Robinson, councillor in charge of business, culture and tourism, said: “Our town has a rich history of culture, arts and events.

"We have two fantastic theatres which are both very popular both locally and nationally, and the impact the lockdown has had is a real threat to the sector locally and nationally.

“We are happy to support this campaign which calls for more support to theatres and the events sector as a whole until the industry is back to work.

"We are very proud of the exceptional talent we have in this town, and by supporting this we hope we are visibly demonstrating that.”