Creativity in the Time of Crisis: How the Arts Adapted During the Covid-19 Lockdowns

The Covid-19 pandemic altered the world in countless ways, but one of its most significant impacts was on the arts and entertainment industry. With theatres, concert venues, and galleries closing their doors in response to the lockdowns, many artists, actors, and musicians found themselves unable to perform live in front of audiences. But instead of succumbing to despair, these creative minds took to the internet, offering a lifeline of entertainment and inspiration to millions stuck at home. In the UK, a surge of online performances, streaming initiatives, and digital creativity emerged, showing that even in the most difficult times, art remains a vital tool for connection and healing.

1. The Surge of Online Entertainment: Actors and Musicians Bring the Show to Your Living Room

During the lockdown, some of the UK's most famous actors and musicians quickly turned to social media and digital platforms to keep people entertained and connected. Faced with the challenge of a socially distanced world, they adapted their performances, reaching audiences through livestreams, video calls, and online broadcasts.

Actors:

Many actors, who were used to performing in front of large audiences, found themselves out of work during the pandemic. In response, they began offering online performances, reading stories, or performing monologues from their homes. For example, actor David Tennant hosted live-streamed readings of Shakespeare plays and other classic works, while Ian McKellen read from his extensive personal library of plays, offering an online escape for people confined to their homes. These performances, often free or for charity, provided both comfort and a reminder of the importance of theatre in our daily lives.

Musicians:

Musicians too embraced the digital age, holding online concerts to keep their fans engaged. British icons like Elton John and Coldplay performed live-streamed sets from their homes or private studios, sharing their music with fans around the world. Jamelia and Gary Barlow also turned to online platforms, holding virtual performances, Q&A sessions, and even music tutorials. The sense of community and shared experience that these live-streamed concerts created was invaluable during the isolation of the lockdown.

2. The Written Word: Creatives Use Lockdown to Write Books and Explore New Projects

As the lockdown dragged on, many creative individuals turned inward, using the extra time at home to explore new projects and pursue passions they’d previously put on hold. For many writers, the isolation offered a rare chance to focus without the usual distractions of busy schedules.

Some authors took advantage of the quiet, working on books that explored themes of isolation, connection, and the human condition—echoing the collective experience of the pandemic. For example, Richard Osman, author of The Thursday Murder Club, saw a surge in success during the pandemic, as people turned to books for comfort and entertainment. He wasn’t alone—numerous novelists, both established and emerging, found themselves writing with greater intensity, whether they were penning memoirs, thrillers, or literary fiction.

Even actors and musicians found themselves turning to the written word. Tom Hanks wrote a collection of short stories, and Paul McCartney released his memoir, The Lyrics, during the lockdown, giving fans an intimate look into his personal and creative life. It wasn’t just established figures, either—many up-and-coming writers took advantage of the time to pen their debut novels and poetry collections, sharing their work in self-published formats or via online platforms.

3. David Hare's "Beat the Devil": A Personal Journey Through Illness and the Pandemic

One of the most poignant and insightful reflections on the pandemic from a British playwright came from David Hare, the renowned author of The Vertical Hour and Skylight. In 2020, Hare released Beat the Devil, a deeply personal theatre play that he wrote after contracting Covid-19.

Hare, who was severely ill with the virus, documented his experience of battling the disease in the form of a monologue, exploring themes of isolation, fear, and resilience. The play was not just a story of physical illness but also a meditation on the broader emotional and societal impact of the pandemic. Hare’s ability to turn a harrowing personal experience into a work of art offered a unique and powerful form of catharsis for audiences grappling with their own struggles during the lockdown.

4. Theatres and Musicals Go Digital: The National Theatre and West End Embrace Streaming

While the physical stage may have been dark during the pandemic, many major UK theatres found creative ways to bring their productions to digital platforms, ensuring that theatre lovers could still experience high-quality performances from the comfort of their homes.

The National Theatre at Home:

The National Theatre launched its NT at Home initiative, broadcasting some of its most beloved productions online for free. Classic plays like One Man, Two Guvnors, War Horse, and Frankenstein were streamed, making theatre more accessible than ever. The online broadcasts were a huge success, with millions of people tuning in from around the world, proving that there is still a massive demand for live theatre experiences—even when they’re viewed through a screen.

Andrew Lloyd Webber:

In a similarly bold move, legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber shared his musicals with audiences around the world for free streaming. Each week, one of his iconic shows, such as The Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Cats, was made available for a limited time on YouTube. This not only offered fans a rare opportunity to enjoy these beloved musicals from home, but it also helped sustain interest in the theatre during a time when live performances were halted.

The Globe Theatre:

The world-famous Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre also made waves by offering online performances of its plays, bringing the works of the Bard into the digital age. They streamed productions such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet, allowing audiences to experience the raw energy of these plays, even though the stage lights had dimmed in the real world. The streaming of these performances was particularly powerful, as it gave a sense of continuity to the cultural heritage of British theatre, even when theatres were closed.

5. Conclusion: The Resilience and Ingenuity of the Arts During the Pandemic

The UK’s arts scene demonstrated incredible resilience and ingenuity during the Covid-19 pandemic. From actors hosting online readings to musicians delivering live-streamed concerts, the creative world found a way to keep people engaged and inspired despite the challenges. Theatres like the National Theatre and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s online musicals ensured that the magic of live performance remained alive, while David Hare’s play, Beat the Devil, offered a poignant and personal reflection on the shared experience of illness and isolation.

Perhaps more than anything, the pandemic underscored the importance of art in times of crisis. Whether through a concert, a play, a book, or a heartfelt monologue, creative people showed us that, even in our darkest moments, art has the power to connect us, heal us, and bring us hope. And for that, we can all be incredibly grateful.