Now, in what could prove to be a terminal blow for some theatres, not to mention the careers of many who work in the industry, the Broadway league has said the curtain won’t be raised on any productions for the rest of 2020.

Thomas Schumacher, chairman of the board at The Broadway League, said: “The alchemy of 1,000 strangers bonding into a single audience fuelling each performer on stage and behind the scenes will be possible again when Broadway theatres can safely host full houses.

“Every single member of our community is eager to get back to work sharing stories that inspire our audience through the transformative power of a shared live experience.

“The safety of our cast, crew, orchestra and audience is our highest priority and we look forward to returning to our stages only when it’s safe to do so. One thing is for sure, when we return we will be stronger and more needed than ever.”