Hi Natasha

Thx. I was deeply affected.

I have only ever felt similar emotions about the political collapse and deliberate destruction of my own country — England. And the 12-year abuse by Tory politicians has engineered this with part incompetence and part wilful act.

These feelings all merged with the attack upon Rushdie. The barbarism, the casual acts of violence, irrational hatred, uncritical acceptance of doctrine, willful ignorance, and the utter denial of the sanctity of life, all merged.

Fascism and religious Authoritarianism — Theocracy — seem to have common ideological roots and political foundations.

I am really at it again. Sorry.

But the point you make about safety being an issue now with performances and acts on stage is a really important one. Life-savingly important now.