The pandemic has devastated British theater, a world-renowned cultural export and major economic force. The stages that collectively employ 300,000 people were ordered shut a week before the country went into full lockdown in March 2020. They have remained closed for most of the last 13 months, endangering thousands more related jobs in bars, restaurants and hotels that cater to theater-goers. A general view of the exterior of the Apollo Theater in London, Thursday, April 8, 2021, which is preparing to continue its run of the musical ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) “We were the first to be closed,” producer Nica Burns said. “And we were the last to come back.”