Coronavirus: Helen Mirren and Christopher Biggins donate prizes for silent auction

Helen Mirren, Christopher Biggins and Miranda Hart are among those donating prizes for a silent auction to raise money to support the theatre community through the Covid-19 pandemic.

People will be able to bid for personalised video messages, virtual coffee chats, one-to-one masterclasses and signed memorabilia.

It has been organised by a Covid-19 fundraising initiative called Until the Curtains Rise, which was co-founded by Maryann Wright and Estee Stimler to raise money for theatrical charity Acting for Others.

Other artists featuring in the auction include actor Michael Ball, who has donated a personal thank you video message, choreographer Arlene Phillips, who is donating a 15-minute virtual coffee meeting, and actor Bertie Carvel, who is offering a 10-minute virtual coffee and a personalised thank you video to the winning bidder.

Theatre fans can also bid for an original script from an early Hi-De-Hi episode with a personal letter from Su Pollard, an hour-long conducting session with Chris Hopkins and a 30-minute virtual mentoring session with performer Kaisa Hammarlund.

Stephen Waley-Cohen, co-chairman of Acting for Others, said: “This is a wonderful initiative. Thank you to everyone involved with Until the Curtains Rise, we are very touched to see so many of our colleagues donating their time and talents to this project and offering these unique rewards in aid of Acting for Others.

"Acting for Others are here for the theatre community through this difficult time and long will we continue when the curtain does indeed rise again."

Wright and Stimler said: "The theatre people we love and work with are hurting, so we wanted to give them moral and practical support, and hope, in this turbulent time.

"Now is the moment for all of us who have experienced the joy of theatre to reach out, pitch in, and support those who make that special magic happen until the curtains rise, because they will.”

Other donors include Danielle de Niese, Jodie Prenger, Lauren Ward, Hannah Waddingham, Harriet Thorpe, Lesley Joseph, Julie Atherton, Emma Kingston, Jason Carr, Grace Taylor, Linda John-Pierre, Guy Hoare, Simon Lipkin, Michael Vinsen, Natalie Moore-Williams, Jason Denton, Charlotte Vaughn, Adam Robert Lewis, Dominic Hodson, Reece Kerridge and the actor service We Audition.

Matt Hood, assistant general secretary of Equity, which is supporting the initiative, said: "Equity welcomes the solidarity shown across our industry with our members facing this unprecedented crisis – including from those audience members supporting performers and creative practitioners through Until The Curtains Rise.

"The challenges facing freelance theatre workers during this pandemic are immense but together we will ensure that the UK theatre industry returns stronger than ever before."

Bidding on the fundraiser is open from May 6 to May 24, with stand-alone donations also welcomed.