She was responding to attacks on government policy made at the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards.

BBC: Arts Council England faces more cuts of ?11.6m

At the end of the month, Danny Boyle's Olympic opening ceremony is honoured at the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards.

BBC: Theatre review of 2012: An Olympian year

Comedian and TV host Henry, one of the founding figures of Comic Relief, enjoyed recent success with his theatre debut as Othello - for which he won best newcomer at the London Evening Standard theatre awards.

BBC: Dawn French and Lenny Henry granted divorce