Artists make trip to Calais Jungle in plea to save lone children’s ‘lifeline’

Stephen Daldry today warned of a “life and death” situation for hundreds of lone children facing eviction from Calais’s “Jungle” migrant camp.

The film and theatre director said it was “inexcusable” for makeshift community spaces which children consider “a lifeline” to be bulldozed and called for those with relatives in the UK to be fast-tracked here.

French authorities plan to flatten the southern part of the camp — where charities say 300 unaccompanied children are living — on Wednesday.

Daldry, 55, was among British performers and artists, including Jude Law and Sir Tom Stoppard, who read out literary and historic letters at the camp’s Good Chance Theatre, alongside migrants performing songs and readings.

Daldry said: “This is a very desperate situation and a very desperate camp. It’s one of the worst refugee camps I’ve been to and I’ve been to quite a few.”

Sir Tom said: “The whole situation is deplorable, very upsetting, very worrying. Most people at home don’t know what the conditions are like.”

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