Great art achieves apotheosis in performance. Shakespeare was designed to be seen, not studied. Music to be heard, not read off a sheet. Both spark to life through actors, musicians, directors and conductors to form something more magical than the sum of their parts.
Budget speeches are the inverse – at best listened to absent-mindedly, perhaps while hanging the washing or filling your newsletter template. In truth, they ought to be shunned in favour of the Red Book packed with caveats and figures the chancellor has for some reason chosen not to highlight.
