Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane, right, with Andrew Broderick perform at the Shaw Festival Fall Concert Series in 2020.The battered theatre sector in Ontario is heading into the long weekend in a state of confusion and demoralization.
The province’s film and television industry, meanwhile, will continue to be allowed to rehearse, record and broadcast – even from inside theatres – as it was under the strictest lockdowns. The Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque, meanwhile, has been planning a summer season for audiences of 50 people indoors.These companies assumed, quite conservatively , that the one-dose summer would not involve tougher restrictions than last year’s no-dose summer.
Outdoor performances can resume “with capacity and other restrictions” in step two and indoor performances “with capacity and other restrictions” in step three. The most glaring gap in the plan as written is that it says theatre companies may open outdoors in step two – but, maddeningly, also suggests rehearsals are banned until step two., for example, will require three weeks of in-person rehearsals. Executive director Anita Gaffney, like her counterparts at most other theatre companies I contacted, says she’s seeking “clarity” from the office of Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries.
This isn’t something that can be decided at the last minute: The number of tickets that can be sold will dictate the size of shows – and whether they can afford to go ahead at all.For some reason, it’s easier to plan ahead for a funeral right now than it is to plan for a play.
Step one: Do not vote conservative!! Especially if you are in any way associated with the arts. 🎭 A confused muddled cost cutting universal mess. 🗳 Ontario Toronto
They should let people who are vaccinated go.
Well if you are looking for clarity from Lisa Macleod- stop. I live in Nepean and there’s never any. We need to re open and it can be done so safely now. We need 🎭 and restaurants and some kind of normal. If New York can do it - so can we.
If don't stand up ...they will not listen...enough is enough canada...