Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the fall shows at South Simcoe Theatre (SST) in Cookstown cannot go on.
In a statement, the SST board states it has determined that the revised line-up of fall 2020 productions — The Secret Garden, That December Show ~ Camelot the Panto!, and the September Four Play reading series — must be cancelled.
“We find we cannot meet our usual standard of excellent community theatre and maintain financial sustainability within the restrictions outlined by the provincial government, which include: limiting the audience to 50 people while allowing two metres physical distance between audience members (which is not possible in the Town Hall), erecting barriers between the audience and performers," said the statement.
In order to meet minimum financial commitments, an audience of 80 to 100 patrons per show is needed.
Daniel Galea, chair of the SST Four Play committee and secretary of the board of directors, says costs would be prohibitive.
“While we rely heavily on our team of volunteers to get our shows onto the stage, SST still has costs of the elements to build the scenery and costumes, purchase technical elements, like lightbulbs and gels that produce different colours for the light, our phone and internet, the hosting of our website and e-mail address," said Galea. "The larger the production, the more those costs are going to be.”
SST rents the old Cookstown Town Hall from the Town of Innisfil.
“We have to apply to the rights holders of different productions when we want to put them on. Those rights can cost between $1,000 to $3,000 for plays, and anywhere between $3,000 and $8,000 for musicals, depending on the company and how well known the show is," said Galea.
“We were able to get some of our money refunded on shows we cancelled from March until now and that money has been put back into the theatre’s operating costs, like our phone number, our website and our e-mail address,” Galea adds.
In its statement, the board states it takes “the health and welfare of our patrons, cast, crew and other volunteers seriously and therefore intend to follow all regulations of the health departments.”
Galea says: “While we’d love to be back in the theatre putting on entertainment for our patrons, we would lose money and it wouldn’t make any sense if we were to open under the current COVID guidelines. There would be additional costs in constructing the required barriers and other things to keep our patrons and performers safe.”
The 2021 productions of I Hate Hamlet and Burn will remain tentatively scheduled in their current March and May slots, as the SST board continues to monitor the restrictions for re-opening of the live performance sector.
The board expresses its thanks to all the casts, crews, production teams, other members, subscribers, and donors who have been so patient as it navigates this difficult time.
Someone will be in touch with any patron who is a ticket holder for The Secret Garden, or has already sent in a 2020-21 subscription order.
"We understand times are tight for a lot of people, but if anyone would like to make a donation, they can reach out to us at [email protected]. These donations would help us cover those costs that we still have to pay," said Galea.
Rosaleen Egan is a freelance journalist, storyteller, and playwright. She blogs on her website rosiewrites.com.
