Arts community hoping for increased indoor capacity starting July 1
Phase 3 of B.C.’s re-opening plan scheduled to begin July 1 includes the possibility of increased indoor capacity beyond the 50 people that are currently allowed in venues, but it doesn’t offer specifics.
“We have no sense what the capacity is going to be based on yet, and I believe that we won’t find out until June 29,” said Peter Cathie White, the executive director of the Arts Club Theatre.
The company is staging two small shows this summer, “I, Claudia,” starting in late July, and a musical called “Beneath Springhill: The Maurice Ruddick Story” that opens in early August.
“We have planned for them to have a capacity of 50, which we are hoping will become bigger," said Cathie White. “I will say that doing theatre for an audience of 50 people is not a financial sustainable model.”
It’s also not financially sustainable to play at vaccine clinics, but that’s what a trio from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra did on Thursday. They played Bach and Mozart for people waiting in line for their appointments at the Vancouver Convention Centre site.
“Everyone has been so supportive and sweet. It’s just nice to see people,” said violinist Cassandra Bequary.
During the pandemic the VSO has mostly played to virtual audiences.
“The whole symphony is trying to find creative ways to get out there and find small groups that are safe so we will all be doing as many little pop ups as we can this week and this summer,” said Bequary.
The VSO plans to return to full indoor concerts in the fall. If the province does increase venue capacity, the Arts Club will offer more tickets for its two shows.
“Our first production doesn’t start until July 22 so we have a bit of time to prepare, and we are really hopeful the capacity is increased to a more sustainable level,” said Cathie White, but he added, “We are prepared for anything at this stage.”
Bequary says there is one thing everyone can do to accelerate the return of the city’s vibrant arts scene.
“The higher the vaccination rate, the faster we can bring live music back to Vancouver. So the best way to support the arts is to get your vaccine,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hamas says latest ceasefire talks have ended. Israel vows military operation in 'very near future'
The latest round of Gaza cease-fire talks ended in Cairo after "in-depth and serious discussions,"{ the Hamas militant group said Sunday, reiterating key demands that Israel again rejected.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
B.C. man wants homes for thousands of books he soon won't be able to read
In the 10 years since John William started to lose his vision, he's been finding new ways to enjoy his vast personal library.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Trudeau 'absolutely' best person to lead the Liberals in next election: LeBlanc insists
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc insists he's not planning a leadership campaign to head the Liberal party, should current leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resign, seemingly quashing rumours he's planning to make a move for his boss' job.
Bombarded with spam texts? Stats show the problem is getting worse in Canada
In particular, messages that involve phishing — an attack where a scammer tries to trick the recipient into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware or sharing sensitive information — are on the rise.
opinion You don't need to be an influencer to earn income from social media
How legitimate are claims by some content creators that the average person can earn passive income from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram? Personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says it's quite possible, if you're willing to put in the initial time and effort.
William Shatner says he would consider 'Star Trek' return: 'Here comes Captain Kirk!'
The Montreal-born actor, famed for his portrayal of Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," says he is open to reprising the iconic role in the sci-fi franchise as long as the storytelling is stellar.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.