Arts Club, others express frustration at health shutdowns that target live performance but not cinemas and restaurants
Peter Cathie White asks why performing-arts companies aren’t treated like other businesses, and others are posing the same question via social media
The Arts Club’s Newmont Stage at the BMO Centre, where The Twelve Dates of Christmas is set to open.
THE ARTS CLUB Theatre Company has written an open letter to Health Minister Adrian Dix about the devastating effect that new health measures targeting live performances will have.
Executive director Peter Cathie White says the organization was shocked to find out that all theatre performances would be shut down till at least December 7 by provincial health authorities, but movies and restaurants would be allowed to stay open.
“We are complying but we do question the rationale,” White told Stir. “I think there’s some confusion. I think we’ve been put in the wrong category. Any rational person could see that there’s no difference. We’ve been listed under community event and we’re not seen as a business? Our staff rely on us for employment and the safety of our staff and patrons are paramount to us.
“I don’t understand the difference between scenarios,” he said, comparing live theatres to movie theatres. “We don’t have bar service or popcorn.”
Cathie White points out that performing arts were the only businesses singled out for increased measures in the latest round of shutdowns. “They even softened it up a bit for gyms,” he said, referring to the fact the ban now only applies to certain forms of group exercise, like hot yoga, that are deemed dangerous.
He says there have not been any incidences of spread in the carefully distanced, mask-requiring performances the Arts Club has been putting on this fall. Stir was unable to find evidence of any spread at other theatres. Venues have been limited to under 50 people, all socially distanced.
The venue has cancelled remaining performances of Buffoon, set to run to December 6, though the solo show is available to stream. The company is also worried about the fate of the new two-hander The Twelve Dates of Christmas, set to open December 8. Extended shutdowns could threaten layoffs of employees working on the show, Cathie White said.
Here is the text of the company’s full letter to Health Minister Adrian Dix, whom Cathie White says the Arts Club hopes to speak to:
“We write to you today with our earnest concern regarding the Provincial Health Order effective November 20, which mandates the shuttering of live theatre organizations in British Columbia. We are the Artistic Director and Executive Director of the Arts Club Theatre Company; based in Vancouver, our organization is the third largest not-for-profit theatre company in Canada, after the Shaw and Stratford Festivals.
“On behalf of the Arts Club, we would like to register our shock and dismay at the latest order, which allows every business already operational under the previous order to remain so with the exception of live theatre. While we appreciate the necessity of increasing restrictions at this time, live theatre is one of the few businesses that is mandated to close until at least December 7, while movie theatres, restaurants, and bars may remain open. We are struggling to understand why our industry appears to have been singled out.
“Since September, the Arts Club has produced over 156 performances of one-actor plays—all in accordance with the strictest of WorkSafe-approved safety protocols (including collecting contact tracing information and making masks mandatory). The safety of our patrons and staff has been our greatest priority. We have had zero transmissions, and our patrons have affirmed through surveys the thoroughness of our COVID-19 protocols. Despite the rising case count in our province, to our knowledge, there has been no outbreak in the live-theatre industry. Given these facts, we are deeply disappointed by the order to shut our doors at this time.
“We have proven our ability to safely operate our business. We ask that you consider live theatre to be in the same category as movie theatres, and allow us to remain open as well. The enormous cost of cancelling two productions is a massive blow to the Arts Club’s financial sustainability, and to the employment of local artists. Additionally, singling out theatre companies for closure reinforces to audiences the misperception that our industry has not met the safety standards required to conduc@adriandixt business.
“The not-for-profit arts industry has been dealt a particularly cruel blow by this pandemic. We implore you to meet with us and our colleagues so we can directly communicate to you our distress at this latest health order.”
This afternoon, other artists were weighing in on the subject via social media as well:
My open letter to the press and to BC health authorities regarding new restrictions, which have forced theatre companies with COVID safety plans to shut down while other similar sectors remain open.
— Aaron Craven (@aaronrcraven) November 20, 2020
Please tweet health minister @adriandix to show support for the arts in BC. pic.twitter.com/omEBJ3ei6r
I understand restrictions need to be made but then make them across the board. I have heard of no cases to come out of a theatre but have certainly heard of them from bars. Also it’s okay to keep supporting cineplex but not local arts companies? Hmm money talks? https://t.co/yNS3L9p5JL
— Tracey Power (@atraceypower) November 20, 2020
UPDATE: The BC Alliance of Arts and Culture has sent the following letter out to its membertship to send to Premier John Horgan, Minister Adrian Dix and Minister Lisa Beare:
”I write to you today as a supporter of arts and culture with my earnest concern regarding the Provincial Health Order effective November 20, which mandates the shuttering of live theatre organizations in British Columbia. This order allows every business already operational under the previous order to remain so with the exception of live theatre.
”While we appreciate the necessity of increasing restrictions at this time, live theatre is one of the few businesses that is mandated to close until at least December 7, while movie theatres, restaurants, and bars may remain open. Despite the rising case count in our province, to our knowledge, there has been no outbreak in the live-theatre industry.
”The live theatre sector has proven its ability to safely operate. We ask that you consider live theatre to be in the same category as movie theatres, and allow it to remain open as well. Singling out theatre companies for closure reinforces to audiences the misperception that the industry has not met the safety standards required to conduct business.
”The not-for-profit arts industry has been dealt a particularly cruel blow by this pandemic. We implore you to reconsider this aspect of the Provincial Health Order, in order to support an already embattled sector.”
As Stir reported previously venues from the Dance Centre to the Firehall were forced to shutter live performances until December 7 when the new order came down from BC's health authority. Dr. Bonnie Henry had announced November 19 that all events and community-based gatherings “of any size”, including “musical or theatre performances”, are now banned till December 7.
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