Artistic Fraud to perform at Charlottetown Festival
Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland’s production of ‘Between Breaths’ to open Charlottetown Festival in June
“The fact these artists are committing to extra weeks for isolation to come and do this, plus the extra measures when they go home … they are just so excited (about the show). Steve Bellamy Confederation Centre of the Arts CEO
The show will go on at Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown.
When the centre announced its 2021 summer lineup, which begins in June, theatre staff knew visitors would not be coming in from the United States or central Canada. Now the audience reach could be even smaller than that.
Steve Bellamy, CEO of the centre, told Saltwire Network that the Charlottetown Festival will open June 3 with Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland’s production of “Between Breaths,” even though it may only play to a Prince Edward Island audience.
While there hasn’t been a definite word on when the Atlantic bubble might reopen, the situation with the high COVID-19 case count in Nova Scotia makes it appear as though it won’t be anytime soon.
“I hope people (in P.E.I.) will come out and support us,’’ Bellamy said, adding that the only way the festival plans change is if health regulations change. “We’re determined to bring some programming to Islanders this summer.’’
The Charlottetown Festival will feature three shows this summer — “Between Breaths,” “Dear Rita” and “Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story.” A maximum of 300 people will be permitted into the 1,100-seat Mainstage Theatre for each show.
“Between Breaths” is a production that is coming from Newfoundland and Labrador and will be presented in partnership with Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland.
Bellamy said the centre will be following all health protocols as set out by P.E.I.’S Chief Public Health Office.
The troupe with the show is chartering a direct flight from Newfoundland and Labrador to Charlottetown and will selfisolate in P.E.I. for 14 days before work begins on the show. They will also self-isolate for 14 days upon returning to Newfoundland and Labrador.
“The fact these artists are committing to extra weeks for isolation to come and do this, plus the extra measures when they go home … they are just so excited (about the show). We’re hoping people on P.E.I. will come.’’
Bellamy said the centre has a number of plans in place should health regulations change.
“We do have ongoing conversations with CPHO about where things look like they’re heading and what we might prepare for. We’re always having to look at the next six months in front of us and make our best assumptions about where we might be and then plan accordingly. What we’ve learned to do is to change at any moment.’’
He said the centre has a number of backup plans ready to go.
“We can lean into video a bit, we can do certain types of performances and not others … or, in some cases, we have to do nothing for a few days,’’ Bellamy said. “We have a number of alternative paths we have to follow, depending on what types of changes happen.’’