Getting back to business at Savoy
GLACE BAY — The phrase “if you can’t beat them, join them” is taking on a whole new meaning at the Savoy Theatre these days.
After experiencing countless shutdowns over the past 15 months due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the Glace Bay theatre is now a main site for COVID-19 testing in the area.
While Pam Leader, the theatre’s executive director, would rather be selling tickets and booking shows, she can sometimes be found volunteering at the testing clinic.
“I’ve started swabbing,” she said with a laugh. “Seriously, though, I have — I want to help in whatever way I can.
“I just want this to be over and anything I can do to help,
I will do it.”
Her efforts may be working.
One of the last shows to be cancelled, a livestream production of “Island Girls Music & Comedy” has been rescheduled to run June 24 to 27 and ticket sales details are available at https://www.savoytheatre.com/eventdirectory/. More details will be released at a later date on a brand new local show that is expected run in August. Some shows are also being booked for the fall, including a Thane Dunn show for September and the premiere of the “Dear Rita” show which will feature an all-Cape Breton cast. Dinner theatres are expected to resume around Christmas. As well, Leader expects other shows will also be booked for the holiday season.
But even with provincial COVID numbers falling, Leader is playing it safe. It’s understandable considering all theatres have had to deal with last-minute cancellations of shows due to the ever-changing COVID restrictions but it doesn’t make the job that much easier.
“We’re going to take it slow,” she said. “No tickets will be for sale until after July 1. I don’t want to put any shows on sale until we’re 100 per cent sure they will be going ahead.”
And while theatres are ready to get back to business, Leader said she understands if the public is hesitant about filling those seats, at least at first.
“It all depends on whether people are ready to head back to the theatre or not. People need to be ready to come back as well.”