Show must go on, but how?
The opening curtain is starting to creak away from the floorboards, letting just the smallest sliver of light glance through.
For Wellington’s theatres, that’s about all the move to level 2 is – just a glimpse at a brighter future, when that curtain will be raised and the show can go on.
Wellington is meant to be the cultural capital of the country but, in the wake of Covid-19, the brakes have been slammed on.
When New Zealand moves to level 2 tomorrow, cinemas will be allowed to open again, with audiences spaced out according to social distancing guidelines.
That same ruling technically applies to theatres, but will be much harder to pull off as companies face a drastically reduced capacity and, along with it, a much tougher threshold for financial viability.
Circa Theatre has made the call not to open yet, even if government regulations allow it to happen. In level 2, some box office and stage crew will re-enter the building, and rehearsals for future performances can restart.
‘‘We’re certainly alive and very, very eager,’’ said Susan Wilson, a director and Circa council member.
Actors and other creative professionals have been able to access Work and Income subsidies, and the theatre has been supported by additional Creative NZ funding.
‘‘We’re treating this is a whole new world,’’ Wilson said.
Part of that new world is a fully replaced programme. Scheduled shows have had to be scrapped, including shows that were actively in rehearsals preparing for performances as the lockdown was announced.
The new programme hasn’t been decided yet, but it could likely mean smaller casts and tighter budgets, due to smaller audiences.
Smaller community theatres seem determined to stride forward and get back to performing, even if that means limited seating and box office takes.
Gryphon Theatre, which has a capacity of 70 seats, is still in the process of making a decision, but seems likely to return in some form.
Paul Kay was preparing to direct a run of That Bloody Woman,
a musical about Kate Sheppard, before the lockdown struck. He’s not sure whether it will be back.
‘‘We’re trying to be cautiously optimistic,’’ he said. ‘‘This could be an opportunity to try doing things differently.’’
In the short term, that could mean a lot more solo shows and more minimal sets. During rehearsals, performers may have to stay away from kissing scenes – for the time being.
‘‘You get a lot of sickness during a show’s run, especially for singers. Using your voice a lot makes you vulnerable,’’ he said.
While in the past, performers might have sucked it up, they’ll be taking no risks this time around. Shows at the Gryphon don’t normally train understudies, but in a post-Covid-19 world, they may become a necessity.
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, which typically plays in venues capable of holding as many as 3000 people, is struggling to see any way of putting on shows soon. Even if mass gathering limits were loosened to allow for 500 people, it may not be enough to make shows viable.
The orchestra needs at least 80 players in order to perform largescale symphonies at an international standard. Level 2 will give the opportunity to finally bring the performers together on one stage. As the NZSO is considered a workplace, gatherings of more than 10 people will be permitted.
The orchestra normally uses the Michael Fowler Centre or Shed 6 for rehearsals, and is looking at livestreaming performances from the empty venues, publicist Tom Cardy said.
In level 4 and 3, while performers have been confined to their own homes, the orchestra has streamed several home performances by combining separate recordings using editing software.
‘‘We’ve been entranced by the sheer numbers of people watching,’’ Cardy said.