Theatre Royal plans movies – at the drive-in
The Isaac Theatre Royal is planning a drivein cinema on an empty site next to its closed Christchurch premises to make up for lost income during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Theatre chief executive Bob Mangan said they plan to screen movies in the middle of June, with space for about 70 cars on the Gloucester St site.
The theatre has struggled to stay afloat during the Covid-19 lockdown, with events at the 1200-seat venue cancelled and the current limit of 100 people at gatherings making large shows unviable.
Mangan said they needed the Government to move to alert level 1 of the pandemic response before they could start hosting major events again.
The theatre launched a crowdfunding campaign this month to raise $95,000 to help cover running costs. It has already raised $80,000 with just over two weeks remaining on the campaign.
He said a drive-in cinema was ideal during the pandemic ‘‘because you will be in your own bubble in your own car’’.
‘‘It is hard going at the moment,’’ he said. ‘‘We want to create shared experiences that will create jobs and activate the city centre.’’
Once the country moves to level 1, many cancelled shows would be rescheduled, he said. But he felt international shows would not return for some time.
‘‘We are looking to local and national acts. I think it will be 12 to 18 months before international events are coming here again.
‘‘We need a vaccine before international tours become a regular thing again.’’
Court Theatre chief executive Barbara George said they had taken big financial losses because they had to cancel six shows during the lockdown.
She said they would have a plan for new shows and the reopening in about two weeks.
Small Christchurch theatre Little
Andromeda reopened last week with reconfigured, spaced out seating and a capacity of about 70 seats.
Theatre producer Michael Bell said the first show sold out within an hour. The theatre will run shows for the next three months thanks to $50,000 from Creative NZ.
Bell said most shows planned for the next three months will be free, but some events will be ticketed.
He had installed streaming equipment and cameras so selected shows could be broadcast live online.