The theatre community in London has taken a big hit due the pandemic. The Palace Theatre, the Victoria’s Playhouse Theatre, and the Grand Theatre have cancelled shows this season and some businesses have shut down entirely.
With theatre being so reliant on live performances, the industry and the community in the city are struggling through this pandemic.
Haley Kriz is a performer from London, and used to work in Toronto. She had shows lined up in the beginning of this year until the pandemic hit. She says, “We’re all one big industry that can’t do what we want to do.”
Kriz says that businesses are trying to stay afloat by posting content online or trying to record shows for the audience to see. “But it’s not the same without the audience being there with us,” she says.
Alex Baerg is a performer and an assistant musical director. He did a majority of his work in the Victoria’s Playhouse Theatre in Sarnia.
“Theatre is gone. Our industry relies completely on people being able to gather closely in groups, and because of that [theatre] is cancelled,” says Baerg.
Baerg says that a majority of funding to businesses has been through generous donations, and that financial government aids CERB and CRB have helped him through quarantine.
“We need to be patient, because as much as people miss consuming entertainment and consuming shows, I will be the first to tell you that the performers miss at least as much,” says Baerg.
The Grand Theatre has been producing content like audio walks and online videos despite having to cancel shows this season. Live performances will not be expected to go on until 2021.
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