The number of Covid-19 contaminations is breaking records in France. More than 90,000 people tested positive on December 23, a record since the start of the epidemic. Among these people, artists, singers, actors, comedians supposed to perform on stage. As a result, more and more shows are canceled, in the midst of the end of the year holiday season, essential to the world of culture.
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One “heartbreaking” for Jean-Marc Dumontet. On franceinfo Friday, December 24, the producer of shows ensures that rooms and theaters are safe places, with “very strict sanitary conditions” and artists who will be tested every day. But for this owner of many theaters in Paris, there is no other solution than vaccination, “otherwise the country will be at a standstill.”
The performances of the musical The Lion King have been canceled until December 31, at the Théâtre Mogador, in Paris. Are there any other canceled shows?
Yes of course. I myself endure it. We have a show, that of Coquettes, canceled because a Covid case arose. We’re lucky to be able to immediately find solutions, by training new singers, but I have one-man shows that have been canceled too. The epidemic is very strong at the moment. Artists are obviously affected, so a number of shows are canceled.
“It’s a very important time for us. Our shows are usually full. So it’s really heartbreaking.”
Jean-Marc Dumontet, theater and performance producerto franceinfo
There are also many shows being played at the moment, from the public welcomed in our halls with very strict and respected sanitary conditions, so that our halls are not places of contamination. We put on a mask in a performance hall, we don’t talk to our neighbor, we don’t exchange, so these are safe places.
Did you expect to see so many canceled shows?
Obviously, we did not expect it. This epidemic, continuously, for two years, surprises us and destabilizes us. We are in the realm of uncertainty. So we have to face it. Since September, we are very happy to be able to play and the spectators are there. It is true that there, we see canceled shows. And I take this opportunity to urge the French, really, to continue to be responsible citizens, to be vaccinated. Otherwise the country will be at a standstill. It is truly a responsible and civic act.
“There are enough of the selfish who refuse to be vaccinated and who pose a very strong threat to the whole country.”
Jean-Marc Dumontet, theater and performance producerto franceinfo
Today, do comedians and actors get tested every day?
Sure. There is no other choice. We must ensure the greatest security and the greatest serenity to our collaborators, to our artistic teams. It’s normal that we are vigilant, even if this vigilance is very expensive, because I can tell you that we are going to be tested, with this extremely unpleasant feeling which is that if we are positive, the shows stop. .