It is after restaurants, places that are more risky for contagion, that theaters will be able to reopen, at 50% of their gauge, from Monday, February 7. The Prime Minister, François Legault, announced in a single sentence on Tuesday the reopening of “performance halls, cinemas and centers for hockey games”, while recalling the watchword of this series of relaxations: go there take it easy. Go to the theater, then, but take it easy. The reactions of artistic circles, for the first time to the announcement of a reopening, were very mixed, very “soft” too.
“There are not many cases in theaters and cinemas, that we know,” admitted the national director of public health, Luc Boileau, at a press conference. The Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, qualified: “the main announcements [de réouverture] for January 31 are [pour] small gatherings — at home, in restaurants, small sports teams. While what is announced for February 7 is much more of the largest gatherings. We go there gradually, to see how the small contacts react. »
The vaccine passport
The theaters will therefore be able to accommodate up to 500 seated spectators, according to information sent by the Ministry of Culture to cultural organizations yesterday, and that The duty obtained. The presentation of the vaccine passport (two doses) and the wearing of a face covering at all times remain mandatory. Intermissions are prohibited. Outdoor events will be permitted from February 7, with face coverings recommended, but not required.
A new flexibility is granted to the broadcasters: the permission to assess themselves the safe distance between the bubbles of spectators – that is to say one meter, one seat, one row. This flexibility is the result of a direct request from the community, learned The duty. The ticket office assistance measure will be available as of February 7, to financially compensate for unsold tickets. Theaters will also have the choice, for a month, to open or not, while being able to take advantage of this measure as soon as they welcome spectators.
Food concessions will be permitted, but with the wearing of a mask at all times, and without the sale of alcohol. Dinner shows can take place if they follow the sanitary measures of restaurants. Cultural leisure, which feeds many artists alongside teachers or animators, will be able to resume on January 31 for children only. School outings will be authorized as soon as the rooms open; it was not specified whether the school public will also have to respect the 50% gauge.
The group of professional presenters of Rideau shows said it was relieved that the closure lasted less than last year. “We are disappointed not to open at full capacity,” said general manager Julie-Anne Richard. “Some full shows are going to be canceled because human resources are exhausted and no longer want to move spectators to make rooms at 50%. »
Is Rideau satisfied with the predictability of this announcement? “No, decides the director, Public Health does not meet our needs. We urge them to come back to us with a deconfinement plan. Right now, a presenter who has a show on March 7 with 700 tickets sold doesn’t know whether to cancel it or not; or if he should cancel it for half of the spectators. He does not know what to do. We need to know how long we will remain at half gauge, and when we will perhaps move to a full room. »
If the Quebec Association of the Record, Entertainment and Video Industry (ADISQ) is happy to find the public, and welcomes the four-week period allowed to benefit from the Ticketing Assistance Measure, it hoped also “more predictability. And knowing when we will be able to return to a full gauge. One of the vital questions for ADISQ members, as general manager Eve Paré pointed out, is “the possibility of holding concerts where the spectators are standing. It is essential for our environment. This question is still unresolved.
The next wave
The Quebec Theater Council could not rejoice yesterday. “When we ask for predictability, it means that we need more than a reopening date launched four weeks in advance, reacted co-president Rachel Morse. We need to know what we’re going to do with the next wave — because there’s going to be one. And how we see and envisage the continuation of things. »
The one who is also assistant to the artistic and general direction of the Théâtre Aux Écuries certainly affirms that this reopening is welcome. “But this is only the first step. This must be followed by concrete actions. The middle is completely exhausted, defeated, continues Mme Walrus. We have felt the minister more present since last week. We need this communication to continue. And we need the famous plan of Minister Nathalie Roy for the exit from the pandemic. She tells us that it is in preparation, but we have no idea what it is made of. »
half room
At the Associated Theaters, we welcomed the reopening, however deploring the obligation to play only half-room, as mentioned by the president, Marc-Antoine Malo.
Dance, on the other hand, “is delighted to be able to get back on stage; the living arts must remain alive”, as repeated by the Executive Director of the Regroupement québécois de la danse, Nadine Medawar.
“We don’t know yet for the rest of things – when will we be able to open 100%? — , but it seems that our messages have been received. Now we should all in the cultural sector see how to give life to shows that have been canceled, how solidarity can make room for these shows, which have not been seen. »
The Association of Quebec Cinema Owners (APCQ) expressed its satisfaction only by means of a press release. “The committee for the revival of cinema in Quebec, which brings together theater owners, producers and distributors, is at work to plan programming on the big screen,” she said.