The Belfry Theatre hopes to offer a mixture of in-person and online programming when its 2021 spring season kicks off next year, the Fernwood-based theatre company has announced. Which is big news, where local live theatre in concerned.
When the company’s season gets underway March 9, it will mark the return of live performance at The Belfry, nearly one year to the day when COVID-19 restrictions closed the theatre to the paying public. The Belfry has been offering a variety of livestreamed productions since September, but the upcoming 42-show season — which features two world premières — will offer both socially-distanced performances for 50 ticketholders and online versions for the watching-at-home crowd.
“It’s been a wild ride since March for everyone in the performing arts,” said Michael Shamata, The Belfry’s artistic director. “Online programming is nod in the right direction — but nothing can compare with the thrilling prospect of a live audience back in The Belfry.”
Being Here: The Refugee Project (March 9–21), by Saskatoon’s Joel Bernbaum, and Same Old Same Old (June 1-13), by Victoria theatre instructors Jan Wood and James Fagan Tait, will have their world debuts next season. Serving Elizabeth (April 20–May 2), from Toronto playwright Marcia Johnson — who based the play on the acclaimed television series, The Crown — rounds out The Belfry’s three-show season.
Each performance will be broadcast simultaneously, which requires elaborate on-stage production. Both versions of the performance will require The Belfry’s full attention. “We’ll have two cameras in the house, plus we’ll have a camera person on stage, focusing on close ups,” said Mark Dusseault, The Belfry’s marketing and communications director.
“We’re trying to give people at home a much bigger feeling of the piece as a whole. Every livestream will be different, because every show will be different.”
Actors will be paid twice for their contributions, to reflect both the on-stage and livestream contributions, Dusseault said. Season ticket prices have been reduced substantially to reflect the change in staging. Patrons for in-house audiences will be selected by random draws from The Belfry’s list of season ticket subscribers two weeks prior to each production. “It’s going to open some of our plays up to a much larger audience,” Dusseault said. “It will expose more people to what we do.”
Tickets are available now through thebelfry.bc.ca or by phone from 250-385-6815.
