The empty stage

NO EXPOSURE: 'Expose yourself to theatre' was the caption that originally accompanied this picture but no Tairawhiti performers will be doing that for while. Their shows will go on – just not for now. Picture supplied

Themes of strength and courage will prevail in song selections for Evolution Theatre Company's (ETC) post-lockdown evening of music, New York Nights.

Meanwhile, Musical Theatre Gisborne has proposed December 11 as opening night for The Addams Family and Unity Theatre has postponed its production of Calendar Girls until further notice. Also in rehearsal as Covid-19 began to spread around the world was the Gisborne Choral Society with its planned production in Gisborne and Hastings of Mozart's Requiem.

Based in the Chinese Association building in Disraeli Street, Evolution Theatre is the most recently established theatre company in Gisborne. Happily, the Chinese association has waived a month's rent during the lockdown and has agreed to a discount for the rest of the year.

“That's amazing,” says ETC managing artistic director Dinna Myers.

News of coronavirus's spread impacted audience numbers for the company otherwise well-received comedy, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged). The three-man cast and big backstage crew remained upbeat though.

“They were so in love with the play, it was a positive experience overall. We're now talking about our next production, The Importance of Being Earnest. We'll rehearse online then hit the boards running when we get back into the theatre.”

New York Nights performers are preparing their songs at home. This is the sort of show that can be launched at short notice, says Myers.

Musical Theatre Gisborne's (MTG) director for The Addams Family, Belinda Campbell, flew back from Australia to work with cast and crew on the show. The lockdown was announced a few days later. She is now based here for the duration.

Rights holders of the play have agreed to waive fees for the time being, says MTG vice president Peter Grealish.

“When people were told before the lockdown the show was on hold, they were disappointed but could see the big picture. Cast and crew have all come forward to say they will carry on after the lockdown is lifted.

“We had time to work on the singing and dance routines. Belinda arrived and did some direction just before things began to shut down.”

Unity Theatre was well under way with rehearsals for Calendar Girls before the lockdown was announced. Ticket sales were also going well and most ticket-buyers have left their bookings in place so they can see the show at a later date, says Unity's publicist Heather McIntyre.

“People were really good about it but it was a weird feeling to find ourselves in a waiting game. We'd been going really well with this group of people then all of a sudden we're in limbo.”

Unity Theatre was lucky it managed to stage its fundraiser for the Gisborne Cancer Society just in time, says McIntyre. The fundraiser was a musical smorgasbord that involved G'zukers Goodtime Band, Barleycorn, Savvy a cappella and an item performed by Calendar Girls' cast and crew.

“That was the weekend before the shut down but we got a full house. People loved the show and we were able to raise $1400 for the Cancer Society.”

The Gisborne Choral Society (GCS) has some flexibility in that the company tends to stage works that do not require performance rights, says GCS musical director Gavin Maclean. But because the production of Mozart's Requiem, originally planned for May, involves artists from other centres and the Hastings Choral Society, the collective decision was made to put the production on hold for 12 months.

“This year we'll wait and see when we can hold meetings and rehearsals again and will come up with a concert of our own. For now, we just have to bite the bullet.”

Performance groups in this region have to keep acting as if they were going forwards, says Myers.

“We have to fight the good fight. All of us will be counting on Gisborne to come back in force, see our shows, and engage in local culture.

“We're going to need their support when the time comes.”