“There’s an entire industry that is essentially out of work and finding ways to pivot - but it’s heartbreaking.Terms and expressions connected with ships, shipping, seamanship and navigation “More importantly, I guess than dollars and cents, I’m bringing it back to human beings,” Webb said. Webb said the theatre is currently looking at programming and will return to its large shows once it’s safe to do so. While Fountain Hall, the theatre’s main stage, holds 450 people, Webb said the theatre could only hold around 100 under those conditions. Prior to the second wave of COVID-19, Neptune Theatre could hold 50 per cent of its capacity for shows as long as people were physically distanced.
While a return of large shows like Billy Elliot are set for the summer, it all depends on the coronavirus and public safety. For instance, it’s been holding PD Day camps for students and created a Neptune at Home streaming experience.
Since shutting down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Neptune Theatre has been finding new ways to deliver art to the community. “This shut down is worldwide, right? I mean, there are no shows on Broadway, there are no shows in the West End of London, there are no shows in Antigonish,” Webb said. It was on the opening night of A Christmas Carol when the second COVID-19 wave was announced in Nova Scotia and the theatre was forced to - once again - shut down. He said in the fall of last year, Neptune Theatre was set to re-open to a limited, physically-distanced audience. Webb said Neptune Theatre’s funding is going toward keeping the theatre’s “skeleton” staff - which has been greatly reduced due to numerous layoffs after shutting down - and physical building in downtown Halifax operational. He said Lohnes-Croft had put a plan in place, met with industry professionals, found out what they needed and took some action. We became quite vocal about wanting some information back in the fall last year.”īut when Lohnes-Croft was appointed to the position in October 2020, Webb said she “arrived on the job and hit the ground running.” “It took quite a while to get to the point where we actually heard what that was. “We had the understanding from way back in May that some help was coming from our provincial government,” Webb said. It’s an initiative made by Nova Scotia’s newly-appointed Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage Suzanne Lohnes-Croft. Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, The Savoy Theatre Society, Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, New Dawn Convent Society, Gaelic College Foundation, Highland Arts Theatre Association and Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia are the other organizations receiving $75,000. “This shut down is worldwide, right? I mean, there are no shows on Broadway, there are no shows in the West End of London, there are no shows in Antigonish,” he said. He also said in the fall of last year, Neptune Theatre was set to re-open to a limited, physically-distanced audience. Since the theatre’s seasons are well-structured, he said Neptune has lost around $4 million since closing in March to the end of December in 2020. Webb said revenue has been down by 90 per cent. “Certainly, devoid of any audience ever since.” “Neptune’s been empty essentially,” Webb said. On top of that, shows that were in the middle of performances, like Calendar Girls and Ghost Light, had been cancelled due to the pandemic. On March 13, Webb said rehearsals were about to begin for big shows such as the theatre’s year-end musical Billy Elliot. The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected Neptune Theatre - and it seems to have happened overnight. No physical performances allowed, still, and now we’re in the second wave.” “Our industry, as you know, is completely shut down.
“It was fantastic for so many organizations, and really a lifeline during these really tough times,” Jeremy Webb, Neptune Theatre’s artistic director, said. Neptune Theatre is among seven other organizations in the province receiving the maximum amount of $75,000. 27, the province announced it was awarding $2.1 million in one-time grants to arts and culture organizations affected by the pandemic.Įighty-nine organizations will benefit from the funding which ranges from grants of $2,000 up to $75,000. For Neptune Theatre, Nova Scotia’s recently announced funding for arts and culture organizations affected by COVID-19 is a glimmer of hope for the theatre’s future.
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