Jason Dorday/Things
Lead actor Uhyoung Choi rehearses in the Auckland Theater Company studios in Mt Eden for Scenes from a Yellow Peril. The show almost had to stop due to a crew shortage due to Covid-19.
New Zealand theater companies grapple with canceled shows and financial losses as COVID-19 stays disrupting the performing arts industry†
a government insurance for canceled events when key players catch Covid-19 has helped prevent heavy losses, but some productions are not covered by the initiative.
Figures from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage of Manatū Taonga show that 71% of the 590 events registered with the scheme have suffered financial losses due to Covid-19. The scheme has paid out $26 million in 364 registered events to date since its launch in November.
Auckland Theater Company (ATC) chief executive Jonathan Bielski said the plan was “better than nothing”, but the performing arts sector was still struggling through the Covid-19 pandemic.
READ MORE:
† Upcoming show crucial for Nelson Musical Theater
† Christchurch’s tally of canceled summer events and lost dollars soars
† No ‘bumper summer’ for thousands of devastated employees after Covid devastates events
The company had canceled performances due to Covid-19 cases among cast members, who have been in isolation for seven days after being infected, but had not lost a week of shows and had not canceled an entire production.
“There is a feeling that because there has been no lockdown, the impact on the performing arts has been less,” he said.
“This is the worst of the three years for us. The first two years there was so much extra government support. This year there has been very little, but the impact is no less.”
Jason Dorday/Things
Scenes From A Yellow Peril with director Jane Yonge and Choi at the Auckland Theater Company studios in Mt Eden.
He said a shortage of crew members across New Zealand was also a risk to theaters.
“There is no capacity left in the industry to get crew members. If you lose a stage manager through isolation, there’s no one to recruit.
“Last week we lost a crew member to isolation and the only reason we were able to continue was because another show on the other side of town had to shut down for a week and we were using their crew.
“We just have to take the risk and hope for the best.”
STACY SQUIRES/STUFF
Christchurch’s Little Andromeda Theater is going table-only cabaret style to address Covid-19 Alert Level 2 restrictions. (Video first published in March 2021)
New Zealand Playhouse producer Michael Bell said the government’s insurance scheme will not cover some financial losses from Covid-19. His theater company Christchurch tours schools with original productions.
“The problem is, there are two ways you can get support from it, either through a protagonist who gets Covid or through a national institution that dictates you can’t act,” he said.
“There are a number of ways outside of those two rules where theater companies can absolutely be demolished by Covid-19.
“We perform for 100,000 students every year. We have to perform to 90,000 to break even. This year with the number of kids gone and classes cancelled, it looks like we’ll be hitting 60,000.
“As we are still performing, we are not eligible for any assistance.”
He said if performances were lost due to Covid-19 infections disrupting rehearsals, they would not be covered by the scheme.
Delivered
Christchurch theater producer Michael Bell says some losses will not be covered by the scheme.
Circa Theater treasurer and councilor Gavin Rutherford said the Wellington company had postponed three opening nights due to infections among cast members.
He said government insurance had been helpful in ensuring artists get paid even if events are canceled due to Covid-19.
Court Theater CEO Barbara George had to cancel a week of shows for a Potted Potter production due to an infection in the cast. She said actors test every day during rehearsals and production.
Manatū Taonga’s Ministry of Culture and Heritage had received 828 applications to enroll in the aid program, 590 of which were approved for coverage.
KEVIN STENT/Things
Circa Theater in Wellington has postponed three opening nights due to Covid-19 infections among cast members.
Of the 590 applications approved, 421 had notified the Department of cancellation, postponement, or reduced attendance and were eligible for payment. This means that 71% of those registered have suffered financial loss as a result of Covid-19.
The scheme has a budget of $93.2 million and will cover events through January.
The ministry’s deputy director Joe Fowler said the scheme is designed to “help arts and cultural event organizers have the confidence to commit to and deliver events”.
“It also gives artists and crew the reassurance that they can be paid if their events don’t go ahead as planned.”