With few exceptions, local theatre company Theatre North West (TNW) typically puts on four mainstage productions a season, next season will feature three. While it’s no secret that theatre across the country took a big hit during the pandemic and has had a slow climb out, Artistic Producer of TNW Marnie Hamagami cautions against panic. She says the non-profit is shifting tactics.
Hamagami states, “We know that people like big shows.” Bigger production values translates to a larger overall cost but it aligns with what the organization’s audience wants.
Still, her theatre is not immune to economic woes hitting the industry. Nationally, she says, theatre costs are up 30% and attendance down 60% from pre-pandemic levels. Out of a roughly five to ten year recovery period,, Hamagami states, “we are currently, just coming to the close of year two of that timeframe.”
Story also available on frequencynews.ca, 88.7 FM in Prince George—Lheidli T’enneh, and cfur.ca/listen-live Mon-Fri 7:30am & 5pm PST
CFUR Radio Society’s journalist, Ian Gregg is funded by the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) through the Community Radio Fund of Canada (CRFC).