Capitol Theatre and Dekker Centre making plans to re-open

Manager of the Capitol Theatre, Ursula Swindler, said they are hopeful for a mid-August re-opening, as they are currently awaiting new movie releases to play upon their return to business.

She said while some theatres outside the province have opted to return right away while playing older titles, they want to make sure they’re offering a new and compelling product before re-opening their doors to the public.

“I know there are some other theatres that have opened in Alberta, the United States and BC and they’re playing the old stuff, but there are not [generally] really a lot of crowds,” she said. “If we’re going to turn everything on, we need to make sure we have crowds that will cover the bills and pay everybody that needs to be here and I think the new movies coming out are what people want to see.”

Swindler said while they await their official re-opening, the theatre has remained active during weekends. In addition to selling popcorn, they have also started a little vendors’ market at in the building, where small businesses can set up on Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m. offering a chance to stay visible in the community.

She said while people do have the ability to watch movies at their leisure anytime at home, the theatre experience is a special one, and that has been reflected in the community’s continued outreach of support.

“Everybody has been really supportive, coming to buy popcorn, or even just calling or leaving messages on our Facebook page, and saying they can’t wait for the movies to open,” Swindler said. People can watch movies at home, but it’s just not the same as sitting in the theatre and watching it on the big screen, so I expect once we open our doors for the movies once again, people will be excited to come back and have that experience again.”

Dekker Centre

General Manager at the Dekker Centre, Kali Weber, said, while she is encouraged by the provincial announcement of phase 4.2, the Centre is likely to remain closed until September.

“I feel very positive with the announcement of 150 people allowed in live-event theatres and now our work is just about how do we re-open safely for everybody,” she said. “We also need to make sure we can financially host a show. We are not sure yet if a number of 150 total – which means about 125 people in the theatre – is actually doable for us at this point.”

Whether dancing, singing, or offering other live performances, the Dekker Centre provides a number of unique shows highlighting performing arts in the community. (submitted photo/Kali Weber)

Weber said right now the Dekker Centre is working through finding a safe way to re-open their doors while still providing an enjoyable and authentic live theatre experience.

“In this time of closure it’s been learning as much as we can about what performing arts and culture looks like after COVID,” she said. “Thinking about how we can present things safely and how we as an organization can perhaps fulfill our mission outside the Dekker Centre.

She added that mission includes networking with all kinds of presenters and managers across Canada, and exploring what is possible in terms of unique avenues such as digital presenting. The Dekker Centre will also continue to work with numerous renters and artists to figure out how to get their rental and shows up and running when the venue is able to re-open.

Weber said whenever it is the centre does re-open, there will always be a need for the performing arts, as it offers people a unique outlet reflecting life.

“Art is a way we express ourselves and we show all kinds of emotions,” she said. “We show happiness, sadness, fear, anger, so it’s essential to understanding who we are as people and art is how we sort of show those emotions to the world around us and try to work through how we’re feeling.”

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

Capitol Theatre and Dekker Centre making plans to re-open

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