Live performances at the Ardhowen Theatre in Enniskillen will kick off again next week, with musical ‘Curtains’ set to be performed by Fermanagh Musical Theatre.
Theatres have been unable to host performances across Northern Ireland for most of the last 17 months, with Covid 19 restrictions in place.
Now with restrictions lifted and limited audience numbers allowed to return, Fermanagh Musical Theatre chairperson Nadia Stenson says everyone involved in the production is excited to be a part of the landmark event.
“We feel very very privileged now to be getting in as the first show into the theatre because I know a lot of people wanted that spot and a lot of people had cancelled shows because they weren’t sure if it was going to go ahead,” Nadia told MyFermanagh.
“With a bit of brute force and ignorance we said we would plough on and make sure that it would happen.
“Unfortunately the ticket sales have been limited as the theatre holds 297 and we’re only allowed to sell 90 tickets with social distancing as every other row of seats is completely blocked out."
‘Curtains’ will run at the Ardhowen for four nights from 18 to 21 August, and is a musical mystery ‘whodunnit’, where a group of actors all become suspects when the leading lady of their group dies on stage.
The show will also be live streamed as well as performed live for the audience of 90, as the local theatre group had to plan for all eventualities.
“We chose a show that would allow us the rights to both livestream and perform in front of an audience each night in case any last minute restrictions would happen,” Nadia added.
“We felt it was too important for cast morale to put in all this hard work and get disappointed again.
"Those in the arts sector have been among the hardest hit by the restrictions which have accompanied the pandemic, including the withdrawal of funding from the Arts Council which has had a detrimental effect on FMT.
“Theatres have been the last thing to open and even sporting events, with hundreds to thousands of people, who are free to move about and interact, drink and keep no distancing, shout, sweat and have contact with each other, have been functioning for months.
“Yet we have been denied the right to sit quietly in a theatre, with no interval, no bar service and spaced one metre apart whilst wearing a face covering. It isn’t right.
“Unfortunately since the arts funding is so poor at the moment; the normal funding that is usually available to apply for wasn’t there.
“So we had to focus our attention on fundraising and sponsorship locally in the community. “But businesses have been hit hard locally this year and unfortunately most businesses were not in a financial position to donate towards anything due to having to close so long during the lockdown.
“We have been very lucky with some of the businesses generously donating and supporting the arts this year and to them we are so unbelievably grateful.”
Tickets for ‘Curtains’ at the Ardhowen Theatre are limited but are available at booking site Booktix.
