Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan suspending 2020 season indefinitely

To be, or not to be?

It’s looking to be more the latter for Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan in 2020 after it announced Thursday it was putting its summer series on hold indefinitely.

The group is hoping there’s still a “to be” next year because if this year’s entire slate of plays is cancelled, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan will lose 70 per cent of its annual revenues.

“That puts us into a very scary financial position,” said Will Brooks, artistic director for the theatre group.

“It’s going to take a lot of community support to recover from.”

Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan typically begins rehearsing plays in June, with performances throughout the summer at its riverside site. But preparation begins months more in advance, and with COVID-19 restrictions in place, it’s impossible for the crucial behind-the-scenes work to begin.

“We needed to make a decision right now,” Brooks said.

“It’s an impossible situation.”

The pandemic comes at one of the worst possible times for the theatre company, as construction nears completion of a new concrete amphitheatre — the first permanent performance fixture on the group’s grounds along the Meewasin Trail.

Actors, donors and patrons were gearing up for a big grand opening celebration in June for the structure, over which the troupe’s signature tent would be placed.

“It’s a pretty crushing blow to have to stop that,” Brooks said. “But we all have to do our part to keep this pandemic under control.”

Of more concern is whether or not Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan will survive beyond 2020 without running its plays.

Brooks noted while its revenues will drop by 70 per cent, the group’s expenses won’t drop by nearly that much.

When asked if the troupe could survive without additional help from government or donors, he said it indeed is the question on many minds.

“It’s certainly in jeopardy,” he said.

“If we cut everything possible and keep our expenses down as (much as) humanly possible, we have an opportunity to survive this year.”

However, he emphasized, “we’re concerned about survival.”

Brooks said the focus of Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan in the near term will be to find those expenses that can be cut, then to figure out the number it needs to survive. Then it will come forward with an ask for donors to help support the theatre company.

“If and when the time is right, we’ll certainly be speaking to the community about how they can support us.”