Back to the theatre

THERE’S a magical exchange between performers and audience. Performers let go of self and adopt a persona on stage, all to entertain and amuse an audience ready to be thrilled with their acting, song and dance.

Audience feedback fuels the performer, as their applause, gasps and spontaneous laughter fuel the artist’s love of the stage.

For eight months these performers got behind a camera, were shown on screen, singing to an empty room with no resonance, missing the energy that comes from hearing an audience’s love live.

For eight months Queen’s Hall, St Ann's was quiet. There was no applause, no calls for encores, no standing ovations, no energy exchange between performer and audience.

On November 25 the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts announced it was safe to entertain again.

The first show in Queen’s Hall was the Picoplat Music Development Foundation’s concert, Glorious, a performance of Mozart’s comedy The Impresario in the last week of November. The first weekend in December hosted the Tres Noches de Parang. This week, Believe, Bring us Hope a Christmas concert by John Thomas, will have its opening night.

Actor Cecilia Salazar has been missing the stage. At a press conference for Believe at Queen's Hall auditorium on November 24 Salazar said: “This is our sanctuary. This is the place where we worship. This is how I worship. We come and we give of our talents, love and joy and it is received back.”

She is among a cast of over 20 people who have been working during lockdown to put on a show for the new normal.

Queen’s Hall general manager Garfield George said the entertainment industry suffered a lot during the pandemic, with shows being cancelled and artists not being paid.

“The entire industry has gone through a really hard time…We at Queen’s Hall are committed to partner with artists like John and associated groups to provide a safe venue to perform live for fans and a place safe for the public.”

Queen’s Hall is operating at 50 per cent capacity. The theatre space can hold 750 people but will only accept 250-300 people for now. Sanitising will happen frequently and after every performance. On entry, guests will have to sanitise their hands and do temperature checks.

Quoting Luther Vandross’ A House is not a Home, George said: “A chair is still a chair, even when there's no one sittin' there, but a chair is not a house and a house is not a home.

"Queen’s Hall is our home. Without performances, without people in it, we are nothing and we look forward to getting back entertainment in our home. Let us welcome you.”

Thomas, a singer and Believe’s creative director, said he had to find a way to continue to perform while staying safe.

“This pandemic has forced us to be creative...We are better for it. I have never been more challenged or had more fun. Getting around the necessary restrictions, whilst maintaining our artistic integrity meant utilising technology in ways we did not explore in the past.”

The cast was sent scripts, songs and sheet music and rehearsed by themselves.

Believe will be both a live and virtual presentation.

“Our relationship with technology has really blossomed this Christmas season. It has given us a sort of artistic freedom that we never truly considered before. A green screen can turn you into anyone and allow you to be anywhere. The possibilities are endless. It’s an amazing toy. Everyone should have one.

“The process of integrating live and virtual performances that feel live has been so rewarding and visually beautiful, we intend to continue to do this long after the pandemic is over.”

Thomas has been hosting Believe performances for seven years, putting on two shows per year. He had a Believe performance during lockdown, but this will be the first on-stage production for the year.

“The Believe brand remains focused and committed to bringing high-quality entertainment and productions…One should still expect the usual razzle-dazzle…Even with the masks, our dancers shine.”

The list of performers includes Neval Chatelal, Denyse Plummer, Johanna Chuckaree, Aurora Tardieu, Clarice Beeput, the Karline Brathwaite Dance Academy, and a choir of St Joseph's Convent Girls, CIC boys and the Eastern Chorale.

“We cannot have Christmas without a choir. We could not give that up this year. Christmas is choirs, choirs is Christmas. We had to painstakingly go through that green screen process and puzzle each person together to create a choir on Queen’s Hall stage.”

Thomas said he and Queen’s Hall are doing everything possible to take precautions to make sure everyone is safe and feels safe.

“There are many concerns. People have been flooding my social media with many questions. We are adhering to what our government says, we are going the extra mile.”

Disintech Biohazard Solutions will spray Queen’s Hall with Bacoban, a disinfectant designed to stay on the surface and kill germs for ten days, even after new bacteria touch the surface. All surfaces in Queen’s Hall, particularly high-traffic areas, will be covered with Bacoban. People who buy Believe tickets early will get Bacoban wipes as a gift.

“The health and well-being of our family mean everything to us, as it means to you. We are working with Queen’s Hall to ensure you and your family continue to enjoy the magic of Christmas,” Thomas said.

Only soloists will be allowed on stage unmasked. As a safety measure, once more than one person is singing on stage, the singing will be pre-recorded.

“We have to do it. We feel we should go the extra mile to pre-record each voice before because the expulsion of air is how it (covid19) spreads.”

Thomas said the costume designers got particularly creative finding ways to seamlessly incorporate masks into the costumes, particularly for the Nativity scene.

Believe partnered with the Hilton Trinidad to get reduced rates on rooms when tickets are purchased.

Believe will run for two weekends, December 11-13, 18-20. Tickets are only available at the Queen's Hall box office, to facilitate contact tracing, and seating is now fixed to ensure physical distancing.

All matinee shows cost $250 and Thomas hopes elderly people will turn out to the matinees so they can enjoy the theatre once again.

Normally proceeds from Believe shows go to a charitable cause. However this year, Thomas says the artists are the charity case.

"I can't afford that. We are the charity this year. All the artists, we would like to pay the artists. We would like to pay our providers, all the people who've been with us, doing things with us, we've all been out of work and this concert provides us with actual means of living for Christmas."

While the performers could not wait to put on a show, Thomas did not like his industry was treated during lockdown.

“This pandemic has been devastating for many of us. Amongst the hardest hit economically have been artists, creatives and those who provide the infrastructure for artists and creatives.

“It has become most apparent that there seems to be an instinctive response to provide a safety net for traditional business models and forms of employment. This is perfectly understandable, and this instinct should be encouraged and applauded. However, that instinct does not seem to apply in equal measure to those in the creative and performing arts.”

He said the lack of appreciation for the arts is what's driving the "illegitimacy of the creative sector" as a viable business.

"We seem to perceive art as a bit of a hobby and a pastime, a form of entertainment to make real-life – the actual business of survival – more fun. We fail to understand that art is life. Art shapes life. Art is the thing that breathes air into life and gives it meaning.”

In response, Arts, Culture and Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell said the ministry is as supportive as it can be, meeting with and working alongside all stakeholders in the sectors to deal with the economic, social, and health challenges presented by the pandemic. He said the Government's response to support affected citizens included those in the arts sector.

“It should be noted that no government in the world could preserve the livelihoods of all citizens,” Mitchell told Newsday via WhatsApp.

The Government provided emergency hampers, food vouchers, and rental assistance to those in need, spending $25 million on artists and creatives through Culture Relief Grants.

Discounts were offered to those wishing to book government-owned performing spaces for virtual shows.

“In preparation for the re-opening of the economy in a post-pandemic world, Government recently announced further incentives to the corporate world for investing in culture and the arts,” Mitchell said.

These include an expanded tax allowance from $6 million to $12 million annually for investment in, among other things, cultural and creative artists, works and productions.