Kamloops performing arts and sporting events looking forward to easing capacity limits

KAMLOOPS — The lights are about to go up for the start of Western Canada Theatre’s (WCT) mainstage productions, and as of this week the performers will be able to look out at a full house.

“That’s one of the reasons why we started selling tickets just for the first two shows, because we wanted to see where the restrictions were going to go,” WCT Artistic Director James MacDonald says. “And now that it’s opened up, we’re going to sell the rest of the season at full capacity, and we’re selling our subscriptions and they’re doing really well. People are looking at what we’re doing, and [they’re] very happy.”

It’s been a tough two years for arts organizations, including WCT. While they’ve been able to have reduced capacity shows, selling fewer tickets impacted revenue.

“But at 45, 50 per cent we would lose quite a bit,” he says. “To be able to actually open up the theatre, even to 60, 65 per cent is a massive difference in our ability to keep operating this year in a successful way.”

The move comes as provincial health officials cited improvements in the strain put on healthcare facilities by COVID-19 transmissions.

“With the decrease in transmission and the levelling off of our hospitalizations and the strains in communities, the additional measures in place in Interior Health will be repealed.” Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced Tuesday (Nov. 30).

Sporting events will also be able to fill more seats in the stands – though Blazers Assistant General Manager Tim O’Donovan says some familiar practices are staying in place.

“Same rules. Masks are mandatory – double vaccination and vaccine cards are required at the door – and we’ll be checking those every game,” O’Donovan says.

The easement comes at an opportune time for Blazers hockey games, as community excitement has been building around how well the team has played so far this season.

“We even have a couple big events too. Obviously celebrating Don Moores this Saturday night, we’ve got our Teddy Bear toss game Dec. 10, and at this point we’ve only played five home games and 14 on the road.”

Organizations hosting events in Kamloops realize it might take a bit of time for the public to get back into the swing of things but are glad to have the flexibility to welcome as many people as they can.

“I think when people come here, they’ll find that we’re not jamming people in at 100 per cent,” MacDonald notes. “We’ll probably get to 70 or 75 per cent and people will feel really comfortable with that.”