Nestled in a Victoria neighbourhood sits a theatre that has found a way to make an impact over the years.
Since its inception, the Belfry Theatre company has strived to create productions that not only engage but enlighten the audience.
Founded in 1974, the Belfry Theatre, located in the heart of Victoria’s Fernwood neighbourhood, has managed to stage 321 productions, including 241 Canadian plays. It’s even premiered more than 50 productions during its 46-year history.
But this year, thanks to COVID-19, has been unlike any other, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Well, I’ve learned how to deal with stress,” says the Belfry Theatre’s executive director, Ivan Habel.
When COVID-19 hit, Habel says the focus was on taking care of the artists that were on contract and artists who were about to arrive, as well as staff.
“My primary concern at that point was dealing with the artists that we already had on contract, and the artists that were about to arrive, and all of the staff in the building,” explains Habel. “We paid our artists, we paid the artists that were about to arrive because they’d already made plans to be here, and we managed to keep most of the staff on throughout all of this time.”
The Belfry Theatre, which had to cancel live shows, credits the federal government’s financial support and the support of donors as well as the countless number of ticket holders who decided to donate their tickets back to them.
“From the moment that COVID-19 hit, our audiences have been remarkable, and the outpouring of love, and affection, and concern for the Belfry has been amazing,” says the theatre’s artistic director Michael Shamata.
They have also benefited from the support of the Victoria Foundation.
“The Victoria Foundation has been great and their donor-directed funds have been really important and critical to us,” adds Habel.
Although Audiences cannot gather at the theatre because of COVID-19 restrictions implemented by the province, that hasn’t stopped the Belfry Theatre from putting on a show.
In fact, the pandemic has presented the Belfry with opportunities to engage and connect with people, not just in Victoria about around the globe, all thanks to the internet.
“The theatre is about gathering. It’s about telling stories,” explains Habel. “We’ve really been focusing on how do we continue to tell the stories, given that we can’t actually physically gather, how do we gather virtually?”
One way the Fernwood-based theatre tells stories is by regularly holding online readings and other events. The next online reading will be the East of Berlin by Hannah Moscovitch on Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.
“The fall is a series of online programming that we’re doing, and then we have a series of play readings that we’ll be doing and all of the fall programming is free,” says Habel.
Later this year, closer to Christmas, the Belfry Theatre will be doing a full cast online play reading of their director’s version of Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol.
“That will be exciting,” says Habel, adding. “That’s a lot of artists who are at least getting a little bit of work.”
Next spring, the Belfry will sell subscriptions to three plays it will be producing.
But, as Habel points out, that’s not the same as individual ticket sales.
“Before, if a couple buys two subscriptions, that’s two subscriptions, but now it will be [one subscription for] a household, so we’ll see how that goes. We are hoping to have very limited in-person attendance, and we’ve developed a method of how to screen those plays in terms of how we film them,” says Habel. “What’s important to us is moving forward with programming, re-engaging with our audiences, and being able to tell those stories that are important to be told at this time.”
For more information about the Belfry Theatre and a full list of upcoming online productions, visit www.belfry.bc.ca.
Veronica Cooper
