With the curfew, a new blow for theaters

Illustration of a concert in Toulouse -

• From midnight Friday evening, the Pink City is subject to a curfew.

• Any shows that were to be played in the evening over the next four weeks will have to be rescheduled during the day, postponed or canceled.

• A headache for organizers and cultural venues already confronted with gauge and programming problems.

The theaters were already not at their best in Toulouse.

Wednesday's announcement of a curfew from midnight Friday had the effect of a new cold shower for those involved in the cultural world of the Pink City.

If some places simply closed their doors several weeks ago, such as the Bikini or the Connexion, others have continued their activity.

All with smaller gauges to enforce the maximum of 1,000 people or even social distancing measures.

This Thursday, the question was above all that of knowing how to organize for the shows scheduled at 9 p.m.

At the Théatre du Grand Rond, where plays are performed in the evenings from Tuesday to Saturday, the managers are touring the companies.

Advanced shows

“We are trying to reorganize everything, by rescheduling the 9 pm show at 7 pm.

We will suddenly bring the aperitif shows from 7 p.m. to 5 p.m. and see if the public is there.

The difficulty is that everything is done at the last moment, without consultation and that we have 48 hours to organize ourselves ”, deplores Sophie Sciabica, communications manager for the Théâtre de la rue des Potiers.

Not far from there, at the Théâtre de la Cité, we are also busy finding a solution for the shows in November.

Just like at the Théâtre du Capitole where the stated objective is to maintain concerts, but also the release of the

ballet

, a world production by Kader Belarbi scheduled for November 4 to 8.

The Toulouse les Orgues festival, which ends on Sunday, passes between the drops.

Except for one concert, the closing concert on Saturday evening.

With the curfew, “Organ Night” initially scheduled for 8:30 p.m. is brought forward to 6:30 p.m. at the Saint-Sernin Basilica.

And no question of overflowing, the concert will last 1h15 so that everyone has time to go home.

"We are very pessimistic"

As for the auditorium, there were already many cancellations.

No concert has been played at the Zénith for weeks.

A few artists were still scheduled for the next few days in smaller venues.

This is the case with Maxime Gasteuil at the Casino Barrière or even with Tom Villa at the Comédie de Toulouse.

The stand-up comedians have not been canceled, but postponed.

“The artists and the producers agreed.

For Maxime Gasteuil, whose show was sold out, the date had already been doubled for questions of gauge.

Normally, this was supposed to take place on October 27, it is postponed to Sunday November 1 at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

For Tom Villa, Saturday November 7, it is maintained the same day, but at 5 pm and 7 pm ”, details Didier Chouchane, of Euterpe promotion.

For this company of entertainment organizations, this new restriction measure is yet another disaster in an already very complicated period.

“We are very pessimistic, we say to ourselves that we are going on a blank year.

Since March we had not played, these are the only two dates that are maintained while usually we have between 60 and 70 a year.

Even if it resumes, sales are not there, people often wait until the last moment to take their ticket or if the show is not filled, it risks being deprogrammed ”, notes Didier Chouchane.

A real headache for this actor of the entertainment world who is struggling at the same time to find free dates to reschedule everything next year.

"We could have done the shows by respecting the rules, we are able to adapt but we are not given the possibility," he concludes.

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