Essential technical works to upgrade the theatre’s drop bars in line with industry standards will begin in April, but the mid-June reopening cannot yet be guaranteed.
Evoke’s scheduled June production is currently undetermined, after Beau Sejour shocked local show directors on Monday by announcing the temporary closure of its theatre.
Director Chris Bougourd said he was in a work meeting on Monday when he received an email asking him to urgently call Beau Sejour.
‘They said they could accommodate us in the David Ferguson Hall, which is a sports hall, not a performing arts space,’ he said.
‘The play I’m doing is a comedy farce, it needs a robust set and there’s a number of issues with the hall. It’s not high enough, the staging would only be two feet off the floor, and there’s no rake seating for the audience. It’s a bit of a shambles.
‘And they couldn’t offer us the date that we were already booked in the theatre for because there was already a booking in the hall.’
Mr Bougourd said that when casting for the production, he had wanted to move his theatre booking so two actors he wanted to perform in his production could make it. But the centre had told him that there was no availability throughout the year.
‘They were taking bookings, filling up the calendar, saying that they were fully booked and now suddenly there are planned works and a temporary closure.’
During the closure between mid-April and likely mid-June, Beau Sejour said it would look to relocate events to the David Ferguson Hall or another location at the leisure centre. A makeshift stage can be constructed for performance, but productions would have to forgo tiered seating, wings and large sets. Mr Bougourd also said that new scenery would be required because of the lower ceiling height in the hall.
‘The last thing I want to do is put on a production in a sports hall. You go to the theatre for the experience and for the proper environment,’ said Mr Bougourd.
Mr Bougourd said he started preparing for the June production back in October. There was always lots of work needed even before rehearsals begin, he said.
‘Three months is not ideal, but for something as major as temporarily closing the theatre, I really felt that there should have been at least six months’ warning,’ he said.
‘I want some alternative dates so I can go back to my cast and see if they can make those dates. If they can’t then we have no option but to cancel the production or reschedule it to June next year, which in my opinion is bang out of order.
‘We’ve already spent a considerable amount of cash on this, getting the script, the set build is in progress, I just feel that this is an absolute shambles.’
He criticised Beau Sejour’s communication of the problem, which he described as ‘a mishmash of information’.
Following a meeting with centre management this week, he said he had requested details of possible dates he could consider, including July or September, but another Evoke production is scheduled for November, which will mean rehearsals start in September.
Other users of the theatre are also uncertain about their next move.
Music Box has sent out an email to parents and carers stating that its showcase weekend has not only been relocated to the David Ferguson Hall, but the performance dates have also been moved.
‘We recognise this timing is not ideal, particularly for senior students sitting GCSEs and A-levels, however, we kindly ask for your cooperation in planning around these new dates and we thank you for your patience as we navigate these external changes that are out of our hands,’ it said.
The theatre closure will also impact the Guernsey Dance Awards. Further details are expected from organisers soon.
Gadoc’s One Act Play Festival could also be on the line.
‘We are obviously very disappointed to hear that we won’t be able to stage this year’s festival in the theatre as usual but understand the need for essential works to take place in a vital asset to the arts in Guernsey,’ said Gadoc’s Alan Robin on behalf of the committee.
‘As this information is new to us we are working closely with the team at Beau Sejour to assess if a viable alternative exists for this year and will give an update on that as soon as we are able.’