Some seats at the EA Rawlinson Centre have been removed for safe entry and exit. Some rows will be blocked off. (Photo credit: Chris MacAulay) 

By Glenn Hicks

Back on Stage

Live gigs returning to EA Rawlinson Centre

Sep 1, 2020 | 5:00 PM

Prince Albert’s EA Rawlinson Centre for the Arts will welcome back patrons later this month for the first live in-house gig since the COVID-19 pandemic brought things to a halt in the spring.

Country and folk singer/songwriter Belle Plaine will be on stage Friday Sept. 25, but things will look a lot different to address social distancing and health protocols, according to marketing and events coordinator Cara Stelmaschuk.

“We’ve blocked off every second row on our booking ticket map… just to give people that safety factor front-to-back that’ll give six feet of space,” she explained to paNOW. “When you buy your cluster of tickets [online] the system will then automatically block off the three seats either side of you.”

Some seats in the theatre have been removed to allow for safe entry and exit and Stelmaschuk added tickets must be bought and picked up or emailed in advance as there will be no pick-up window to avoid the possibility of crowding. The 75-minute show will also have no intermission.

“We just want to make sure we do everything safely, and if everyone is kind and understanding then we can do more,” she said, noting it’s important to keep volunteers, staff, patrons and the performers safe.

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Other events are planned for the fall and based on bookings of groups of two the theatre capacity would have a maximum capacity of 150 as opposed to their regular 606.

“It’ll look different of course and we still have to be careful, but actually having the chance to gather and listen to live music, I know a lot of people are really itching for it.”

Editor’s note: this story was amended to correct information initially provided to paNOW. It makes clear the current maximum capacity at the EA Rawlinson is 150, not around 170.

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow