Having closed its doors on March 12 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Dean Crowe Theatre and Arts Centre will gratefully welcome a return to public performances with a dynamic programme of arts events over the coming weeks.
In the past 18 months, the theatre has continued to support a number of artists and community groups by providing filming space to a number of professional artists for digital projects, continuing the One Tribe Arts Ability Project in collaboration with St Hilda’s and Rehab Care Athlone, launching the Dean Crowe Artist Development Space and the Dean Crowe Dialogues online chat show series, as well as working with local stage schools, youth groups, and community groups to facilitate workshops and small events during periods of lower level restrictions.
Theatre Manager, Killian Collins, noted his excitement as the auditorium prepares to welcome an audience for live entertainment following the gradual easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
“It’s really exciting to be welcoming artists and audiences back to live theatre and entertainment. We hope the public will work with us as we rebuild over the next several weeks. We’re delighted to say that we will also have panto in early January and a full spring programme of events to which to look forward.
The theatre is currently operating under the government’s Reframing the Challenge: continuing our recovery and reconnecting plan. The theatre is open to audiences and for organised public events with protective measures and limited capacities in place.
The theatre continues to operate an online box office only at this time. Phone and in-person box office facilities are not currently available but will gradually be reintroduced as staff return to work. Face coverings and physical distancing are currently required indoors.
The theatre continues to operate as a place of work for artists and arts workers, operating within all relevant occupational safety, health and welfare guidelines. Professional artists and arts workers in residence, developing, making, recording or rehearsing work may do so by appointment. Organised indoor group activities such as drama classes, dance classes, children’s arts and culture activities can take place.
From October 22, the theatre expects to operate at full capacity with no pre-requisites (vaccination certification, immunity or testing ) for access to events and no requirement for physical distancing (pending a government announcement ).
“It has been a very challenging time for the theatre. The pandemic threatened our very purpose – to bring people together. Thanks to various government aids as well as the support of Westmeath County Council and the Westmeath Arts Office, we have been able to survive, deliver a number of effective projects and we can now look forward to fully opening our doors again. The challenge isn’t over and the next few months will still be demanding but the green shoots are beginning to appear,” Chairman of the Board of Directors, Alfie Kilduff, said.
