New's Zealand's entertainment venues are finally open for business again with audiences showing their eagerness to see live performers back on stage.
The umbrella group Entertainment Venues Association of NZ (EVANZ) has over 120 members including concert halls, theatres, arenas, convention centres, sports grounds and community event centres: everything from the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin which hosted the first Super Rugby Aotearoa match last Saturday to the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts at the University of Waikato.
For the past three months all of these venues have been shut, with no live events and none of their usual income. The Isaac Theatre Royal in Christchurch was one of those forced to go cap in hand to the public to stay afloat. But they are all now begining hosting concerts, shows and other events again.
Isaac Theatre Royal Christchurch Photo: Isaac Theatre Royal
Klezmer band The Kugels have re-booked their national tour and this weekend will be the first group to perform at Baycourt Theatre in Tauranga while the New Zealand String Quartet has already resumed its Beethoven 250 National Tour.
The Kugels Photo: Atoll Records
Sally-Anne Coates is General Manager of the Entertainment Venues Association (EVANZ) and James Wilson is an EVANZ Executive member who also runs Baycourt Community and Arts Centre in Tauranga. They discuss the pressures they have been under and the joy of opening for business again.
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