Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Six maintenance staff have been laid off at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival and there could be more layoffs in the future.
Slow ticket sales led to the layoffs, said Anita Gaffney executive director-designate.
"We've had a wonderful season with good reviews and good word-of-mouth, but ticket sales are not what we had hoped for, so we're looking carefully at our expenses so we will be on a firm footing going forward," she said.
She declined to talk further about whether or not the Festival would be in a deficit situation at the end of the season. The annual general meeting where end-of-year figures are presented isn't until March.
Management has been looking for ways to cut some costs without impacting performances, she added.
The Festival has looked for savings in other areas as well, including a reduction in the hours of the Exhibition, a temporary show kitty-corner to the Avon Theatre that celebrates the Festival's 60th anniversary.
Also, when employees retire or resign, administration has been redistributing duties where possible instead of hiring. A solar wall is also starting to pay off in terms of savings, Gaffney said.
No other departments have been affected so far.
"We're continuing to examine the situation with an eye to long-term sustainability," she said.
The laid-off workers could be called back in future, Gaffney said.
They are members of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 357.
By Laura Cudworth for www.stratfordbeaconherald.com.
2012-08-27
Stratford: Slow ticket sales lead to layoffs at Stratford Festival