New screens in place as arts centre prepares for reopening

(Above) Sean Lynch, director of Mullingar Arts Centre, next to the new screens at the reception area.

As preparations for getting back to pre-Covid activity continue, Mullingar Arts Centre is making plans for a return in July.

Its director, Sean Lynch, said some work has already been done, and more is planned before a date for reopening is confirmed.

“In order to comply with health and safety requirements, we’re getting the arts centre ready to open on July 20, and one of the things we’ve done here is we have new screens in at reception, and we have dividers through all our other staff areas.

“The theatre is getting a deep clean prior to opening up, and we will have hand sanitisers on every entrance.

“Going in to the theatre, there will be four entrances – depending on which part of the theatre you’re sitting in, you’ll come in a different door to everybody else – so we will be more than ready to be compliant for social distancing.

“At the 2 metre distance, our classes can cater for 46 participants.”

The theatre will be operate at 50 per cent capacity, some 200 patrons.

Sean said the arts centre team are hoping the first show will be Chicago by Mullingar Student Players on the first two weekends in September.

It had been scheduled for April 7.

Regarding classes, he said: “We hope to open for classes in July. We’re waiting for clarification in relation to social distancing.”