Dear Editor
Several months ago I wrote a letter critical of the Dekker Centre's lack of shows and a reliance on "tribute shows" to pay the bills.
Sadly very little has changed, in fact the situation is now dire. Although the recent shows HONK! and The Deep Dark Woods were excellent and the upcoming jazz concert will be great, there is absolutely nothing booked through October, when sadly we will be hit with an Elvis "tribute" featuring three (count 'em, three) Elvis impersonators.
In this, the centennial year one would have thought that there would have been an amazing line up of acts booked through the summer tourist season with something for everybody. Instead there is, quite literally, nothing at all.
I feel this must be addressed, that there is no excuse for the centre sitting empty all summer long.
I now feel my criticisms of the way the Dekker Centre has been run since before it first opened are clearly justified. Two concerts and a choral production (all very good) in June followed by 107 days of nothing, then three Elvises (I'm giddy with excitement).
How much did this theatre cost? How much does it cost to have it sitting empty? Surely selling 200 seats per show would have been better than nothing. Surely those of us who don't go to the lake for the summer deserved a continued arts presence. And especially, in this centennial Year, the tourists and returnees deserved to have something to do this summer.
This fiasco is exacerbated by the fact Bridgefest had to be cancelled as well. This is the Centennial year, where on Earth are all the "celebrations?" Other than the overpriced Centennial Gala at the Dekker Centre, there has been next to nothing.
The Dekker Centre should be a focal point of pride in this city, well used and attended. Though shows have been "fairly" well attended, there have been far too few overall and even less in the way of variety.
I would complain to the Dekker Centre board of directors, but it is apparently such a secretive organization that the City keeps the members names and meeting minutes unavailable to the general public. I have searched the website and even wrote a letter to the mayor asking for the information with no luck.
Your tax dollars at work.
Dave Kenkel
North Battleford
