Bah humbug! COVID-19 case shutters Shaw Festival’s A Christmas Carol

Updated December 22, 20211 Mins read272

The Shaw Festival says it’s shuttering its production of A Christmas Carol after a company member tested positive for COVID-19.

Organizers of the festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., tweeted that remaining performances of the Christmas classic from Dec. 21 to 23 have been cancelled.

Executive director Tim Jennings says in an emailed statement that cast members are isolating until they get cleared by public health, and are considered to be at higher risk because they normally don’t wear masks while performing.

Jennings says no members of the audience were exposed, noting that the festival has implemented safety protocols, including physical distancing from the stage, good ventilation and vaccine and masking requirements.

The Shaw Festival also shuttered performances of “Holiday Inn” over the weekend because of another COVID-19 case.

The festival says the box office will contact affected ticket holders.