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Orpheum Theatre forced to close temporarily for a second time

One of Estevan’s longest-standing businesses has been forced to shut down a second time due to COVID-19. The Orpheum Theatre announced in a Facebook post Friday afternoon that it will be closed until further notice.
Orpheum Theatre
File photo

One of Estevan’s longest-standing businesses has been forced to shut down a second time due to COVID-19.

The Orpheum Theatre announced in a Facebook post Friday afternoon that it will be closed until further notice.

With the new restrictions in place, the theatre is further limited in the number of people it can accommodate, and customers cannot eat or drink in the theatre.

“As you know, watching a movie and eating theatre popcorn go hand in hand,” the Facebook post said.

The Orpheum said this is just a temporary measure. They will re-evaluate the situation as new updates come in.

New restrictions from the provincial government that were released Wednesday and came into effect Friday limited the Orpheum and other movie theatres in the province to 30 people. It also meant people couldn’t consume popcorn or beverages while in the theatre area.

The Orpheum was closed from mid-March to mid-September due to COVID. When it did reopen, it was limited in the number of people it could seat, and it was only showing movies in the newer, smaller theatre.

Many movie released have also been shelved, as production companies have been waiting for the pandemic to end before releasing the films.

The Orpheum thanked the community for the patience, understanding and support.

“We encourage everyone to shop local as much as possible this holiday season. Your local businesses and fellow community members sure need it more than ever.”

The Mercury will have more details as they become available.