Jane Doucet will be joining five other Nova Scotia authors at White Point Beach Resort this week for ReadTreat. (Niki Davison)

Some of Nova Scotia’s best-selling authors will be in Queens County this weekend for the second ReadTreat event at White Point Beach Resort.

The event starts on Thurs., April 4. It’s four days and three nights of reading books, talking about books and meeting the people who make those books happen.

Acclaimed authors Lesley Crewe, Carol Bruneau, Jane Doucet, Len Wagg, Lorri Neilsen Glenn and Ray Cronin will talk about their recent or new releases. They will be holding various workshops throughout the weekend to help people with their own writing. 

Best-selling author Len Wagg will also be giving a workshop on using photography to tell your own story. 

And there will be chances to talk to authors one-on-one at dinner or in a fireside chat. Each day also starts out with a yoga session for those who want a little extra relaxation.

RELATED: Complete schedule for ReadTreat: Chapter Two

Jane Doucet is the author of three books, two of which are set on the South Shore. Her latest is Lost and Found in Lunenburg.

She will be giving a Sunday workshop on humour writing called Seriously Funny Writing with Jane Doucet.

“It’s an extravaganza for readers who love Atlantic Canadian authors. It should be a lot of fun.

“I’m a humour writer. I have three novels. So I will be sharing some humour writing tips, talking about how I use different types of humour in my novels and some ways to incorporate it. I’ll have a short writing exercise for them as well.”

Organized by Nimbus Publishing and Vagrant Press, this is the first ReadTreat since before the pandemic. The first event happened in March 2020.

Terrilee Bulger is the general manager of Nimbus. She said the first one was such a success that people wanted to do it again. And they hope to make it an annual event.

“Everybody loved it. Everybody thought it was such a unique, inspiring event, they wanted to go back.

“What’s better than spending time at White Point for the weekend reading books and hanging out with authors? I think that just sounds like an amazing weekend away myself. If you like books, if you like reading, if you like writing, there’s nothing like this. It’s really quite amazing. I think it’s a perfect way to spend the weekend.”

Doucet says events like this are as much fun for the authors as they are for readers.

“We all write alone, in isolation in our homes for the most poart. So just to be in community with other authors who you admire yourself and you read yourself , we’re all fans of each other, is just a great time. So I’m really looking forward to it.

“Come with your love of reading. Come to relax and read and chat with authors, because we love to speak to readers and hear what they’re writing as well. … I love encouraging aspiring writers, … so that will be a lot of fun for me.”

There are still tickets available. People can take in the whole weekend, or choose a day pass. Contact White Point Beach Resort for more information.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Listen to Tuesday’s news update below

The poster for Readtreat

Cineplex Cinemas Bridgewater will close on April 29. (Rick Conrad)

While moviegoers on the South Shore may be mourning the impending closure of Cineplex Cinemas in Bridgewater, Liverpool’s Astor Theatre is getting ready to welcome film fans back.

Bridgewater Mayor David Mitchell confirmed online rumours late last week that Cineplex will close its seven-screen multiplex on April 29.

No one from Cineplex was available for an interview on Tuesday, but the company sent the following statement to QCCR:

“We’ve made the difficult decision not to renew our lease and to close our Cineplex Bridgewater location, the last day of shows will be April 29.

“We are grateful to our team and the community for their support over the past 11 years.”

Mitchell said he’s contacted Cineplex to see if they would remain in town at a different location or in a smaller venue. He said Tuesday he hasn’t heard back from the company.

“Other than the date, I have no additional information from Cineplex,” he said in an interview. 

“It’s a huge loss just because it’s an entertainment venue, it’s a place where all ages could go out and socialize. It’s a loss in terms of that social aspect in the community.”

But Bridgewater’s loss could be Liverpool’s gain.

The Astor Theatre has regularly shown movies in its 200-seat space. It just recently got a new sound system installed. Executive director Jerri Southcott says they plan to begin showing movies again by mid-April. She said it may keep more Queens County moviegoers at their hometown theatre.

“Personally, I think it’s sad. The timing is really interesting. While it’s not going to make a huge difference, because we’re not sure people will make the trip here, but it might help.

“We will certainly be looking at the opportunities that it will have for us as a functioning theatre.””

News of the Cineplex Bridgewater closure comes amid a few tough years for the movie theatre industry. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, theatres have struggled to bring people back. Competition from streaming services has also bitten into the bottom line.

According to a 2023 study by Telefilm Canada on Canadian movie consumption, 95 per cent of Canadians watch feature films. But 98 per cent of that movie watching was happening at home.

Big budget action movies are still a draw to the multiplex, the study found. But many older and rural consumers watch a majority of movies at home. Fewer than a third of people made two or more trips to cinemas in the previous 12 months.

“High spectacle genres are the preferred lures to cinemas, especially for younger moviegoers,” the report found. “By contrast, many older and more rural consumers watch an overwhelming portion of their movies in the home.”

Ironically, Cineplex has been reporting better audience numbers in the past year, though box office receipts are still lagging behind 2019.

Smaller theatres like the Astor, which are considered second-run movie houses, had been restricted in what kinds of movies they could show. They had to wait until new releases cycled through Cineplex. 

With the Bridgewater theatres closing, Southcott isn’t sure how that will affect what the Astor can offer.

“We tended to be a place where they could see movies that they wouldn’t necessarily be able to see at a big cineplex anway. We’re excited about getting it up and running again. I’ts a great venue. Seeing a movie here is a really great experience.”

Mitchell said he thinks there’s still a great moviegoing market in Bridgewater. 

“I don’t think this is the end of movies in Bridgewater. You can watch a movie in Liverpool and you can watch a movie in Chester at the two playhouses, which is great. But regionally, this is the only multiplex. There is a market here for the multiplex.”

In the meantime, an online petition has been created to convince Cineplex to reverse its decision. It has more than 800 signatures so far.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

Listen to the audio version of this story below

The cast of Follies on opening night Thursday at the Astor Theatre in Liverpool. (Rick Conrad photo)

The curtain went up on a big, bold, breathtaking musical at the Astor Theatre in Liverpool on Thursday night.

Stephen Sondheim’s Follies began its eight-show run at the historic theatre. It features more than two dozen cast members from Queens and Lunenburg counties ranging in age from 14 to 77. 

One of the many elaborate costumes in the musical Follies, playing until March 3 at the Astor Theatre in Liverpool. (Rick Conrad photo)

A co-production of the Winds of Change and the Astor Theatre, it’s the first big musical mounted at the Astor since 2018. It runs until March 3. Tickets are available in person at the Astor Theatre box office, by calling 902-354-5250 or through Ticketpro Atlantic.

QCCR was at opening night and got reaction from some members of the audience after the show. Listen below.

Astor Theatre in Liverpool. Photo Ed Halverson

As COVID restrictions relax, life is beginning to return to normal at Liverpool’s Astor Theatre.

General Manager Jean Robinson-Dexter says the arts venue was hit hard throughout the pandemic.

“Our revenues over the last fiscal year and part of the year before, way down, negligible in fact because we haven’t either had rentals or concerts or shows,” said Robinson-Dexter.

She says financial support from all levels of government kept the theatre afloat during the pandemic.

Some changes are coming as the venue ramps up their offerings.

Robinson-Dexter says the Astor is adjusting their box office schedule to open from 11:00am to 4:00pm Wednesday through Saturday, to include the weekend.

“By making that bit of a shift, folks that aren’t able to join us during a weekday can come downtown and do a little shopping, have a coffee and come to the gallery,” Robinson-Dexter.

Works by Mi’kmaq artist Alan Syliboy will be on display in March after Syliboy and his band the Thundermakers with special guest Morgan Toney perform in the theatre Saturday.

In addition to art and live music the Astor is once again showing movies.

Audiences can watch the Nova Scotian production “Dawn, Her Dad and the Tractor” Thursday and Friday.

Robinson-Dexter understands some patrons may feel uneasy about mask requirements being lifted on March 21 but says people are still welcome to wear masks in the Astor.

“They are not obliged, but if folks are more comfortable doing that, we’re very happy for them to do that,” Robinson-Dexter.

To learn more about upcoming events head to the Astor Theatre website or Facebook page.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.