It appears people who love the theatre have ‘cabin fever.”

At least that’s the opinion of Petrolia Councillor Grant Purdy after hearing ticket sales for Victoria Playhouse Petrolia are just one per cent off from the 2019 season.

The playhouse began selling tickets to the 2022 summer season in March after two years without a performance. The industry around the world was wondering if the crowds stay away, still worried about COVID-19. But when the VPP compared sales from April 2019 to this year’s, they found demand was just as strong.

In all, 18,729 tickets valued at $816,486 tickets were sold from November to April 18, 2019. Officials said in the last month and a half, 17,445 tickets have been sold valued at $798,693. That’s a one per cent decrease since the season before the pandemic.

The only area which has shown a steep decline is group sales, where ticket sales are down about half to 1,284.

Laurissa Ellsworth, director of marketing, arts and communications, said “until very recently group tour operators were not fully operating and were facing capacity limits on buses.”

The season opens May 10.