So, a comedian walks onto a patio…

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This article was published 10/07/2020 (2081 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Being in front of an audience again is both fulfilling and terrifying, according to a Winnipeg comedian who is hosting comedy shows as part of the Thursday night patio series at the Gas Station Arts Centre.

“It is wonderful to be able to perform in front of people again,” the centre’s artistic director Dean Jenkinson said. “We had planned the Winnipeg Comedy Festival for April and, of course, that got cancelled. We’re happy that we can open the patio at a 50 per cent capacity and put on comedy as part of the patio nights.”

Gas Station executive director Nick Kowalchuk said the series — featuring comedy, music, dance and theatrical performances by troupes from the Winnipeg Fringe Festival — kicked off on July 9 with music by Larry Rich and will run through to Aug. 28.

“The Fringe will run its shows on July 16, while the Winnipeg Comedy Festival will have its comedians on the patio on three occasions, including a five-day run at the end of August,” Kowalchuk said. “We’re also hosting ‘70s dance parties a couple of the nights, and we’re engaging a few dancers to get the crowd up and moving.”

Tickets for each of the events are a minimum suggestion of five dollars, he added. “Artists aren’t working right now, so we wanted to offer a venue to get them in front of an audience, physically-distanced, of course,” Kowalchuk said. “Online screening of performances just doesn’t do it, especially for the comedians, who want to get that interaction going.”

The licensed patio seats 50 people, and family groups can sit together. The audience is welcome to bring food with them — if possible, from local restaurants. “The restaurants in Osborne Village could use a boost as well,” he said, adding that he knows people are craving live performances.

“The Gas Station is struggling financially, along with everyone producing art,” he said, adding the staff is working on a plan to safely reopen the centre to indoor performances.

The next Winnipeg Comedy Festival night on July 23 will feature Jenkinson as the emcee, along with local comedians Jordan Welwood, Chad Anderson, and Angie St. Mars.

Jenkinson, who is also the artistic director of the comedy festival, said they are planning shows at the end of August both at the Gas Station and at Club Regent. “We’re also looking to host shows at The Forks,” he said. “We’ve had about it with sleeping in to noon and then binge-watching Netflix. Usually, we only sleep in to 11.”

For more information on the Thursday night patio series, see www.gsac.ca or follow the Gas Station Arts Centre on social media.