For Cass Van Wyck and Luis Fernandes at Assembly Theatre, an independent performance space in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood, tight budgets and low overheads were a staple of life well before a global pandemic upended their plans for 2020.
That, coupled with access to grants and funding they had previously been too small or not profit-focused enough to qualify for, means the volunteer-run outfit has managed to carve out a little more financial security than they’re used to despite the massive disruption.
“It does not mean we’re making any money, it does not mean we’re saving any money, it just means we are still going to have a space until at least June,” said 31-year-old Van Wyck, who joined Fernandes as co-artistic director at Assembly months before the first lockdown.