Through Writing Vitré
Published on 7 Feb 21 at 8:54
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9,500 admissions in 2020 compared to 39,583 in 2019. The numbers are vertiginous but very real for the Zephyr, the performance hall of Châteaugiron, near Rennes.
Only 56 opening days
Since the arrival of covid-19, it’s hard to see the end of the tunnel: “We went from 135 days of use to 56 the year behind… », sighs Françoise Mangeonjean, the operations manager.
So of course there were a few general assemblies that were planned at the Zephyr and not at the town hall because the room was larger, but not enough to bring the place back to life.
Françoise Mangeonjean and Antoine Pierrot, the manager, have also seen one of their colleague, a technician, lose his job.
Thus, since October 29, the room is closed, a few days after the last show offered by the town hall Ego-the-Cachalot Sunday 25 October as part of the E’Môm’Tions festival.
“Never experienced such a twist”
Françoise Mangeonjean remembers the last turbulent months:
Four events marked me in 2020. First of all, the Oldelaf concert. On March 12, the government announced that theaters remained open and on March 13, when everything was technically installed, everything had to close. The concert was canceled at the last moment. With the caterer and the manager, we managed to warn the 571 people who had reserved a place in a short time. I have never known such a twist!
Other highlights include passages by Jean-Marie Bigard and Guy Montagné, as well as the dinner-show on the theme of the 60s and 80s.
We were able to organize it over two evenings to share the public. Everything had to be rearranged by family, separated tables, signposted on the ground, created a specific entrance and exit, but what a joy to have maintained it! It is with pleasure that Le Zéphyr rediscovered the music and the lights on the stage. The spectators were delighted and moved. The audience’s applause spoke volumes.
“We will always be there”
To this day, events are maintained such as the concerts of the Paul Le Flem school on Saturday April 17 and Friday May 28, the Castel Country Dancers ball on Saturday May 29, the Fest-Noz on Saturday October 9.
The favorites to come
Events are coming for 2021 with four favorites: Oldelaf, postponed and scheduled for December 10, 2021, Murray Head awaiting a date, probably in December 2021, the Comedy Story dinner shows on Friday September 24 and Our Years Johnny Saturday September 25 by Activ Animation.
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But others are already reported as Honey, I invited my ex in January 2022, Paulo Friday March 11, 2022, The coach Saturday 19 March 2022.
« The health protocol is hard to implement. But the Zephyr is still there. We set up projects. We will always be there », concludes Françoise Mangeonjean.
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