Theatre Cambrian sending out an S.O.S. with fundraising musical weekend

The curtain could soon fall on Theatre Cambrian if their S.O.S isn't heard.

The organization has struggled financially over the past few years, according toRod Bazinet, the vice president for the theatre board. The rising cost of utilities and unexpected replacements have put them in a difficult financial position.

"It's a pretty bad situation," says Bazinet.

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To combat this, the group is using their annual Songs of Summer or S.O.S. to raise operational funds. They're using what's left of their grants to pay the artists, ensuring the event is free for all.

They have also started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money.

"This is the year of making friends, and we've been making friends with other theatre groups. We're starting to collaborate and help each other," says Bazinet.

"S.O.S. does that really well by raising the profile on the artists, and the artists in turn are going to raise the profile fortheatre in Sudbury."

• See the full lineup for the S.O.S festival here.

This year, a free event

S.O.S. has been running for four years, and usually charges a ticket fee. This year, the events in Memorial Park are free in hopes to attract more people to see what Theatre Cambrian has to offer.

Bazinetsays part of the problem for all theatre groups in Sudburyis ticket sales. He says the audience who loves live theatre is getting older, and it's difficult to try and attract a younger generation.

"Some days, it's pretty dark in terms of struggling day by day to sell tickets to shows and to make ends meet," says Bazinet.

"The arts community needs the community it has to be a symbiotic relationship where we work together.

Bazinet says he hopes the weekend will raise $20,000. If Theatre Cambrian is unable to pay their bills, their doors could close very soon.

"I can't even look at the dark day. Is it possible that we lose our community theatre in Sudbury? Yes," says Bazinet.

"There's a possibility that wer're going to have to close our doors and end a 33-year run of successful theatre. As a community, we're going to lose that."

Songs of Summer starts this Friday, July 28 at Memorial Park.