COVID-19 Impact on Phare Circus
Phare Circus performances were suspended 17 March by government decree due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. All international arrivals to Cambodia ceased shortly after. Tourism has evaporated. Hotels, restaurants, shops and entertainment venues have closed, some permanently, and jobs lost.
At a time when so many in the community have lost their jobs, Phare Circus continues to provide employment and income for 100 staff and artists.
When will performances resume at Phare Circus?
That’s a difficult question to answer at the moment. The circus depends on visitors from overseas. Although there are some positive developments, there are still travel restrictions in place that prevent overseas travelers from coming to Cambodia. We hope those will be lifted soon and airlines can resume flights to Cambodia. That’s when Phare Circus can resume performances. We’ll be ready!
Phare Circus Reimagined
While performances are suspended due to the pandemic, every team member is re-imagining guest experience. Everything we do is being looked at for ways to improve. The website and online booking are being enhanced. The welcoming process at the venue is being redesigned to be fast and efficient while keeping it safe. Health and safety procedures are being added throughout the venue. On-site staff are going through comprehensive training programs to better serve guests. Artists are practicing new techniques to add to performances. With an eye on the future, the whole Phare Circus experience is being reimagined for our valued audiences.
I stand on my head to remind myself we must constantly look at things in a different way.
-inspired by “Dead Poets’ Society”
SAFETY FIRST:
Health and safety are the top priority. In an earlier blog post, we shared the health and safety precautions already started at the beginning of the pandemic. The team has come up with a few additional measures for when performances resume.
- The seating area in the big top is thoroughly cleaned with alcohol-based disinfectant before every performance.
- The rest rooms are cleaned with alcohol-based disinfectant before opening and hourly during the operation.
- Surfaces around the venue that guests are likely to touch are cleaned with alcohol-based disinfectant before opening.
- Staff and guest temperature is taken upon arrival
- Staff wearing masks
- Hand sanitizer dispensers are placed throughout the venue.
- “Distancing”
- on arrival by marked spaces during queuing
- in the big top with alternating empty rows and cushions spaced farther apart.
- upon departure by regulating exit by rows
- Interaction with the artists after the show is discontinued , however photo opportunities are being finalized.
CREATIVITY
Artists returned home to Battambang when shows were temporarily suspended, but they sure are keeping busy!
Daily workouts together help them stay healthy and fit. Practicing some new and improved circus techniques helps them make the shows even better. They’ve even produced some COVID awareness and fundraising videos for the school.
CLICK HERE to read about more creative activities by Phare artists during confinement.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
Human Resources is busy organizing programs that build staff capacity. The technical team held workshops on stage management. Customer Service and Phare Boutique conducted product training classes with role plays to enhance guest experience.
BEAUTIFICATION
Jaya House Hotels donated 50 trees to bring more shade and beauty to the area around Phare Circus. Phare Technical, Maintenance and Gardening team has been taking turn to clean and maintain public areas. Costume designers are working from home making new costumes.
EFFICIENCY
We’re becoming more efficient. Accounting is making payments simpler. Sales is making reservations easier. We’re meeting by video conference to safely distance while staying productive.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Support the Circus Invite a Family
Price range: $10.00 through $1,000.00
Your contribution will provide show tickets to local families, putting smiles on faces of Cambodians facing challenging times, and keep Phare artists working. Support free education at Phare Ponleu Selpak non-profit school.
Support the circus - Invite a family
Urgent Update: Supporting Families Fleeing the Border Crisis
Due to the recent crisis and border incursion involving the Thai military, nearly 500,000 Cambodians have been forced to flee their homes. Many of these displaced families are currently seeking refuge in temporary camps and pagodas across the Siem Reap area.
The Phare family—our dedicated staff, artists, and their families—are actively making personal efforts to support the refugees, providing essential aid like food, water, and supplies at the local pagodas.
How You Can Help: Turn Empty Seats into Smiles
The geopolitical situation has sadly caused many international visitors to cancel or change their travel plans. Consequently, Phare, The Cambodian Circus currently has many available seats.
We see this as a unique opportunity to use our beautiful venue to offer a moment of joy and relief. We want to welcome refugee families to experience the magic of a Phare show, offering them a much-needed break from hardship.
Your Contribution: Sustain Hope and Community
By making a contribution, you achieve two vital goals:
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Bring Joy: Your donation funds show tickets for local refugee families, offering them the gift of a shared, inspiring experience and putting smiles on the faces of children and parents forced from their homes.
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Sustain Phare: Your support is crucial to the survival of the circus. It helps cover the operational costs to keep the lights on and, critically, provides vital jobs for our talented artists and dedicated staff, many of whom are graduates of Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS), our non-profit school.
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⭐ Act Now: Purchase Tickets for a Local Family
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Fund a ticket today to invite a local family to experience Phare.
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The funds collected are used to purchase tickets for refugee and displaced families at no cost to them.
Help us turn an empty seat into an evening of hope. Your support changes lives.
