The curtain has come down early for two popular theatre productions in Vancouver, thanks to a growing number of COVID-19 cases.

On Boxing Day, Cultch executive director Heather Redfern announced on her theatre company's website that in-person performances of East Van Panto: Alice in Wonderland have been cancelled for the final week of its run.

"We’re sad we won’t be able to see you in person, but the good news is you’ll still be able to see the Panto this year with our amazing digital version!" Redfern wrote.

She declared that this is being done out of "an abundance of caution and safety".

Written by Sonja Bennett and directed by Meg Roe, East Van Panto: Alice in Wonderland features a zany and distinctly Vancouver take on the Lewis Carroll classic. To learn more about the show, read Straight senior editor Martin Dunphy's cover story, which appeared in November.

The other show that's been cancelled is the Arts Club's Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol, which is based on Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. The musical was directed by Bobby Garcia with Ken Cormier as musical director and was being performed at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage until December 24.

The early end came as a result of "another case of breakthrough COVID-19 detected through our robust safety protocols", according to a statement on the Arts Club website. The show was scheduled to complete its run on January 2.