Mass Theatre Closures

Mass Theatre Closures

New restrictions announced yesterday by the Prime Minister limit the number of people allowed to congregate indoors for non-essential activities indoor to 100 -  forcing almost all professional and amateur theatre companies to close their doors.

The restrictions could be in place for six months - more or less.

The limit of 100 includes all people in the building needed to service the performing arts activity.

Federal Cabinet is meeting Friday to consider even more stringent limits on public gatherings.

Opera Australia has announced that it is cancelling the rest of its Sydney Summer season including Handa's Opera on the harbour. Also cancelled is Opera's Australia's Melbourne Autumn season. 

The Arts Centre Melbourne is closed  for four weeks, from 16 March to 12 April.

The Queensland Performing Arts Centre is closed until the end of April.

The Producer of Shrek the Musical announced that last Sunday's performance in Melbourne was the final performance of the production.

The Melbourne Theatre Company has cancelled all remaining performances of Torch the Place and Emerald City

The Sydney Theatre Company has cancelled all remaining performances of No Pay No Way.

Sydney's Belvoir Street Theatre is closed. 

Cirque du Soleil has announced it will postpone performances of its show KURIOS scheduled to be presented under the Big Top at the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, effective 14 March, 2020 until 15 April, 2020. 

Producers of Come of Away have announced that their Melbourne season concluded on Sunday - but will return for a six week season in 2021.

The producers of Billy Elliot the Musical also announced Sunday "that this evening’s performance of Billy Elliot the Musical at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre was its final."

Major events already cancelled include the Australian Grand Prix, Sydney’s Royal Easter Show, Vivid Sydney, The Melbourne Comedy Festival and Sydney Comedy Festival.

Harry Potter in Melbourne is suspended and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which was to open at QPAC in Brisbane has been postponed.

Sydney's Hayes Theatre announced that it will closed until June 21. Cancelling the rest of the its season of The Bridges of Madison County and postponing its two next productions.

Sydney's Darlinghurst Theatre called off its season of A Chorus Line the day before its opening night and suspended the rest of its 2020 season. 

The return Sydney season of Bran Nue Dae has been cancelled.

The Canberra Theatre Centre is closed to the public at least until April 19. 

Live Performance Australia said yesterday that parts of the industry are on the brink of collapse.

The LPA called for a targeted and immediate support and stimulus package.

LPA Chief Executive, Evelyn Richardson, took part in an industry-wide teleconference with the Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts yesterday morning.

“That was a useful opportunity for representatives from across the industry to tell the Minister how they were being impacted by the shutdown of events and venues due to coronavirus.

“But what we really need from Government right now is a plan of action,backed up by significant funding to support the thousands of people who are losing work across our industry.“

“Australia’s $4billion live performance industry is onthe brink of collapsewithout immediate government support,” Ms Richardson said

“Realistically, we’re looking at a 3-6-month closure period at least before any recovery phase. In this scenario we will have not just thousands of people out of work but major companies goingunder along with a decimated small to medium sector.

The industry also needsto ensure our service providers can survive so that when wereactivate, we have capacityto get moving as quickly as we can.

 “Cash flow is our biggest problem and government needs to act quickly to put in place emergency measures toensure we survive.”

LPA is urging the Commonwealth, state and territory governments to develop an industry specific plan.

Subscribe to our E-Newsletter, buy our latest print edition or find a Performing Arts book at Book Nook.