If you had tickets to live performances over the next couple of months, you will undoubtedly be receiving refunds into your bank accounts soon as producers are forced to cancel entire seasons amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. Given the uncertainty around when it will be safe to reopen venues and proceed with business as usual, producers are having to make decisions now around whether to progress with their seasons a few months from now or make plans to reschedule at a later date.
Foundation Theatres, the organisation behind management of Sydney’s Capitol Theatre and Lyric Theatre, are one such organisation impacted by this turn of events. They have provided this statement, outlining the ongoing issues, how they are working alongside producers and how they are taking care of patrons:
COVID-19 has seen our wonderful industry faced with challenges of unprecedented scope and impact. Like many live performance venues, we have worked alongside our producing partners to find a way forward. Collectively we have had to make the agonising decision to cancel or postpone a number of shows in our theatres in order to protect the wider Australian community.
Through all this our mission remains unchanged. We are working tirelessly to take care of patrons who have invested in tickets for shows that have been cancelled and plan our next steps to return our theatres to the talented theatre makers and valued theatre goers who make them come to life. When the theatre industry returns to its thriving best, only then will we have time to rest.
Foundation Theatres
Amid all the complications, Foundation Theatres has outlined the current status for all planned seasons going forward:
Shen Yun
Cancelled
Anh Do: The Happiest Refugee
Postponed and Working to Reschedule in October 2020
The Little Prince
Postponed and Working to Reschedule in October 2020
Penn & Teller
Postponed (Again) and Working to Reschedule at Later Date
9 to 5 the Musical
Postponed and Working to Reschedule at Later Date
Menopause the Musical, Frozen the Musical and The Secret Garden are all confirmed to still be going ahead at this point in time. The producers of each will undoubtedly make comments in the future if they will be postponed.
