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KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON, BARELY BY ANNIE LEWIS he devastating impacts of the coronavirus pandemic have been far-reaching, and the arts sector has ground to a halt in many ways as a result. From the Opera House and Capitol Theatre right through to the Belvoir and Giant Dwarf theatres there have even a plethora of cancelled shows as a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the future. Graeme Kearns, CEO of Foundation Theatres which includes the Capitol and Sydney Lyric theatres, said their sites had been closed since March 15. “This has had a catastrophic impact on all of us who work within the industry,” he said. “Five months on, the reopening of
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theatres is still uncertain although we are quietly confident that our productions of Disney’s Frozen will open in December at the Capitol Theatre and Hamilton at the Sydney Lyric in March. “It’s imperative that we keep planning to reopen theatres and host great shows, even in the face of crippling uncertainty, providing jobs for our the gifted theatre-makers who deliver magic on our stages and who’ve been out of work since March.” Despite the hardships faced by those in the sector, Mr Kearns said they have tried to find other ways to engage theatre-lovers. But, he added, there is nothing quite like sitting in the audience of a brilliant show.
Mr Kearns said the theatre industry had suffered a massive blow in 2020, and it’s been tough, but that is no reason to underestimate them. “The extraordinary community of people who make theatre happen in this country are resilient, smart and talented,” he said. “That’s a potent mix, and we’ll be back. Theatre-goers too are as enthusiastic as ever about returning as soon as they can. “So we have all the ingredients for a strong recovery, as soon as the opportunity presents itself.” A Sydney Opera House spokesperson echoed the sentiments adding that it is currently working through safety, operational and programming considerations that will inform its approach to reopening the building
Despite a plethora of cancellations Sydney’s theatre scene remains hopeful
and to enable the presentation of live performance. “These are unprecedented events which are having far-reaching impacts on our communities,” the spokesperson said. “During these difficult times, the Opera House will play its part alongside fellow Australian global cultural leaders to support the arts community and to bring hope and inspiration to audiences. “While our doors to the public remain closed, we are continuing to engage and inspire the community through our digital program – From Our House To Yours – featuring new and neverbefore-seen content as well as live performances broadcast direct from the Joan Sutherland Theatre stage. Continued on page 2