The Mamma Mia production from Encore Theatre Company has been postponed for a second time and is unable to go ahead in March 2021 as the industry still battles with venue capacity limits.
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Co-founder of Encore, Jamie Hillard, said the company needed time to get the production running, rehearsals organised and tickets on sale.
He said they have passed the timeframe to be able to achieve that for the March 2021 date.
"With current capacity limits and no definite easing in sight, the production is simply not financially viable, and if we tried to proceed the losses would finish our company," he said.
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Current restrictions only allow for theatres in Tasmania to seat up to 50 per cent, subject to density limits.
"In the best interests of surviving as a company and presenting Mamma Mia...we must once again postpone, this time to October/November 2021, and subject to the government lifting venue capacity limits to a true 75 per cent, as we are now seeing in Victoria and beyond," Mr Hillard said.
The cast and crew from the show know all too well the feeling of postponement, after the original March 2020 performance was moved to March 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
More than 8000 tickets were refunded or credited when the show was postponed originally and the company, run by volunteers, suffered a $180,000 loss due to the cancellation.
Belinda King, co-founder of Encore, said there was no state or federal financial support available to help the company offset its losses. They utilised saved funds to cover debts.
"This means we simply cannot risk going back into the Princess Theatre with the current capacity limits which would see us only being able to seat around 410 people in a 950-seat theatre.
John Xintavelonis, a highly respected Tasmanian actor in the performing arts industry, said the restrictions were "really frustrating".
"There's no support or backing from [the government] at all in regards to getting [the performing arts] back," he said.
"I think the communication has been really bad between the government and the industry."
Arts Minister Elise Archer said Business Tasmania, the Department of State Growth and WorkSafe Tasmania were in discussions with the performing arts sector and seeking advice from public health.
She reiterated Premier Peter Gutwein's comment that they would have more to say next week on the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
The Mamma Mia stage show has been rescheduled to October/November 2021 at the Princess Theatre in Launceston.
Dana Anderson
On a Friday night you may see me at the theatre, a festival, an exhibition, or in the corner of one of my favourite establishments reading a novel. So, it makes sense I am the arts and what's on reporter for The Examiner. To contact me about a story please send an email to dana.anderson@examiner.com.au
On a Friday night you may see me at the theatre, a festival, an exhibition, or in the corner of one of my favourite establishments reading a novel. So, it makes sense I am the arts and what's on reporter for The Examiner. To contact me about a story please send an email to dana.anderson@examiner.com.au
