Gold Coast attraction Australian Outback Spectacular to return tonight in front of ‘capacity’ house

Village Roadshow’s first attraction to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic will reopen tonight in front of a ‘capacity’ house.

VILLAGE Roadshow’s first attraction to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic will reopen tonight in front of a ‘capacity’ house.

Australian Outback Spectacular was the first Village Roadshow attraction to close on March 19 and was swiftly followed by its other parks including Movie World and Wet N Wild.

Tonight the dinner-and-show package at Village’s Oxenford site opens to the public for the first time in more than three months.

Village theme parks COO Bikash Randhawa said it is another step in the business’ return to normalcy.

The show will open to a crowd of 350, which is what Village is allowed based on the one person per four square metres rule.

The Australian Outback Spectacular show Heartland delves into the tale of two Australian farmers.

MORE NEWS

Bra boy associate ‘sorry’ for five punches to jaw

St Vincent de Paul opens first store in Southport in six years but office hub plans delayed

Virgin Australia releases airfares from $69 in ‘comeback’ sale

“It more or less looks like we will be at capacity tomorrow night,” he said.

“For that number it's a good thing and bookings are trickling in and we are optimistic about the future.

“The team are supercharged – they cannot wait to perform and they cannot wait to hear people clapping and smiling enjoying what they do for a living.

“Australian Outback Spectacular has always resonated with the domestic market.”

Mr Randhawa said he is hopeful they will be able to increase the 350 figure based on the level three restrictions that kick in today.

They allow for indoor venues to have the greater of one person per four squares metres or 50 per cent capacity.

Equine manager Heidi Mackay with Bandit at the Australian Outback Spectacular in Oxenford. Picture: Tertius Pickard

At AOS, which holds 1000 people, that would mean 500 punters.

Mr Randhawa said it is working with Queenland Health on the new restrictions.

“We hope to have that sorted out and release more seats if we can,” he said.

“But currently it is based on one person per every four square metres.

“It is very difficult to change those things overnight.”

However, he said the preshow bar would be open from tonight for customers to come and order drinks.