Coronavirus: ‘Arts must follow NRL lead if theatres to open’

The performing arts must set out terms for a safe ­return to the theatre, as the NRL has done, says the Opera Australia CEO.

Opera Australia chief executive Rory Jeffes.

The performing arts must take the lead and set out terms for a safe ­return to the theatre, as the NRL has done with its successful reboot of the 2020 sport season, says Opera Australia chief executive Rory Jeffes.

While theatres remain closed, companies such as OA — which last year earned $73.6m from ­ticket sales, more than half its revenue — risk running out of cash and may not survive.

Mr Jeffes said the performing arts depended on a return to public performance. “If we as a sector sit and wait to be told when we can go back into theatres, and on what terms, then it will be forever,” he said. “If we learn from the outcomes of the NRL, in how you go about forging your own way of doing it, and bring the government with you, then I think we have a hope of getting back into theatres in a reasonable timeframe.”

OA has announced results for its biggest year ever in 2019, when the company reached $130m in turnover. It made an operating surplus of $198,000 and a consolidated surplus of $6.3m, boosted by contributions from the OA Capital Fund, bequests and unrealised profits from investments.

Artistic highlights included Rossini’s Il Viaggio a Reims, the world premiere of Whiteley by Elena Kats-Chernin, and a concert performance of Andrea Chenier with a cast led by Jonas Kaufmann.

Mr Jeffes said the company would look back on 2019 with nostalgia because this year it had been forced to cancel 570 performances with a loss of $75m in ticket sales.

The company is using its cash reserves, is seeking bank loans and is receiving the JobKeeper wage subsidy, but Mr Jeffes said more changes would be needed in coming months to avoid running out of cash.