Coronavirus: Curtain up, at last, for the second act in Melbourne theatres

Intermission is finally over in Melbourne’s theatres, with new guidelines allowing 75 per cent ­audience capacity prompting a reset of the stage.

Come From Away cast members, from left, Emma Powell, Zoe Gertz and Simon Maiden are relieved to be getting back on stage. Picture: Aaron Francis

Intermission is finally over in Melbourne’s theatres, with new guidelines allowing 75 per cent ­audience capacity prompting a reset of the stage.

Come From Away will be the first big production to reopen in January, following the ­Andrews government’s easing of restrictions to make productions financially viable.

“After nine months of inactivity, it’s wonderful and slightly terrifying,” said actor Simon Maiden. He said he had been looking forward to a break earlier this year, following the show’s Melbourne run of eight performances a week, before heading on tour, beginning in China.

COVID-19 put a halt to the tour and then a sudden brake to the extended Melbourne run.

“We went from 100mph to zero … all the major productions in Melbourne were told to stop in a single night,” Maiden said.

Only some of the production cast and crew were eligible for JobKeeper, and Victoria’s tough lockdown in the second wave ­limited the casual side work many were used to. “I do voice-over work as well but if no businesses are open, there’s no advertising,” Maiden said.

He said it was wonderful to see familiar faces at the theatre again for rehearsals, “even though they’re all wearing masks and you’re having to squint a bit”.

“I believe everyone is probably madly studying their scripts and trying to remember which chair moves where,” he said.

Producer Rodney Rigby said the company had spent at least three months working out different scenarios to reopen at the theatre, including keeping the first two rows and aisle seats empty to meet regulations.

“We’re blessed to be a 100-minute show with no interval ­issues,” he said, adding that he was confident audiences would come back to the theatres.

“I think that Come From Away could not be more timely. The themes about kindness and humanity have been amplified by events … everyday people being extraordinary just by doing their everyday job.”

Malthouse Theatre executive director Sarah Neal said lockdown had been “pretty traumatic” for many in the theatre. “We’ve been doing some casting and it’s been great to be having some positive conversations,” she said. “A year of having to be the bearer of bad news is pretty wearing.”

Creative Industries Minister Danny Pearson said the arts sector had shown “incredible resilience and adaptability”.

“There is nothing better than seeing our venues reopening, ­audiences returning, artists taking the stage and people getting back to work,” he said.