MTC cancel all shows through to September 2020

In light of the current COVID-19 situation and in the interest of the health and safety of our audiences, artists and the broader community, Melbourne Theatre Company has announced the cancellation of all performances until September 2020.

MTC has had to make the heartbreaking but essential decision to cancel our next six productions in order to ensure the Company survives this unprecedented time in our history and to prioritise our audiences’ health and welfare, and that of our staff, artists and wider community.

This means that Berlin, Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes, The Heartbreak Choir, Fun Home and True West will no longer be staged this year as scheduled. The season and regional tour of our Education Production, SLAP. BANG. KISS., has also regrettably been cancelled. This follows previous cancellations of Torch the Place and Emerald City.

Our 2020 season will resume in September with the much-anticipated production of As You Like It. It is sure to be the perfect antidote to the current climate and we look forward to sharing this landmark, joyous production with you.

It is devastating to cancel more than half this year’s performances. For our sector, the velocity and enormity of this crisis is unparalleled.

YOUR SUPPORT IS VITAL

We are determined to ensure MTC remains an ongoing vibrant and vital arts institution and want to return to normal programming as soon as possible – providing employment to our artistic community and rewarding our loyal audiences with the highest quality productions for which we are renowned.

In order to do so we desperately need your support. We have been overwhelmed by the kind words from our audiences over the past week and we sincerely thank everyone who has so generously donated their tickets back to MTC following the earlier cancellations of Torch the Place and Emerald City performances.

Gestures such as these are the lifeblood of our community and we ask that donating your tickets is again considered as you look at your options for the six cancelled productions. Support of this kind and additional donations are essential to help our Company recover.

INFORMATION FOR TICKET HOLDERS

The following productions have been cancelled: Torch the Place, Emerald City, Berlin, SLAP. BANG. KISS., Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes, The Heartbreak Choir, Fun Home and True West.

Ticket holders to all cancelled productions have the options of returning their ticket as a tax-deductible donation to MTC, exchanging into one of the remaining 2020 productions, receiving credit towards the 2021 season, or can obtain a refund. Details about each of these options can be found on MTC’s website.

You can find further information about your ticketing options here.

OTHER PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

We recommend keeping up-to-date and following advice from the Australian Government Department of Health, particularly regarding isolation protocol.

If you are seeking information on novel coronavirus visit health.gov.au or call the Australian Government Department of Health Coronavirus Information Line on 1800 020 080. This information line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week