The coronavirus pandemic has thrown another challenge at Dubbo Regional Theatre ahead of the restart of its 2020 season, but with "plan D" it will still host a "glittering night" of entertainment later this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Cabaret extravaganza Club Soda was planned for August 22 as the first season show since the venue reopened after its months-long closure due to COVID-19.
But with the outbreaks of the pandemic in Victoria and Sydney, Club Soda has been postponed until next year.
Theatre manager Linda Christof on Monday told of the alternative plan to give audiences a "safe, enjoyable night" of entertainment.
"With Club Soda, we've had to go from a plan A, B, C, to a plan D, due to COVID-19," she said.
"So originally it involved a Victorian cast, then we switched over to a blend of a Victoria and Sydney cast, and then we went to a Sydney cast totally, and then because of the situation developing in Sydney, and the performers are close to some of the hotspots, we made the call to reschedule Club Soda until July next year," she said.
"Because we still have a lot of patrons who were disappointed that they can't go out on August 22 to see a cabaret, we've decided to proceed with Club Local."
Club Local is not Club Soda, with the only similarity being it is "a cabaret-style night", Ms Christof said but at its heart is a celebration of home-grown talent.
"We'll have the Tin Roof Big Band, because they have been rehearsing diligently for the past few months [for Club Soda], and they're very keen to perform.
"It will be made up of some great swing music with the band, and local ballroom dancers.
"So we have Cassie and Joel performing from Fantasy Dancesport, and we have some great singers lined up who'll be performing with the band and we also have a mystery artist.
"So you have to turn up on the night.
"But it's still in that whole theme of Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, old-world charm, so it's going to be a lovely glittering night and we've got cabaret tables set up, and we encourage our patrons to bring picnic platters and it's going to be a lovely safe, enjoyable night, so we're all looking forward to hosting Club Local."
- READ MORE: Snapped | Photos from Dubbo November 22
The theatre offered patrons with tickets to Club Soda the option of a refund, transfer to the 2021 show, or to retain their tickets "and support local artists".
"I think that's really great that a lot of the community have decided to stay with their tickets because there are a lot of professional artists are home in Dubbo and they have been for the past few months because their gigs or their contracts are on hold because of COVID-19 and it will be just lovely to give them a paid opportunity to perform to their own community and they're so eager to get back up on stage," Ms Christof said.