The Covid-19 Red setting has put Musical Theatre Dunedin under pressure recently, but the theatre company has announced it is forging ahead with its plans to open the Queen musical comedy We Will Rock You on May 5.
Show producer and MTD president Dean Driver said it had been a nervous couple of weeks for the Dunedin cast as they waited to hear whether the show would go on after the country moved to the Red setting.
"As producers, it is important that our cast, crew and members continue to feel connected as a community, and that is why we remain fully committed to presenting We Will Rock You.
"Equally, the Government’s Arts and Culture Event Support Scheme has given us the confidence to continue in the knowledge that any non-recoverable losses as a result of postponement or cancellation, could be covered."
Mr Driver said multiple productions across New Zealand had either been cancelled or postponed, including North Shore Operatic’s production of Wicked, Palmerston North’s production of We Will Rock You, and Invercargill Musical Theatre’s production of Frozen.
He said ticket sales for the Regent Theatre show remained strong, and he called for the wider community to continue their support for the production.
"We ask that you support We Will Rock You by continuing to purchase tickets with the clear message that if we cannot produce the show due to the Red setting, you will receive options of changing your tickets to new dates or a refund."
Show director Doug Kamo said rehearsals for the show would begin next Tuesday.
The cast would meet this weekend to discuss "the road map ahead", talk through rehearsal protocols, answer any questions and build excitement about a project they had been waiting to start since October last year, he said.
Lead actor Luke Butson said he was "relieved, excited and pumped" to get under way.
"It would’ve been extremely disappointing, heartbreaking even, if we didn’t at least try — but we are, and I’m so grateful for that."
