Hamilton and Come From Away cast and crew members stood down without pay during Sydney lockdown

July 2, 2021

In a further blow to performing arts professionals, Sydney’s Coronavirus lockdown has forced major theatre productions including Hamilton and Come From Away to stand down their casts and crews without pay for the duration.

As reported today by Guardian Australia, while the Hamilton company can access their annual leave, even in advance of its accrual, the performers and crew of Come From Away have already used up their entitlements during three earlier lockdowns: in Melbourne in March 2020 and February 2021, and in Brisbane in March 2021.

Reacting to the news, Live Performance Australia Chief Executive, Evelyn Richardson has reiterated the body’s call for a business interruption fund to cover the performing arts, warning that without support from governments “this will happen again and again”.

Speaking to Guardian Australia, Richardson advised “we’ve been lobbying federal and state governments since early last year for exactly this scenario, so that a producer can get access to insurance underwriting and some kind of reimbursement.”

Without it, large-scale productions and live music tours become an unacceptable risk for producers, Richardson says - adding that despite NSW Government assurances that the issue would be addressed in the wake of the cancellation of Byron Bay’s Bluesfest in 2020, no commitment has been forthcoming.

Richardson commented “there has never been a more urgent time for this. It’s getting harder and harder for producers to have the confidence to keep investing.”

Hamilton’s Producer Michael Cassel is currently in New Zealand, where he has been overseeing the opening of the Auckland production of The Lion King. Cassel’s production company is also behind Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which resumed performances on 26th June after a four-week hiatus brought about by Melbourne’s recent Covid-19 outbreak.

He said both Hamilton and Harry Potter are governed by an enterprise bargaining agreement, negotiated late last year, which includes a stand down provision, advising “when we are unable to work due to the pandemic and any lockdown implemented by government, everybody is stood down for the term.

“We are helping out and doing the best we can.

“Our salary bill is substantial and there is no way to pay it when the show is not performing. If we didn’t do this, we’d have to close the show altogether.”

While the Federal Government’s Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (Rise) fund did help a number of shows reopen, Cassel added “it wasn’t a bottomless pit.

“At the time we were applying for Rise funding, none of us knew how much money we might need in the future. JobKeeper helped, but that’s no longer available. It is a traumatic position to be in.”

Come From Away Producer Rodney Rigby said he’s very aware of the financial hardship of a stand down decision, commenting to to Guardian Australia “such action is only taken to protect the longevity of our production and the long-term employment of our company. We have … supported our employees to the best of our capacity and will continue to do so wherever possible.”

Director of Equity at the Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance (MEAA), Michelle Rae, said “Australian arts and entertainment workers continue to be devastated by Covid yet support from the Federal Government is almost non-existent.”

Stating that support for live performance workers should not be reliant on the good will of the employer, Rae added “the Federal Government must step up and support this industry. Even without the continuing lockdowns, many venues are not at full capacity and therefore many arts and entertainment workers are still not earning a living. MEAA is calling on the government to extend vital income support for our industries.”

Hamilton broke all Australian box office records before the show opened in Sydney in March. It is still the only production of the blockbuster Broadway show playing in the world.

Come From Away played to strong houses in Brisbane and Melbourne before opening in Sydney.

Image: Hamilton.

27th June 2021 - Rise in Coronavirus cases sees NSW Government introduce two-week lockdown for Greater Sydney and surrounding areas

1st June 2021 - Year of cancelled performances sees Opera Australia post $7.1 million loss

31st May 2021 - Tickets on sale for first performance at reopening Theatre Royal Sydney

20th May 2021 - Federal Government allocates new emergency funding to leading arts organisations

26th March 2021 - Just 26% of Federal Government’s June 2020 arts rescue package has been spent

25th March 2021 - Live performance and entertainment bodies welcome Federal Government’s funding extension

23rd March 2021 - Entertainment and Live Performance sector representatives takes argument for industry support to Canberra

19th March 2021 - Live Performance Australia calls for 100% capacity in all live entertainment venues

2nd March 2021 - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child reopens at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre

22nd February 2021 - Live Performance Australia calls for targeted JobSaver action to prevent further collapse of the arts and entertainment industry

17th February 2021 - Musicians call for JobKeeper extension

3rd February 2021 - Opera Australia leads performing arts industry in COVIDSafe performance practices

28th January 2021 - Frozen the Musical at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre a model for future global performances

10th January 2021 - Opera companies’ options in a time of crisis

9th December 2020 - LPA calls for Business Interruption Fund to protect entertainment sector against future COVID-related shutdowns

20th November 2020 - Australian Government announces unlocking of arts rescue funds and venue capacity increases

22nd July 2020 - Live Entertainment Industry Forum applauds Australian Government’s JobKeeper extension

18th June 2020 - Social distancing rules make it financially unviable for Sydney theatres to reopen

4th May 2020 - Theatre impresario Sir Cameron Mackintosh says West End and Broadway shows will be ‘last to go back’

10th April 2020 - NSW Arts Minister resigns after Coronavirus lockdown breach

14th March 2020 - Sydney Theatre Company responds to advice on Coronavirus

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