Bendigo Theatre Company will premiere their first major musical in two years to a crowd of 300 following a state government decision to hold back on easing coronavirus restrictions.
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Cast and crew of We Will Rock are disappointed the government will not ease restrictions allowing Victoria's theatres to 100 per cent crowd capacity before their premiere on July 8.
It means the 1000-seat Ulumbarra Theatre will only seat 300 audience members next Thursday.
Health minister Martin Foley announced on Wednesday that Victoria would not ease restrictions further as a number of other states grappled with coronavirus outbreaks.
Victoria has recorded one locally-transmitted COVID-19 case since Friday.
BTC president Bevan Madden said it was an understandable, yet frustrating, decision.
The company postponed We Will Rock You last year and the cast has been working to adhere to COVID-restrictions during rehearsals.
"With the situation in the other states, it's understandable they have made this decision but it is disappointing for us and our show," he said.
"It feels like (Victoria does) deserve a bit of a reprieve after what (the state) went through recently and what we did to contain it but it is an understandable decision."
The state government is likely to make further announcements regarding Victoria's COVID-19 restrictions next week.
Mr Madden said he and We Will Rock You's cast and crew were hopeful they could perform to a packed out Ulumbarra Theatre.
"Our opening falls in the week of current restrictions, which means whatever announcements come, we are opening to 300 people," he said.
"Bendigo is crying out for a nice, fun time away from everything else. For us to be the ones to provide that as the first show in Ulumbarra since the last lockdown, is really exciting."
"We're exploring all our options (to perform extra shows) but we don't have anything concrete yet. We'll be announcing anything, if it happens, over the next week.
"We had to stop selling tickets to other shows because they were selling so well. We don't want to oversell and have more disappointed people."
Bendigo Theatre Company's We Will Rock You is set to perform at Ulumbarra Theatre from July 8 to 11.
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