Spare a thought for the Australian arts sector as one of Australia’s most successful theatre companies, the Sydney Theatre Company is verging on closing. I have written resumes for very experienced actors and in the last two months about 80 per cent of actors, technical staff and administrators have lost their jobs.

KPMG tagged the STC’s latest financial report with a warning casting “significant doubt” over its ability to stay afloat.

The KPMG auditor’s warning noted: “The conditions disclosed… indicate a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the group’s ability to continue as a going concern.”

Like every other performing arts company in Australia, STC is reeling after being forced in March to close its doors amid the COVID-19 crisis.

But it was already facing financial stress with the closure for refurbishment of its Walsh Bay theatres at the beginning of 2019.

“Any industry that has its revenue switched off for six or nine months is in a critical condition,” said STC CEO Mr McIntyre. “We are all as a rule pretty reliant on earned revenue in Australia, particularly performing arts companies. It’s a very tight situation.”

A decision may be made in a month on whether STC can open in September, to allow for preparations such as set building and rehearsals.

The STC board is counting on extra assistance from federal and state governments. They are looking for rent relief on the premises at Pier 4/5 from the NSW government and hope to get a substantial slice of the federal government’s $250 million arts rescue package which was announced last week.

Consider also the future of Her Majesty’s Theatre in Adelaide, which just got a $66M renovation. Adelaide’s theatres were in a perilous financial state before Covid-19 hit.

The job losses in the performing arts across Australia are staggering.