Live entertainment has been a major casualty of the pandemic with COVID regulations bringing all shows to a temporary halt.
After the pandemic led to the closing of all Melbourne theatre venues in 2020, there was an obvious need to provide the city with a COVID responsible performance alternative. Late last year, The Malthouse Theatre obtained the support of Creative Victoria through a grant “to strengthen knowledge and skills in COVID Safe best practice for venues and to reach audiences outside of the venue through complementary digital experiences that support the work Malthouse presents onstage”.
The Malthouse Theatre used the grant to set up the Outdoor Stage, Melbourne’s newest outdoor performance venue currently hosting live shows featuring a wide variety of Australian cultural experiences in partnership with Melbourne’s leading performing arts organisations.
In December, Malthouse co-CEO and executive producer, Sarah Neal said, “Malthouse Outdoor Stage will be a vital way for our company to extend performance opportunities to the precinct and the wider sector, and importantly, for Malthouse Theatre to re-open earlier than is possible for indoor performances.”
The Malthouse Theatre Outdoor Stage is the new platform for an exciting line-up of artists performing in a beautiful Melbourne outdoor setting on a custom ‘Made in Australia’ TITAN heavy duty portable stage manufactured by Select Staging Concepts utilising the sustainable FSC rated MAXI Hex podium floor finish – perfect for a seasonal outdoor stage.
Select Staging Concepts is thrilled to see great reviews on the artists who have already performed on the TITAN stage. After a year of watching an industry in decline, it is heartening to see this great Melbourne venue rally to provide eager Australian patrons with a COVID responsible and safe outdoor venue.
The Malthouse Theatre Outdoor Stage has already hosted artists such as Eddie Perfect and Lano & Woodley, with a star-studded program of artists including Paul Kelly, Paul McDermott and the MOS Comedy Gala performers scheduled to perform in the coming months for an entertainment-starved audience.
