Out of juice: Industry rallies over tiny margins as costs soar
The theatre industry wants help to cope with soaring costs that have meant curtains even for certified hits such as Beetlejuice the Musical.
If composer, songwriter, comedian, actor and musician Tim Minchinâs talents arenât already diverse enough, now heâs adding lobbyist to his portfolio.
The acclaimed performer has met politicians at parliament house in Canberra, to push for theatre industry tax incentives alongside peak body Live Performance Australia.
Playing keys alongside arts minister Tony Burke on guitar and  MPs Julie-Ann Campbell and Matt Keogh on vocals, it appeared the politicians were playing from Minchinâs songbook.
As people struggled with the cost of living, theatre production costs had also escalated, making tickets too expensive for many, he said.
âTicket prices are insane, and the way the arts economy works at the moment, Taylor Swift comes to town, charges 300 bucks a ticket, and thatâs all people can afford for that quarter or that year,â Minchin said.
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A 40 per cent offset or rebate on live theatre production costs would be revenue-positive for government, according to modelling commissioned by Live Performance Australia, which wants the changes to be part of the federal governmentâs next National Cultural Policy.
The UK, France, and parts of the US already provide comparable tax breaks, while tax incentives are already in place for the Australian screen and gaming industries.
Live theatre supports more than 30,000 jobs and generates over $4 billion across the economy, according to Live Performance Australia.
A tax break of 40 per cent would create more than 4000 jobs, it said.
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The move comes days after Eddie Perfectâs hit show Beetlejuice the Musical was forced to end its Australian run early, despite rave reviews.
âBeetlejuice is a popular show, itâs absolutely fantastic, itâs got an Australian composer but itâs running at such tiny margins thereâs no room for error,â Minchin said.
Michael Cassel Group confirmed on Friday Beetlejuice would shut midway through its Brisbane leg, with performances in Perth, Adelaide and Sydney cancelled.
Producers cited higher touring costs and a more cautious consumer environment.
Minchinâs Matilda the Musical has been running for 15 years and is showing in London, but he said this production also operated on slim margins.
âIn Australia costs have soared in the last five years, we just donât have the room to move, and it gets harder and harder.â
Treasury modelling of a Greens live performance offset proposal estimated the measures would cost the federal budget about $1.1 billion over four years.
However, the Greens scenario also included tax breaks for live music venues and touring performers.
Live Performance Australia hosted the launch of a Parliamentary Friends of Live Performance group on Tuesday evening in Canberra.
-with AAP
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