‘The theatre was dark’: exploring regional Australian theatre’s resilient response to COVID-19

Abstract

After unprecedented events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, organisations reflect on their responses. In this research, we explore how regional creative industries responded to the pandemic to inform future strategies, government and council policies, and crisis responses. This article explores how community and fringe theatres, known for their community connections, responded to the pandemic in several high-growth regions in Queensland, Australia. Much like the general community, these theatres responded and were impacted differently; some felt little impact, while others were severely financially and creatively impacted. While they all had to adapt, the fringe theatres were more likely to further innovate.