Life finally returns to the stage

Published: 25 June 2020. (Note: information was correct at date of publication but may have since been changed or superseded.)

A series of eight events, over five weekends, at Cairns Performing Arts Centre and Tanks Arts Centre is set for take-off to help support the local performing artists industry.

Cairns Performing Arts Centre and Tanks Arts Centre are two of six state-wide venues participating in the Queensland Government’s Venue Pilot Program, funded through Arts Queensland, to pilot re-openings and deliver programming under COVID restrictions.

Cairns Mayor Bob Manning acknowledged the need to see artists return to the stage and audiences back in seats.

“The impact of COVID-19 on the arts sector has been devastating,” Cr Manning said.

“I have no doubt that these performances will be well received, people are eager to get normality back into their lives and enjoy those things they took for granted, such as live performances.

“Not only will this new pilot project give some satisfaction for the appetite of audiences for live performances as restrictions begin to ease, it will also provide much-needed jobs for artists and techs.”

The events kick off at CPAC with An Evening with David Hudson (Saturday 11 July), followed by Knocking Off The Rust: The Best of Cairns Comedy (Saturday 18 July), Classical Inspirations by Orchid Quartet (Saturday 25 July) and the Best of Understory Film Festival (Saturday 1 August).

At the Tanks, the all-local line-up includes headline acts by Zennith Soundsystem (Saturday 18 July), Jeremiah Johnson (Friday 24 July), a new album launch by Leanne Tennant (Friday 31 July) and Greta Stanley (Friday 7 August).

All events will follow Queensland Government Stage 3 COVID guidelines, which at this stage limits the audience to 100 people.

Tickets, available now from Ticketlink, range from $15.75 to $26.25 and are strictly limited to adhere to audience capacity restrictions.