Fans enraged as Beetlejuice The Musical cancels ALL shows nationwide
Australian fans have been left 'devastated' after Beetlejuice The Musical cancelled the remainder of its shows across the country.
The Michael Cassel Group announced on Friday the production will play its final performance at the QPAC Lyric Theatre in Brisbane on July 5.
The show has cancelled all further planned performances nationwide from July 7 onwards due to 'cost pressures', reported The Courier Mail.
Despite receiving rave reviews, fans in Perth, Adelaide and Sydney will miss out on their chance to see the production, following seasons in Melbourne and Brisbane.
Some have taken to social media to express their disappointment over the mass cancellations.
'I'm devastated for the cast. This is an amazing show that deserves to be seen all over Australia,' one person wrote.
Australian fans have been left 'devastated' after Beetlejuice The Musical cancelled the remainder of its shows across the country
'Pity I will never get to see it. Hope all the cast are ok. All the best for the shorter season,' another added.
'Devastated about the Sydney cancellation! Chookas to the cast for your final shows in Brisbane,' noted a third.
'Advertising one day… cancelled the next!! What?!?' one user commented.
'I am so sad. Real ones were turning out for this show. Such a slap in the face to Australian theatre,' said another message.
'I'm really disappointed. Why would you guys do this?' added someone else.
The company has said the decision to cancel was made due to the rising costs of touring a large-scale production across the country.
'For a production of this scale, the current logistical realities of touring across vast distances between Australian cities have created increasing cost pressures that ultimately made continuing the run unsustainable,' a Michael Cassel Group spokesperson said.
'While audience enthusiasm for the show has been encouraging, a more cautious consumer environment combined with the economics of moving a production of this magnitude could not be justified.
Join the discussionHow do you think sudden show cancellations affect the trust between theatre companies and their fans?
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The Michael Cassel Group announced on Friday the production will play its final performance at the QPAC Lyric Theatre in Brisbane on July 5
Some have taken to social media to express their disappointment over the mass cancellations
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'It is a difficult decision, and not one we made lightly.
'Our cast and crew have poured extraordinary heart and talent into this show, and they have our deepest gratitude.
'To the Melbourne and Brisbane audiences who came along, and to everyone who loves this production, thank you.
'We're sorry to be saying goodbye sooner than any of us hoped.'
Ticketholders will receive a full refund, while Brisbane ticketholders for performances from July 7 onwards will be offered the chance to transfer their tickets to an earlier date.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
