Fire Devastates Belvoir St Theatre's Workshop, But 'The Jungle and the Sea' Opens On Time

On June 22, a fire ravaged the Belvoir St Theatre's workshop in Marrickville, which had stored sets, props, and costumes since 2009, just 11 days prior to the premiere of 'The Jungle and the Sea.' Thankfully, there were no injuries, although most of the set was lost, with the exception of a musician's platform and the revolve. In a remarkable effort, production teams reconstructed $50,000 worth of staging within 10 days, allowing the show to debut as planned. Executive Director Aaron Beach contemplated canceling the performance but ultimately decided to move forward due to its importance for the national tour. The fire also claimed sets for 'The Book Everything,' set to open on August 22. The cause remains unknown, with no signs of foul play, and recovery is expected to take years. Support for the rebuild came from Creative Australia and Grifter Brewery.