The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) is calling an emergency town hall meeting of live performance workers following a string of high-profile musical cancellations that have left hundreds of arts workers facing unemployment.

More than 75 elected MEAA leaders and workplace delegates – including actors, dancers, musicians, technical crew, ushers and ticketing staff – met on Monday 6 July to discuss the growing crisis in Australia’s live performance sector.

The meeting followed the recent cancellation of productions including Back to the Future, Dear Evan Hansen, Waitress and Beetlejuice, prompting concerns about the industry’s long-term sustainability and the immediate impact on workers.

Eddie Perfect, Rob Johnson, Elise McCann and cast members of Beetlejuice the Musical. Photo © Michelle Grace Hunter

Delegates discussed both the structural challenges facing the sector and potential collective responses to the wave of closures.

MEAA has now convened an Emergency Town Hall Meeting for Monday, 13 July, where live performance workers will be asked to endorse a proposed Live Performance Action Plan.

The plan is expected to include lobbying governments for an immediate response to the crisis, a public campaign highlighting the impact on workers and audiences, consultations across the industry to develop longer-term solutions, and coordinated action demonstrating unity among creative workers.

The union has invited all live performance workers to attend the meeting as it seeks a collective response to what it describes as an escalating industry crisis.

All live performance workers are invited to attend.