Invercargill Musical Theatre locks in its major show for 2024
“It’s an amazing production. It’s got a really memorable soundtrack… It’s just a real feel-good show that’s exciting for the audience but also the cast and crew.”
Mamma Mia! is returning to Invercargill.
Invercargill Musical Theatre has revealed its major production in 2024 will be the popular jukebox musical based on the Swedish group ABBA.
It will return 10 years on from the last time the Invercargill Musical Theatre put on Mamma Mia! in the city.
President Bernadette Gourley said in 2014 Mamma Mia! attracted the biggest audience it has had for a major show in many years.
Gourley was hopeful it would create the same sort of excitement a decade on, and that there would be a new generation of younger people who would take up the opportunity to see the show.
“It’s an amazing production. It’s got a really memorable soundtrack. It’s just a real feel-good show that’s exciting for the audience but also the cast and crew.”
Despite the quality of shows that the IMT put on, Gourley conceded it was getting tougher to bring such shows to Invercargill and hit the required break-even point.
The cost to put on a show like Mamma Mia! was in the hundreds of thousands and Gourley said increasing ticket prices to ease the concerns would be counterproductive.
The not-for-profit organisation does get backing from community funders and businesses, which proves vital.
In recent years the SBS Bank has joined as the naming rights sponsor for the showpiece production which has played a key role in easing the risk.
SBS Bank has extended that support to help ensure the 2024 Mamma Mia! production will go ahead.
“We are incredibly grateful,” Gourley said.
“There is no doubt their support offsets our risk. It does help us to breathe a little easier.
“It just means the absolute world to us to have that support and for them to have faith in us as an organisation for them to put their name on our product.”
“Their financial support is invaluable to us.”
“Every single show is a risk…. The one thing as a Society we cannot control is ticket sales. We can produce outstanding shows but it’s up to the public to support us and keep coming back.
“We are running close to barely breaking even on our major productions in recent years. I believe times have changed over the last 10 years, in terms of the volume of sales we can expect.
“We are not the only show in any given year. It is absolutely a risk and there is a lot of money that goes into a production and a lot of time.”
SBS Bank Group CEO Mark McLean said: “We’re extremely proud to be supporting Invercargill Musical Theatre. The Arts are an important part of our community, and to see the high quality of performers and productions they bring to the region is fantastic.”
Gourley anticipates they will put on ten to 12 shows as part of the 2024 season of Mamma Mia! in July.
Towards the end of Mamma Mia! in 2014 IMC was having to turn people away it was that popular.
Gourley was hopeful they would get similar sort of support ten years on.
“I’m sure Southlanders will want to relive their Mamma Mia! experience.”
The next step for IMC is to appoint a musical director and director, which Gourley said was close to happening.
After that the musical director will lock in people for the band and then auditioning for the cast will happen around February/March.
They will then start rehearsing soon after that.
This article has been published in partnership with SBS Bank.