2026-10-31 · ABC News (AU)
🔮 A person claiming to be from a church asked them to set aside about 150 tickets for its recent production of Jesus Christ Superstar, before disappearing at the last minute.
Co-founder Scott Hili says it was a "kick in the teeth", with the theatre company now considering the prospect of closure.
A suburban theatre company was left with more than 150 empty seats and lost $7,500 in ticket sales after being catfished by someone claiming to represent a Melbourne church.
Scott Hili, co-founder of Upstage Theatre Company in Pakenham, in Melbourne's south-east, said the not-for-profit he and his husband began two years ago may have to eventually close if they can't fundraise the shortfall. assertive