By BEN CAMERON
Thieves stole $3000 worth of theatre goods ahead of latest production…
A PAKENHAM community theatre company has called on thieves who stole up to $3000 worth of goods by torchlight to give crime the flick and join the show.
Cardinia Performing Arts Company director Lee Geraghty said thieves forced open the front door of its storage and rehearsal facility on Henry Street between 2pm on Saturday 9 August and 2pm the next day.
It was bad timing for the company as their latest production, The Wedding Singer, opens this Saturday with a range of costumes for the show stolen as well as 200 theatrical fireworks, two starting pistols and a smoke machine.
“There were three torches left still on around the rooms, so I assume it was in the dark when they were there,” she said.
“(The) door was forced open, stuff was strewn everywhere … tubs upturned, drawers and cupboards strewn everywhere wigs, costume upended props thrown around and smashed.
“It was a real mess and took a dozen people and 12 hours to clean it up.
“It is really specific and not readily available for purchase at the local milk bar nor easy to off load I wouldn’t have thought, except illegally, so someone has to know something.”
She said the break-in followed several recent incidents where a window was smashed and vents removed by people trying to enter the property.
“Sets that we store under the verandah outside have been smashed and vandalised and more recently graffitied,” she said.
“It is these sort of people who have nothing better to do, who should get involved in community theatre to give them an interest and see the amount of volunteer work that goes into putting on a production.
“We will soldier on as too much effort has gone into building this group over the past 11 years, and we have great community support both from people who come and see the shows to those who volunteer their time to work backstage, on costumes and sets, in the front of house and in all facets of pre and post production.”
She said over 1000 performers had performed in productions to over 35,000 people.
Pakenham CIU detective Craig Milne said they were investigating some strong leads. Anybody with information should call Pakenham police on 5945 2500.
