Pakenham Theatre company loses thousands in ticket scam

Co-founder Scott Hili explained that the ordeal began with an email inquiry for a large block of tickets. The person claiming to represent a Melbourne church initially requested 157 tickets, filling the remaining seats for a matinee performance. Hili conducted online searches and even expanded seating to accommodate the request, believing it to be legitimate.

When payment for the tickets was not received, Hili attempted to contact the individual, who promised a priest would handle the transaction. A subsequent phone call to the purported church revealed they had no knowledge of the booking, confirming the deception. Despite releasing the blocked seats, it was too late to resell them.

Hili described the incident as a “kick in the teeth,” particularly as the company relies on its own funding to provide community theater opportunities. He is now exploring fundraising options to cover an $8,000 debt related to the production.

Victoria Police confirmed receiving a report about the fraudulent reservation but stated that it did not meet the legal threshold for a criminal deception offense due to no financial gain. They advised community organizations to review their booking policies to prevent similar incidents.

The Victorian Drama League, a peak body for community theater, circulated a warning to its members following Hili’s experience. League president Susan Rundle highlighted the existing financial challenges faced by many local theater companies, including high venue rental costs.

This situation mirrors a recent experience faced by a Newcastle theater group, where co-founder Daniel Stoddart publicly announced potential losses of $490,000 due to low ticket sales for their production of ‘Frozen’. A subsequent community response helped boost ticket sales.

Nationally, several major musicals, including ‘Beetlejuice,’ ‘Waitress,’ and ‘Back to the Future,’ have also experienced canceled or shortened national tours, further illustrating the difficulties facing the theater industry.