WHEN we open up our venues each day and prepare for the performances that night we have one thing in mind, our patrons’ enjoyment.

Every member of our small team has planned and worked towards that event for many months (and many other events) and each played a part in the planning sequence, from the programming, contracting, marketing, box officing, through to the technical and operational planning and show liaison ahead of the day.

It is a multi-faceted group effort and that is just on our side of the booking, the artists’ team has a similar role, although they also have the logistic planning of navigating around the country on their national tours.

It all leads to the time where the house is opened, the patrons take their seats and the show begins.

At this moment everyone has an enjoyable evening and then goes home, 99 per cent of the time.

But this week was extraordinary, this week I received a late-night call to say that one of our staff had been assaulted by a patron, a patron that the team had worked so hard to bring professional live entertainment to the theatre for.

This is completely unacceptable, no one should have to tolerate this behaviour in the work place especially in the current circumstances we are facing.

We attend our workplace for a shared reason, for a mutual love of the arts, of theatre, music, live entertainment, this behaviour should not be experienced in an environment where we should be sharing a delightful experience with like-minded individuals.

Thankfully no one was hurt and our exceptional staff managed the situation with professionalism and years of expertise.

How lucky I am to work with such an exceptional team – let’s keep making the magic for those who deserve to share it with us.