For Tasmanian actor Imogen Moore, the opening night of her latest production falling on her birthday is the ultimate gift.
It has been a tough 18 months for Moore, who was about to jump on a plane for the second leg of a national tour when the first COVID lockdowns and industry shutdowns began early last year.
"I was out of my theatre work, my work that I usually did between theatre gigs, which was a retail job. I also didn't know if they had a place for me so I was treading water," she said.
The Melbourne-based performer is playing the role of Janet in the Tasmanian production of The Rocky Horror Show at Hobart's Theatre Royal.
For her, the show marks a return not only to the stage but also to the state.
Moore left Hobart and moved to Melbourne in 2011 to attend the Victorian College of the Arts and later performed in major musicals and productions around the country and overseas.
"I'm so happy that everyone was able to work incredibly hard and make it happen, it's really special and I'm incredibly grateful, it means that we really have to celebrate this," she said.
'Such a joy to create again'
Sydney-based Tasmanian actor Rob Mallett, who plays the role of Brad, had been in lockdown in Sydney for nine weeks before coming to Hobart and quarantining in a hotel for a fortnight.
"Then I was straight into rehearsals, so it's been a bit of a readjustment to start to learn to walk again before I run," he said.
"I had to check my own expectations of myself but it's been such a joy to create again."
Mallett's wife Chloe Zuel plays Eliza in Australia's production of Hamilton, which was also shut down.
"We just sort of spiralled, because your identity as an actor is so inextricably linked to your identity as a person," Mallett said.
The Rocky Horror Show is the first locally produced commercial musical for Tasmania.
"[The lack of professional productions] was the exact reason I left Tasmania 12 years ago and this is the first time I've been able to come home and work in this capacity," said Mallett, who has previously played Brad in a national tour.
"I left to study and then work as an actor because there's no capacity to do that on a full-time basis in Tasmania so it's been hugely significant to me personally, and a few others in the cast."
Delayed for a year — but the show must go on
The Rocky Horror Show was first slated to play at Hobart's Theatre Royal in October 2020 but was postponed a year due to the pandemic.
Producer John Xintavelonis said he was thrilled to finally reach opening night.
Major musicals in Melbourne are suspended until at least November, while Sydney shows are set to reopen in a fortnight.
Sydney theatregoers will have to be double vaccinated and wear masks and theatres must not be more than 75 per cent full.
Tasmanian theatres have no restrictions on capacity or mask wearing.
Xintavelonis said prior to the current lockdowns, it had been frustrating watching theatres reopen interstate late in 2020 while Tasmania continued to have stricter restrictions on audience capacity.
"The rest of the country, who still had cases, their theatres opened up and we lost three or four cast members of this show to other shows, other contracts," he said.
"Then the fact that we went to 100 per cent capacity, no masks from the 1st of May gave massive confidence to us to say, 'yes, let's throw some money at some marketing, show people that this show is happening'.
Xintavelonis, who also plays the role of the narrator in the show, said he hoped the professional production would inspire young Tasmanian performers.
"I'm excited for the fact that if this works — and it looks like it is — we'll be able to do more shows like that," he said.
"If you're a young teenager, the fact that you can actually start [your career] in a show here is great.
"I'm excited about what the future holds after this show."
Moore agreed.
"Being able to do this show, it's really awesome."
