Vandals bump out theatre

By Sarah Schwager
A LOCAL theatre company is reeling after its costumes and sets were destroyed.
BATS Theatre Company’s storage shed in New Holland Drive, Cranbourne, was broken into recently and costumes, sets, and technical equipment vandalised.
Company coordinator Susan Bergman said the Berwick theatre company was disappointed at the blatant vandalism.
Ms Bergman said it would take a lot of work to fix it all up.
“We’re going to have to remake costumes and things like that,” she said.
“Luckily we’ve finished our shows for the year.
“If it had happened when a show was on and we relied on those costumes it would have been devastating.”
Ms Bergman said some headsets had been destroyed and other technical and audio equipment would have to be thrown out because of paint damage.
Some time between 26 October and 3 November a hole was cut in the storage shed.
Vandals pulled a sheet of metal from the wall, then found tins of paint and threw paint over the walls and costumes, and graffitied the shed.
They also sprayed fire extinguishers around the shed.
Police suspect children may be responsible for the vandalism as a small hole was cut to get into the building.
Any witnesses are urged to contact Senior Constable David Measham at Cranbourne CIU on 5991 0661.