Fortune on the menu
SIX months can be a long time in show business: just ask Cairns Dinner Theatre owners Brooke and Wes Evans.
At the start of this year the pair was at a loss over the future of their venture, which was effectively forced out of its former Lake St home because of noise concerns. Seemingly destined to close for good, the business was then thrown an 11th-hour lifeline by the Reef Hotel Casino.
Thrilled with their remarkable change in fortune, Mr and Mrs Evans jumped at the chance and have since taken Cairns Dinner Theatre to an exciting new level.
“When we first got in there it was hard; we had a baby and there was plenty of work to be done,” Mrs Evans said.
“But we got there and it all came to fruition; it’s been a great move for us.”
She said the whirlwind journey had been a learning curve, but was now more confident than ever in the future of their business.
“We’ve been able to do shows with different elements – such as aerialists coming in from the ceiling – and can interact with the audience more closely,” Mrs Evans said.
“Sometimes the whole thing seemed like it took forever … but it’s worth it when you have a moment to sit back and take it all in.”
Cairns Dinner Theatre will hold several high-profile shows for the remainder of 2017, including Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience from September 8-9.
“They came to Lake St last year; it was such a fantastic show and we knew we had to get it back,” Mrs Evans said.
The September 9 show has sold out, with only a handful of tickets remaining for the first performance.