In a Facebook post, Lighthouse Theatre said while this weekend's performances were cancelled, shows scheduled from January 12 to January 15 would still go ahead.

"Patrons booked into these two performances will be contacted by the Lighthouse Theatre in the coming days to organise transfer to an alternate performance time next week, or a full refund," it said.

It's a blow for two south-west leads who were ramping up for their full-circle moment.

Warrnambool's Caitlin Garner, who plays Fiona, was to take to the stage for the final time under Holiday Actors with the person who first inspired her to join.

"The first Holiday Actors show I saw was South Pacific which Taine (De Manser aka Shrek) was in when he was eight years old so that's an incredible full-circle moment," she said.

"I remember when I saw South Pacific I looked up at my mum and said 'when I'm old enough I want to join Holiday Actors' and it's been one heck of a ride since then."

IN OTHER NEWS:

Having been in every summer show since she was 13, Garner said she was currently working towards being a professional actress.

"It's a dream come true," she said.

"I'm now completing my Bachelor of Performing Arts at Federation University."

De Manser, who grew up in Mortlake, also said he wanted to pursue acting as a profession.

Scoring the lead role in both the theatre production of Cats and Shrek the Musical was a great start.

"It's a massive opportunity - I play Rum Tum Tugger in Cats which is one of the leads, so I've had two of my first leads this year," he said.

"At the moment it's pretty intense. Monday and Wednesday have been full of rehearsals for Shrek and I just find time for Cats in between. It's a priority but not number one. Shrek is here and it's now."

He said he discovered theatre at a young age, thanks to his parents. "Mum and Dad put me in theatre as soon as I was born," he said.

"They were drama teachers so I was always surrounded by it. They put me in my first show with Holiday Actors when I was eight which was pretty incredible. From there I saw the community which HA was and I really didn't have a choice - I was lured back."

Having finished school just three months ago, De Manser will travel to Sydney in May after earning himself a Bell Shakespeare award.

Now just one tap with our new app: Digital subscribers now have the convenience of faster news, right at your fingertips with The Standard:

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: