Taylor Swift allows Aussie theatre legends to use ‘Shake It Off’ in a play

Pop star Taylor Swift has allowed a group of Australian theatre veterans to use her hit single “Shake It Off” for their upcoming play's climactic scene. The process of getting the 25-year-old's blessing was reportedly nothing short of dramatic.

The Belvoir Street Theatre in Surry Hills, Sydney is composed of some of the country's most beloved stage actors. Music Feeds reports that the group only had a few days to go until the premiere of their show titled "Seventeen"on Tuesday when they were hit with news on August 1 that their application to use "Shake It Off" had been denied.

The play's plot centred around 70-year-olds acting out the last day of high school and Swift's song was supposed to have been in the most climactic dance scene. Applications to use a certain song for any production normally go up a long chain of people before a decision is handed down.

When the group received a "no" at 5 p.m. on July 31, resident director Anne-Louise Sarks took to Twitter to call out just about anybody close to the singer to get her direct permission. She used the hashtag #greygrey4taytay . Reportedly, she has tweeted the likes of Scott Borchetta, the CEO of Swift's management agency Big Machine Label Group and actor Russell Crowe.

Speaking to Music Feeds, Belvoir spokeswoman Elly Michelle Clough said that the cast has been preparing for all the songs and dance moves for a month while they were getting approval from the Australian Performing Rights Association, or APRA. She noted that it was a tough process especially for senior citizens who had no dance background at all.

The massive Twitter campaign paid off, apparently, because Taylor Swift herself gave the group her OK on Tuesday, 2:30 p.m, via a tweet.

"Seventeen" opens at the Belvoir Street Theatre on Wednesday at 8 p.m. and ends in mid-September, according to the official website. It has a running time of one and a half hour. The play features acting veterans, including Barry Otto, Peter Carroll, Maggie Dence, John Gaden, Genevieve Lemon and Anna Volska. It is directed by Matthew Whittet. Click here for the complete show schedule.

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