Gympie Civic Centre closure leaves Qld Opera in limbo

A ‘unique, never been seen before’ performance by one of the state’s premier arts groups has been left in limbo by the prolonged Civic Centre shutdown

Gympie council has less than a month to find a venue to host Opera Queensland’s Are You lonesome Tonight show (starring Marcus Corowa, Irena Lysiuk and Jonathan Hickey) or risk missing out due to the prolonged shutdown of the Civic Centre. Photo Lachie Millard

Opera Queensland is all dressed up for Gympie but there may not be any place to go.

Gympie Regional Council has less than a month to find an alternative venue to host a “unique, never been seen before in the region” performance of Are You Lonesome Tonight by the state arts group after the show was left in limbo by the prolonged closure of the Civic Centre.

The two-hour production was scheduled to be held at the Civic Centre as part of its entrepreneurial program.

It was cancelled due to the building’s shutdown.

This closure was originally to complete a $1.5 million facelift, but during preparations for the renovation, safety issues were found, including asbestos in the roof, electrical wiring problems behind the walls and a blocked fire door.

The repairs have been left in limbo due to the State Government reportedly mooting that the Civic Centre would be used as a possible mass vaccination hub in the fight against COVID-19.

The Civic Centre was originally closed for a facelift, but safety issues and its possible use by the State Government as a mass vaccination site have left the centre’s immediate future in limbo.

The State Government has neither confirmed nor denied those reports.

Opera Queensland has again proposed bringing the show to Gympie as part of a state-wide tour of regional areas but with the centre ruled out, there are few options left on the table.

A staff report being presented to councillors at Wednesday’s meeting says Gympie’s Pavilion and Reception Centre does not meet technical requirements for the show, and the opera’s proposed June dates clash with another local theatre performance at the venue.

Holding the opera outdoors is possible, the report says, but portable equipment including an eight square metre, two dressing rooms and power access were needed.

The reports recommends councillors approve $3000 funding for the show provided a suitable location can be found.