Campaign to bring live theatre back to The Roxy at Parramatta
PARRAMATTA’S historic theatre, The Roxy, is back in the spotlight with a push for its owners and authorities to revive the heritage-listed building as an entertainment venue.
PARRAMATTA’S historic theatre, The Roxy, is back in the spotlight with a push for its owners and authorities to revive the venue.
The National Trust’s Parramatta sub-branch is behind a new campaign to restore The Roxy and bring performing arts back to the heritage-listed venue.
A report by Les Tod – who was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his involvement in saving Australia’s historic theatres – has called on the State Government and Parramatta Council to acquire the site “and restore it in line with their recent statements concerning the needs of the people of the west”.
Palace Leisure Group bought The Roxy in 2004 and ran it as a nightclub and cabaret venue before closing in 2014.
It had revealed plans for a 20-storey tower on top of the theatre last year, which led to concerns the much-loved site would be demolished.
Palace chairman David Kingston hasn’t submitted a development application to the council and didn’t respond to the Advertiser’s questions before deadline.
Mr Tod suggested the council could enter a land swap with the developer, offering a carpark for the theatre.
“As Parramatta CBD redevelops over the next decades, with the restored Roxy as its centrepiece and heart, it will become a city of culture and social interaction, rather than one of streets of high-rise glass buildings with coffee shops on every corner,” he said.
“The Roxy would also bring life to the CBD at night, and help the spread of cafes, restaurants and other commercial activities, which would benefit from its presence.”
There are plans in the pipeline to upgrade Riverside Theatres but Mr Tod said it would be ideal to have both because The Roxy could cater for larger productions.
Parramatta Lord Mayor Paul Garrard said he would like to see The Roxy operate as a cinema, showing Australian movies.
“Lots of independent films are made every year and if we can have red carpet events showing new films every week, people would come from all over Sydney to see the Australian films,” he said.
“There is a really good opportunity to bring The Roxy back to its glory days.”
Cr Garrard said there is council-owned land behind The Roxy, and the front of the Roxy had extremely high heritage classifications.
The Roxy was built in 1930 and a lot of the original building still exists.
Palace Leisure Group bought The Roxy in 2004 and operated it as a nightclub and cabaret venue before closing in 2014.
What would you like to see happen to The Roxy?
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