Almost ready for action

The Pioneer Theatre in Castle Hill will host its first production in October following extensive refurbishments.

Blackout Theatre Company musical director Koren Beale, The Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne and Blackout Theatre Company director John Hanna inspect the progress of the Pioneer Theatre. Pictures: Angelo Velardo

The Pioneer Theatre in Castle Hill will host its first production in October following extensive refurbishments.

The $1.8 million renovations, which have been in the planning since 2015, began in early February and are due to be completed later in the year.

The multipurpose theatre will feature a retractable wall, a tiered retractable seating unit on wheels and mobile stage pieces, plus change rooms, a laundry, a commercial kitchen plus a smaller kitchenette and wet area, a box office, a loading dock and an outdoor terrace.

The first production to open the new-look theatre in October will be Blackout Theatre Company’s Singin’ in the Rain, the iconic musical comedy that tells the story of the first Hollywood musical during the transition from silent films.

Apprentice carpenter Cameron Weidel and site forman Nathan Bolger install wall panels at the theatre.

Musical director Koren Beale said Singin’ in the Rain was a “classic, classic tale” and she was looking forward to staging it at the Pioneer Theatre.

“I’m so excited and just looking at this space I’m excited even more,” she said.

Co-director John Hanna said the Pioneer Theatre and Function Room, located in the Castle Grand building on Pennant St, would be the “perfect space for the variety and scale of our productions”.

“And we are very excited to be launching this amazing venue with our musical,” he said.

The Blacktown-based Blackout Theatre Company performs at venues across Sydney, from Monkey Baa in Darling Harbour to The Joan in Penrith, and actors also travel from across the state to join the productions.

Blackout Theatre Company director John Hanna is excited to stage their production at the soon to open Pioneer Theatre.

The Hills Shire Council chose Blackout to open the theatre after speaking with a number of companies.

Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne said the company had been “entertaining audiences around the state for almost two decades” with their annual program.

“We are so excited to have them opening our refreshed 350-seat boutique venue in October,” she said.

Auditions for Singin’ in the Rainwill be held from May 13-16 at Walter St Public School in Blacktown.

The company will be looking for actors aged 17 and over for the production.

The Hills Shire Council have called for expressions of interest for organisations looking to stage a range of productions at the new theatre from October to December, with successful applicants to receive a waived venue hire fee.