$1.9m state-of-the-art theatre to open at Barrenjoey High School

With a shortage of performance arts facilities on the northern beaches, the community are welcoming a $1.9m development at Barrenjoey High school.

Barrenjoey High School Concert Band in the new performing art space. Picture: Zoe Kemp

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A high school in Avalon will open a $1.9m state-of-the-art theatre on Friday, which will be open to the public for hire.

It took six years and several community grants for Barrenjoey Community Performance Space to come to life, but it was well worth the wait according to Principal Ian Bowsher.

“There wasn’t a quality centre for creative and performing arts students in the northern beaches,” Mr Bowsher said.

“The closest is the Glen Street Theatre in Belrose, which is quite expensive to hire out and it isn’t always accessible.

Generic pics of Glen St Theatre. Picture: Adam Yip for the Manly Daily.

“While ours isn’t anywhere near that size, it will give young people an opportunity to have a professional performing arts space on our doorstep.”

The 200-seat theatre features an art gallery space and has been acoustically designed, boasting state-of-the-art audio visual equipment.

“There’s a lot of families involved in creative arts that live here so to provide this is wonderful.”

Mr Bowsher thanked Pittwater state Liberal MP Rob Stokes, Northern Beaches Council, the architecture firm and the school committee for their help.

“There have always been obstacles so without the council and government we couldn’t have done it. The committee also worked hard to turn it around, they spent thousands of hours on this project.”

Pittwater state Liberal MP. Picture: Chris Pavlich for The Daily Telegraph.

While the original plan was to build the theatre in two stages due to funding difficulties, the project was made viable with extra funds found by Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Rob Stokes.

“Barrenjoey High has an outstanding reputation in performing arts education and has produced some amazing talent,” Mr Stokes said.

“The performance space will provide the school community with an incredible asset to help

promote and encourage future generations of performers.

“Barrenjoey’s P&C is passionate about seeing their vision for this project become a reality, so I’m delighted the NSW government has been able to provide the funding boost it

needs to see it delivered.”

Some of the contributions included $1 million under the NSW government’s Stronger Communities Fund and $60,000 under the NSW government’s Community Building Partnership Program.

There was also $124,000 provided under the NSW government’s Infrastructure Grants Program and a further $50,000 under the NSW government’s Stronger Communities Fund.

Nearly 800 students attend Barrenjoey High school who will be able to use the architect-designed amphitheatre style space.