Rob Shehadie calls for more diverse acts at Riverside Theatres Parramatta

A popular comedian says a Parramatta venue needs to revamp its line-up of acts so it can pull more crowds and invigorate night life.

Parramatta’s tired Riverside Theatres are earmarked for a revamp but it’s not just the bones of the venue that need an overhaul — calls have been made for the venue to mix up its entertainment line-up to appeal to a broader audience.

“Do you think my cousins and uncle want to watch Shakespeare?’’ comedian Rob Shehadie, also known as the Unofficial Mayor of Parramatta, said.

“It has so much potential to be a venue for all kinds of acts. We shouldn’t be narrowed into one kind of genre.

“Why can’t the Riverside Theatres be like a Hordern Pavilion, be like an Enmore Theatre — they bring rock bands, they bring theatre shows.

“They even have their theatre plays. It’s just sitting there. It’s just not attracting crowds like it should.’’

Duke Dumont, Sticky Fingers and The Offspring are scheduled to play at the Hordern Pavilion while at the Enmore Theatre, Wog Boys Forever, rapper Freddie Gibbs and Tony Hadley are part of this year’s line-up.

Shehadie acknowledged that the Riverside “fills up most weeks” with performances for school students but would bolster crowds by hosting more music gigs thrown into the mix of the theatre-heavy bill.

“Even the Opera House has had hip hop artists, they’ve had concerts, they’ve had Bryan Adams,’’ he said.

Comic Rob Shehadie says the Riverside Theatres could do with a shake-up. Picture: Monique Harmer

Now that light rail construction has wound up on Church St, aka “Eat St’’, the crowds are hungry for more entertainment options.

“That eat street is now bustling with people,’’ Shehadie said.

“Let’s pull another 700 people and that will bring more vibe to the street. You watch a show and go and have dessert at Bay Vista.’’

Shehadie, who last performed Straight Outta Compo at the Riverside theatre in 2017, is passionate about invigorating Parramatta’s night life and is a fan of the Riverside.

“I love performing at that theatre because it’s so personal, so close,’’ he said.

“With those terraces, the crowd’s right on top of you.’’

Riverside Theatres director Craig McMaster said the venue was one of NSW’s busiest theatres “with an incredibly diverse and rich program”.

“Like other major arts centres across the country, Riverside offers a range of performances and events – from major theatrical productions and hit musicals to contemporary and classical music concerts, programs for families and children, comedy shows, and new and traditional works for students,’’ he said.

“It has been wonderful to see audiences return to Riverside Theatres after a long intermission due to the global pandemic. So far this year, we have showcased performances by artists across a wide variety of genres, including The Whitlams, Katie Noonan, Martha Marlow, and local hip-hop stars L-Fresh the Lion and Barkaa.’’

The 34-year-old Riverside, which attracts more than 180,000 patrons who see about 750 performances each year, is earmarked for redevelopment.

The council wants to see it become the centrepiece of the city’s revitalised arts and cultural precinct, near the Powerhouse Museum.

Riverside Theatres at Parramatta will be redeveloped.

The proposed redevelopment will see the theatres’ capacity more than double and include a new 1350-seat lyric theatre, refurbishment of the Riverside Playhouse, and a new drama theatre, digital studio and cinema.

Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis last month called for the state and federal government to chip in towards the project.

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