Arts Minister Don Harwin to reopen Sydney’s Theatre Royal
The Sydney v Melbourne rivalry is about to literally hit the stage floor with the NSW State Government vowing to reopen the historic Theatre Royal to stem the loss of productions to south of the boarder. INTERACTIVE: WHO GETS YOUR VOTE
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A battle between Sydney and Melbourne for blockbuster stage shows will be reignited with the state government announcing plans to reopen the Theatre Royal.
Closed since 2016, the future of the Harry Seidler-designed theatre has been in doubt with Sydney missing out on major productions including Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Arts Minister Don Harwin said the government has committed to a 45-year-lease with the venue’s owners, Dexus, with a private operator to refurbish and run Australia’s oldest theatre institution.
“As a city and as a state we’ve missed out too often to Melbourne and we’re just not going to take it anymore,” Mr Harwin told The Sunday Telegraph.
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“It’s clearly the case that the producers of Harry Potter would have rather come to Sydney but there weren’t the theatres available and sensing that, the Victorians made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.
“We’ve just got to stop letting that happen and we’re determined to make Sydney and NSW number one again when it comes to attracting shows like that.”
Mr Harwin said the shutdown of the 1100-seat Theatre Royal left Sydney with only two venues suitable for big-name productions — the Capitol and Lyric — compared with Melbourne’s four.
TV presenter and theatre star David Campbell said Sydney lost a “big jewel in our Crown” when the theatre closed and its revival was important for the city’s night life.
“It’s going to be great for the entire city which of course needs a bit of uplift at the moment — it needs a bit of help,” Mr Campbell said.
Tony Sheldon, the star of hit musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory playing at the Capitol, said: “We need another theatre of this size because we miss out on so many shows and it’s appalling that a city like Sydney does not have enough theatres to handle the shows that should be here.”
Mr Harwin said the reopening will provide a boost to the NSW economy and attract more first-run productions.
“These sorts of shows deliver very significant benefits to the state and it’s not just the price of a ticket but it’s also the accommodation sector that benefits from visitors,” he said.
Disney’s Frozen musical, opening at the Capitol Theatre next July, is expected to bring $43 million to NSW.
A new 1500-seat lyric theatre is also planned for Ultimo after the Powerhouse Museum is relocated to Parramatta.
The negotiations of the new Theatre Royal lease are yet to be finalised but the tender process for the private operator will start post-election.
Mr Harwin said the upgrade and operations of the Theatre Royal will be at no cost to the taxpayer.
“We will seek expressions of interest from established theatre operators here in Australia and around the world to come and effectively sublease it,” he said.
“It will be their responsibility to pay for whatever upgrades are needed to make it fit for purpose for the sort of performances that they will put on and we will recognise that in the rental agreement that we strike with them.”
Dexus CEO Darren Steinberg said the new deal was a “great outcome for Sydney and its night-time economy”.
“We look forward to activating our development plans for a vibrant retail and dining precinct to support the success of a future theatre offering, as well as the wider Martin Place precinct and the many workers and visitors to this area every day,” he said.
Mr Campbell said he had very fond memories of performing at the theatre, located within the MLC Centre. “It’s a wonderful gift to be able to have that back,” he said.
Originally published as Arts Minister Don Harwin to reopen Sydney’s Theatre Royal
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