New Crown Sydney boss says a 2000 seat lyric theatre would draw crowds to Barangaroo

The addition of a theatre at Barangaroo would help Sydney attract major international productions and bring more people into the area, Crown Sydney boss Mark McWhinnie claims.

A new 2000-seat lyric theatre has been proposed as the missing piece in the $8 billion harbourside development at Barangaroo.

Mark McWhinnie, the new chief executive of Crown Sydney, has suggested a theatre next door to the iconic $2.2 billion tower would bring more people to the area.

His suggestion comes after Premier Dominic Perrottet sent development partner Aqualand back to the drawing board to draft up new plans for the final part of Barangaroo telling them “we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to get this right”.

Aqualand chief executive John Carfi said a new lyric theatre was one option being considered for the site which straddles the new Barangaroo Metro station.

“A cultural piece of some sort down there – my own personal opinion – is vital. What form it takes, we’re open minded,” he said.

A theatre at Barangaroo could attract major international productions such as Disney’s Frozen to the area. Picture: Lisa Tomasetti

“The challenge is making sure we’ve got the vision for Barangaroo correct, and that’s not just us – it’s about what Sydney wants it to be.

“We want to deliver a landmark bit of infrastructure down there so we’re working through all the stakeholders’ positions,” he said.

Mr McWhinnie said that the site is “potentially a big enough area for a theatre to go in” but it would take more than just building it for a theatre to work.

“What is needed to make sure that is successful is the transportation infrastructure to bring people into Barangaroo,” he said.

“It would be nice to think that some consideration could possibly be given to improving the ferry network into Barangaroo Wharf.”

Aqualand chief executive John Carfi, with managing director Jin Lin, says the company wants to deliver alandmark for all Sydneysiders at Barangaroo. Picture: Supplied.

Crown’s hotel is already booming but with 90 per cent of guests coming from the domestic market. International visitors are down to 1.9 million last year compared to 3.5 million pre-Covid.

Mr McWhinnie said internationally Sydney has “fallen a bit off the radar screen” and Crown was working hard with Destination NSW to advertise Sydney as a destination to the world.

There are 50,000 bookings at the resort’s restaurants between now and the New Year but Mr McWhinnie believes a huge pent up demand for international travel will see many of those Aussies heading overseas next year as more flights come on stream.

Margy Osmond, chief executive of the Tourism and Transport Forum, said that is why Sydney needed to keep building on its attractions.

“We need a new theatre, it is the gap in our bidding capacity for major new musicals and productions,” she said.

“Live performances are driving the return of people to the CBD and a new theatre would help drive that,” she said. “It is a genius idea and Barangaroo is the perfect place for it.”

Originally published as New Crown Sydney boss says a 2000 seat lyric theatre would draw crowds to Barangaroo