Refurbished interiors at the reopened Theatre Royal Sydney.
Sir Howard Panter, Tim McFarlane, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Emily Nkomo and then NSW Minister for the Arts, Don Harwin at the venue reopening. Credit: James D Morgan.
Theatre Revival Karen Sweaney looks at the significance of the reopened Theatre Royal Sydney
W
hile any new opening can be filled with drama, openings in the Coronavirus era have been especially uncertain with lockdowns and restrictions playing havoc with work programs and launch schedules. The much-anticipated revival of Theatre Royal Sydney, has been no exception with its original September 2021 opening date pushed back to 2nd December last year and its planned program in its initial two months skewing from full houses to seeing performances lost because of the uncertainty of the Omicron variant. Nevertheless, the relaunch of Theatre Royal Sydney is especially significant bringing, as then NSW Minister for the Arts, Don Harwin said at the opening, “(theatrical) life back to the centre of the city after the challenges of the last few years … increasing Sydney’s capacity to host new productions and compete on the world-stage for more first-run international shows, ensuring high-quality productions well into the future.” A third Sydney venue capable of hosting major productions, it changes the city’s entertainment landscape, contributing to its 24-hour economy and delivering significant economic benefits. Moving on from several years of closure and uncertainty over its future, the multi-million dollar refurbishment of the venue, 58 Australasian Leisure Management Issue 148
located in Sydney’s MLC Centre, came as a result of Create NSW facilitating a partnership with building owner Dexus and UK-based Trafalgar Entertainment, the new operators of the venue. Trafalgar Entertainment, co-founded by Sir Howard Panter and Dame Rosemary Squire in 2017, is looking to deliver on a ‘Sydney gets it first’ promise to bring the very best of international theatre to the city. Already this has seen a short run of Broadway musical Jagged Little Pill, followed by Girl from the North Country and with an American in Paris scheduled to play from 2022. Sir Howard, Trafalgar’s joint Chief Executive, commented “when we set our eyes on Theatre Royal Sydney, a true Australian theatrical icon, we were committed to restoring it back to all its glory, and to sit once again in the heart of Sydney’s CBD - where the city meets the stage. “Sydney has always been a landmark destination globally, and now it has back in place a landmark to visit and see the best of world class theatre.” Focused on new productions, the distribution of livestreaming innovative content and the provision of spaces where people can come together to share in the experience of live entertainment, Trafalgar Entertainment is home to Theatre Royal Sydney, Trafalgar Theatre London, Olympia Theatre, London, 12 regional UK Theatres, Trafalgar Theatre Productions, Trafalgar Releasing, Stagecoach Performing Arts, Helen O’Grady Drama Academy, London Theatre Direct, Luke Shires Marketing, Jonathan Church Theatre Productions and The Chiswick Cinema. Heritage and refurbishment One of Australia’s oldest theatrical institutions, originating in 1832, the current Theatre Royal Sydney was built in 1976, designed by modernist architect Harry Seidler, offering a broad range of entertainment including dramas, comedy and musicals. Many leading Australian and international performers have graced the Theatre Royal Sydney stage. Notably, in 1980, Mel Gibson and Noni Hazlehurst took to the stage in ‘No Names…No Pack Drill’ while its colourful history also includes an interval bomb scare at the Australian Premiere of CATS in 1985 - with audience members including Australian
