Live Performance Australia implores NSW Government to save Theatre Royal
Peak industry body Live Performance Australia (LPA) has called on the NSW Government to step in and save Sydney’s Theatre Royal.
The NSW Government has flagged the possibility to use the site for a new live performance venue as part of the redevelopment of the Powerhouse Museum, but with the venue remaining closed since March of 2016, LPA wants the theatre’s future resolved now.
“This theatre is a very valuable part of our live performance infrastructure and to have it dark for more than two years now is severely limiting opportunities for our producers, performers and audiences,” said LPA chief executive Evelyn Richardson.
“Sydney has fallen way behind Melbourne when it comes to live performance venue capacity which is not only bad for Sydney but also impacts on audiences around the rest of the country.
“The NSW Government cannot idly stand by and allow the demolition or downgrading of existing infrastructure.”
LPA wants the owners of the site, the City of Sydney, industry leaders and the NSW Government to meet to decide the future of the venue.
“The loss of the Theatre Royal has materially impacted the opportunity for Sydney to host major productions, depriving local performers and industry workers of jobs, limiting choice for audiences, and short-changing the visitor economy through lost visitation and economic activity generated by live performance,” said Richardson.
“If a show can’t be booked into Sydney, that can affect the touring prospects for other Australian cities.
“Australian audiences are missing out on seeing great shows because there are not enough venues in Sydney to make presenting these productions viable.”
Richardson and LPA also spoke about the waste of having the venue sitting there unused for such a long time, leading to countless opportunities missed.
“Every day the Theatre Royal is closed is another missed opportunity for Sydney’s live performance industry and audiences and the Government should make reactivation of the site an immediate strategic priority for live performance in NSW.”