News October 23, 2018

New performing arts centre to open up West Sydney to live music opportunities

Image: artist design of how the WSPAC will look

Exactly 12 months to go before it opens, the Western Sydney Performing Arts Centre is inviting bookings from concert promoters, Australian and international arts companies and theatre producers.

With $100 million sunk into its building and technical services, the 2000-seat venue (2300 for standing concerts) boasts a full 80-line fly system, retractable seating, an orchestra pit for a 30-piece and outstanding sight-lines.

NSW minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres stated, “All eyes are on Western Sydney where we are redefining the cultural experience, building cultural infrastructure which will be the envy of the world.

“The new Western Sydney Performing Arts Centre will showcase some of the finest homegrown and international concerts, ballets, musicals and live events, and become a destination in its’ own right.”

The pitch is that the venue is centrally located – 16 minutes from Blacktown, 21 minutes from the new Western Sydney Airport, and 23 minutes from Penrith.

It is also easily accessible from the Blue Mountains, Central West and Southern Highlands.

Craig McMaster, executive director of Western Sydney Performing Arts Centre stated, “Our goal is for this truly beautiful new venue to become the new centre for arts and entertainment in Greater Western Sydney and an iconic tourism destination for people throughout NSW and beyond.

“Audiences in Sydney are at risk of missing out on some major shows because of the lack of theatre availability.

“This stunning new theatre will offer an exciting new option for producers and promoters, and also offer Australia’s leading arts and production companies the gateway venue to Western Sydney’s rapidly expanding population and economy that has been long overdue.”

In other openings:

Surfers Paradise gets a new live music venue Finn McCool, courtesy Hallmark Group who already run a version in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. Hallmark has spent $2 million in a makeover since acquiring the site after a high profile Irish bar that suddenly closed earlier this year.
Richard Fanale and Sam Hryckow, operators and artistic directors of the Palais in Ballarat, in regional Victoria, are celebrating its re-opening next month by staging the World Circus and Cabaret Festival November 15-18.
Ben McBeath, new owner of Newcastle’s Great Northern Hotel, has confirmed that it will continue to showcase live music when it re-opens next month. Work started two years ago under former owner Kurt Braune but stopped when it was discovered the building would need an electricity substation.