South Australian arts gets back lost millions, Her Majesty’s set for revamp
South Australia’s arts sector is in celebratory mode. The Weatherill Government has returned the $7.7 million it previously took from the arts budget. Over the next four years, it will spend $15.7 million in the city’s arts sector.
It includes $700,000 for the Adelaide Festival of Arts, $3 million for Arts SA and $4 million each year to drive economic activity and job opportunities in the arts.
The SA Government also announced a $35.2 million upgrade over three years for Her Majesty’s Theatre in Adelaide. The desired effect is to stage 50 more shows a year once it reboots in late 2019, and more major national and international productions to the city.
SA Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis commented, “Expanding and revitalising Her Majesty’s Theatre will bring more major shows to Adelaide, create jobs and support traders in the precinct.”
Her Majesty’s is one of the last of the 20th century Tivoli circuit, beginning operations in 1913. But its 970 seat capacity has made it financially unviable for many major productions. The revamp, creating 220 jobs, adds an extra 570 seats in the auditorium. A new entrance and foyer will be built on adjoining land. The backstage, orchestral pit and technical facilities get an upgrade.
Douglas Gautier, CEO of Adelaide’s only other major theatre venue, the Adelaide Festival Centre, applauded the news of a revamp.
“Over recent years, a number of blockbusters, including The Lion King, Les Miserables and other theatrical, comedy and music products, have been bypassing Adelaide because of our shortage of large theatrical venues. This upgrade will provide a home for large-scale performances like this and further put Adelaide on the map.
“We know the audience demand exists for these shows but there is nowhere for them to play because the 2,000 seat Festival Theatre is Adelaide’s only large scale commercially viable theatre in South Australia and it is full to capacity.
“A second large theatrical venue will also enable the South Australian performing arts companies, especially the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the State Opera of South Australia, greater access to the Festival Theatre so they can put on nationally significant works.”
The Adelaide Festival Centre Trust, which manages Her Majesty’s, is raising $3 million to contribute to the project while the South Australian Government will spend an additional $1.1 million over two years supporting the Trust during times when the theatre is closed for renovations.
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