Fifty years ago, the theatre was demolished as part of the MLC Centre development. Saved from becoming an office development through protests, a Green Ban, and significant incentives to Lend Lease. A new 1,180-seat theatre was included in Lend Lease’s construction plans.
Designed by Harry Seidler in a modernist style, the iconic Theatre Royal reopened on 23 January 1976 with the musical, A Night To Remember. Sadly, ten years ago, the theatre went dark again. I backed a public campaign, and through a collaborative effort the Theatre Royal was again rescued. It re-opened as we now know it, in 2021.
It was good to see that Seidler’s iconic 1970s design was lovingly restored and it has welcomed over 1.1 million patrons through its doors since. Its survival has meant that we have reaped enormous cultural, social and economic rewards.
Each year the City invests about $34 million on arts and culture which supports the 1,700 creative businesses in the City, and the thousands more that rely on them.
The Theatre Royal is a significant landmark and key cultural icon in our City. Here’s to another 50 years, which I hope will be battle free.
