Brisbane South Bank to get new $150 million theatre

The Queensland Government has selected the winning design for the theatre at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) on Brisbane’s South Bank.

Located at the heart of Brisbane's cultural, the new $150 million theatre will host up to 1,500 patrons and is expected to be completed by 2022.

The new building, to be constructed on the corner of South Bank’s Russell and Grey Streets, will be able to host up to 1,500 guests and will allow the precinct an extra 260 performances a year, with the potential to welcome an additional 300,000 visitors a year.

Advising that the Queensland Government had committed $125 million of the $150 million construction cost, with local architect Blight Rayner and international designer Snohetta picked to drive the project, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday stated “this is the largest investment in Queensland arts infrastructure since the Gallery of Modern Art.

"Once this new theatre is built, QPAC will become the largest performing arts centre in Australia."

Six separate firms were shortlisted for the project in January, after the Queensland Government received 24 expressions of interest.

QPAC Chair, Professor Peter Coaldrake, and Chief Executive John Kotzas acknowledged the unveiling as a significant day for QPAC and the performing arts in Queensland.

Professor Coaldrake stated “the $125 million contribution by the Queensland Government to the Centre’s fifth theatre venue is considerable.

“I thank the Premier, Deputy Premier and the Arts Minister for this investment in the future of QPAC and the future of live performance in this state.”

QPAC Chief Executive Kotzas highlighted the project as a rare opportunity to reimagine the future, adding “at QPAC, we have big and bold ambitions. The new performing arts venue, and this design, are integral to us achieving them.

“It was of most importance to QPAC that the selected design envisioned a state-of-the-art venue, one that was welcoming, accessible and connected, and a theatre with the technical capacity to better share live performance experiences across Queensland. It was a place that grows with the aspirations of QPAC, the expectations of audiences and visitors, and the creative ambitions of performing artists and practitioners well into the future.

“What’s also important was how the new theatre connects QPAC today with the QPAC of tomorrow. This includes growing our capability to broaden the impact and reach of live performance in this state, including through digital means.”

Images show concept designs for the new theatre. Courtesy of the Queensland Government.