Sydney Opera House unveils Joan Sutherland Theatre refurbishment

Having been closed for the past seven months, a $71 million upgrade to the Joan Sutherland Theatre at the Sydney Opera House has been unveiled.

The major overhaul of the orchestra pit and backstage area now features new state-of-the-art theatre machinery, replacing the original rigging systems installed in 1973 that were operated manually.

Two new lifts can carry up to 10 tonnes of stage sets up to the stage, and musicians now have a refurbished orchestra pit with improved acoustics.

Sydney Opera House Chief Executive Louise Herron said the work was desperately needed, stating

"we had to do this work. We had to do it for safety reasons. We've made great improvements for the musicians, for the staff, safety improvements and also some amenity improvements for the general public.

"But the general public hopefully will come in here and not really notice very much at all."

Female theatre patrons will likely notice a difference in bathroom lines, with six additional women's toilets built to better serve audiences.

The theatre is one of the Opera House's busiest venues with about 330 performances a year.

The new theatre flying system is quieter and more reliable, and able to carry sets weighing 800 kilograms each.

Integration Manager Lou Rosicky said it was the first time in the Theatre's history they have been able to take the time to stop and undertake a full renewal of the equipment.

Rosicky told the ABC “if we don't have a reliable high capacity scenery lift to get everything up here we just simply can't put the shows on.

"When the theatre was originally designed and built, all the sets were two-by-one with stretch canvas over them so very crafty, but very lightweight.

"Sets are incredibly activated these days - there's a lot of automation, a lot of audio visual content and a higher weight capacity that goes along with it."

Rosicky said while audiences may not notice the subtle differences, they would see a change in productions, adding “they'll see designers, directors being able to take more chances, design more daring shows, more complex shows, and hopefully that wow factor will grow exponentially with the capacity of the new theatre that we've built."

Opera Australia Chief Executive Rory Jeffes said the changes would transform the experience for performers and audiences.

Jeffes concluded "I often think of the Sydney Opera House as being the body and Opera Australia as the heartbeat that makes this building come alive and we just couldn't be happier with the results of the work.”

The venue officially opens on New Year's Eve with Opera Australia's production of The Merry Widow.

Images: The new backstage at the Joan Sutherland Theatre (top), intensive construction on the theatre was carried out for seven months (middle) and NSW Minister for Arts Don Harwin, Opera House Chief Executive Louise Herron and Opera Australia Chief Executive Rory Jeffes (below). Images courtesy of the Sydney Opera House.

10th October 2017 - NEW CONSERVATION PLAN FOR SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE

13th July 2017 - OPERA AUSTRALIA DELIVERING 19 PERFORMANCES ACROSS REGIONAL AUSTRALIA

27th May 2017 - SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE NAMED AUSTRALIA’S FAVOURITE LANDMARK

20th May 2017 - BIGGEST EVER RENOVATION SET TO COMMENCE AT THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE 

25th October 2016 - REVIEW OF AUSTRALIAN OPERA WARNS AGAINST USE OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS FOR ‘COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES’

11th August 2016 - SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE SET FOR $202 MILLION RENEWAL

3rd April 2016 - SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE TAPESTRY UNVEILED 56 YEARS AFTER ITS COMMISSION

7th September 2015 - SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE AWARDED FOR SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP

25th June 2015 - SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE UPGRADES TO IMPACT 2017 PERFORMANCES

25th February 2015 - $600 MILLION PLAN TO UPGRADE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE AND ARTS VENUES  

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.