West HQ announces inaugural program of events at new Sydney Coliseum Theatre

The new $100 million Sydney Coliseum Theatre has today announced details of its opening gala performances along with its inaugural program of events and partnerships.

Located at West HQ, the new venue is seen as a significant new addition to Greater Western Sydney’s cultural landscape and to Australia’s live performance industry.

With its Grand Opening scheduled for December, media and stakeholders today attended the launch of the new building, to learn that Grammy and ARIA Award winning global star Keith Urban will officially open the venue on Saturday 21st December with a headline performance.

The Official Grand Opening Performance, a special ‘Keith Urban and Friends’ concert, has been created especially for the Sydney Coliseum Theatre and will feature performances by special guest Australian artists.

Australia’s leading arts companies - including Bangarra Dance Theatre, the Australian Ballet and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) - have also been confirmed to perform at the new venue with the SSO has also announced as an anchor partner for the venue with a series of performances scheduled throughout 2020.

In addition, a week of pre Grand Opening performances will include international award-winning performer Tina Arena, presented in association with the Michael Cassel Group, who will play two exclusive shows on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th December while Dame Edna Everage will bring her housewife megastar power to the Opening Program with the Tony Award winning star announcing two performances of 'Dame Edna My Gorgeous Life' on Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th December.

Paul Dainty, President and Chief Executive of TEG DAINTY, said he was delighted to announce Dame Edna would join the opening program of the Sydney Coliseum Theatre, commenting “Dame Edna Everage is one of Australia’s greatest ever exports, an iconic performer, artist and star of stage and screen.”

ARIA award winning John Butler will also perform on Friday 20th December in the line-up of all Australian performers appearing in the opening week celebrations of the landmark new theatre.

The inaugural year of programming at the venue will see the SSO, Wolfgang’s Magical Musical

Circus by Circa, the Australian Ballet’s family favourite ‘Storytime Ballet’, the  Sydney Dance Company, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Sydney Youth Orchestras and in early 2021, the internationally acclaimed St Petersburg Ballet.

Announcing the opening program, West HQ Chief Executive Richard Errington stated “today’s announcements of these world class opening acts, and the partnerships we have established with the cream of Australia’s arts and entertainment industry, are just the beginning of a long-term plan to bring the very best artistic and entertainment content to Greater Sydney.

“Our diverse program of contemporary and classical performances is a direct response to the audience demand in the region, and we can’t wait to roll out further amazing shows to audiences of Greater and Western Sydney and beyond. It’s been a privilege developing these exciting partnerships with the leaders in Australia’s arts and entertainment industries, all of whom are embracing our new venue with open arms.”

Sydney Coliseum Theatre, West HQ Executive Director, Craig McMaster added “the support of the Australian performing arts industry has been nothing short of extraordinary and on behalf of the team at West HQ we’d like to extend our thanks to all who have so enthusiastically embraced this exciting new venue. We look forward to further developing and expanding those relationships with all our current and future content partners.”

Following the formalities, media undertook a tour of the building with guests offered a first taste of the menu at Chu By China Doll, West HQ’s new premium dining destination due to open in the last quarter of 2019.

The Inaugural Program of Events will include performances by Australia’s top performing arts companies and concerts by Australia’s internationally acclaimed artists.

Following the formalities, media undertook a tour of the building with guests offered a first taste of the menu at Chu By China Doll, West HQ’s new premium dining destination due to open in the last quarter of 2019.

One of Australia’s leading theatre luminaries has already stated “The Sydney Coliseum Theatre will set a new standard. It’s likely once completed it will be the best 2,000 seat theatre in Australia. It is simply an amazing project.”

Image: Artist's impression of how the Sydney Coliseum Theatre will look when complete.