The Queensland Government has announced a new $150 million state of the art theatre will be built on the Playhouse Green site at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) in Brisbane.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Deputy Premier and Member for South Brisbane Jackie Trad and Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch took to QPAC’s Lyric Theatre stage on the set of Aladdin to announce an investment of $125 million towards its construction.
“The go-ahead for the new theatre is a wonderful outcome for audiences and for all our arts companies, artists and arts workers,” said the Premier. “Brisbane is an important market for touring productions especially major musicals. QPAC reports it is nearing full capacity in all its theatres, with a strong forward program of bookings to 2022 and beyond.”
Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) Chair, Professor Peter Coaldrake AO, and Chief Executive John Kotzas welcomed the Queensland Government’s announcement of a new theatre at QPAC.
Professor Coaldrake said the theatre will create new opportunities for Queenslanders, help QPAC reach new audiences and demonstrated the strong shared vision between the Queensland Government and QPAC regarding the future of live performance in this State.
“The announcement provides an exciting pathway to the future for QPAC as the leading destination for live performance in Queensland,” said Professor Coaldrake. “Over three decades, QPAC has established itself as a leader in the performing arts and this expansion reflects our path of continued growth and optimism for an already burgeoning centre known for its work within the local community as well as nationally and internationally.”
“A new theatre enables QPAC to reach new audiences across Queensland, build on the vibrancy of the Queensland Cultural Centre and grow the value of the performing arts to Queensland’s creative, cultural and tourism economies. The broad and beneficial outcomes of a new theatre will be welcomed equally by the arts sector and the Queensland community,” added Professor Coaldrake.
QPAC Chief Executive, John Kotzas said the announcement further enables QPAC to carry out its mission to engage and enrich people through live performance. “This will be celebrated news for live performance in Queensland, for our creatives and artists practicing in Queensland, for our technicians and specialists and for our audiences,” said Mr Kotzas.
“The announcement of a new theatre expands what we have achieved over the past 30 years and broadens our thinking about the future. The possibilities are endless for deepening our engagement with audiences and the artists and companies we invite to QPAC. It expands the art-forms presented and how we present them.
“The digital and technological advances available in new theatre infrastructure also gives promise to QPAC’s intentions of growing the reach of its programs to audiences beyond Brisbane including regional Queenslanders,” said Mr Kotzas.
A new theatre at QPAC will see the Centre continue to provide rich in-theatre experiences across five venues, attract audiences from Queensland as well as visitors from across the country and globe, and operate as one of the largest and busiest performing arts centres in Australia. For more information, visit: www.qpac.com.au for details.
Image: QPAC Chair Professor Peter Coaldrake AO, Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch, Shubshru Kandiah (Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin), Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Ainsley Melham (Aladdin in Disney’s Aladdin), Deputy Premier and Member for South Brisbane Jackie Trad and QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas – photo courtesy of QPAC