A 1,500 capacity Broadway-style lyric theatre has been unveiled with the release of designs for Parramatta’s Riverside Theatre Redevelopment today.
The $188 million project is being jointly funded by the City of Parramatta Council, which will contribute $148 million, along with $40 million from the NSW Government’s Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program.
Lord Mayor, Pierre Esber said the reimagined Riverside Theatres will attract talent to Parramatta as the city becomes an epicentre for creativity.
“Our community will soon have access to a state-of-the-art facility that will attract major Australian works and the best of Broadway and the West End shows to Parramatta for the first time,” said the Lord Mayor.
“It also offers more opportunities for local and international talent to amplify their stories in a soon to be brand new modern theatre.
“We are committed to providing a thriving cultural precinct in Parramatta and this new design for Riverside brings us one step closer to our end goal.”
The redevelopment will more than double the current capacity of the Theatres with a new 1,500 Broadway-style lyric theatre; a newly refurbished 760-seat Riverside playhouse theatre; and new 424-seat black-box drama theatre.
Following an international design competition, COX Architecture with 3XN Architects, Aileen Sage, Turf Design Studio, and Bangawarra was assessed by the Design Excellence Competition Selection Panel as having an innovative, imaginative, and creative design that best reflects the vision for the transformation of Parramatta’s Riverside Theatres.
The redevelopment of the Riverside Theatres will include:
- a new 1500 Broadway-style lyric theatre;
- a newly refurbished 760 seat Riverside playhouse theatre;
- a new 424 seat black-box drama theatre;
- a new 88 seat digital studio and cinema;
- two fully flexible production rehearsal spaces;
- a refurbished back of house, technical and performer spaces;
- state-of-the-art technical specifications for all venues;
- a new Riverfront Café;
- corporate function spaces, and
- enhanced public spaces.
Construction for the Riverside Theatres Redevelopment Project will start in late 2025, with doors to the new multi-million performing arts facility set to open in 2028.
“Riverside Theatres has a rich and important history in Western Sydney. The redeveloped theatres will open across the river from the Powerhouse Parramatta, two significant landmarks that will transform and reimagine Parramatta’s cultural precinct,” said NSW Minister for the Arts, John Graham.
“The redevelopment will ensure people across Western Sydney have a new and reimagined performing arts centre that will allow the arts community and audiences to enjoy more performances on a far bigger stage.”
