Civic Theatre refurbishment to be celebrated with gala opening
Date published: 29 June 2018
The Townsville Civic Theatre will be welcomed back after its $10 million refurbishment with a gala program of concerts.
The first concert Townsville Civic Theatre’s Act II, will include some of the best local theatre and dance acts in Townsville such as the Townsville Choral Society, North Queensland Opera Music Theatre, and the Barrier Reef Orchestra and solo singers Alex Thomas and Sandra Neal among many others.
The show will be held on Saturday July 14, with tickets $35 for adults and $15 for children.
The second concert will be a special edition of Morning Melodies and includes musical duo Melissa Western and Tnee Dyer playing a tailor-made program for Townsville audiences. The show is on Tuesday, July 17 and tickets are $14.
Mayor Jenny Hill said the concerts would allow the local arts community to celebrate the upgrades to the Civic Theatre.
“Townsville will arguably have the best theatre in regional Australia,” Cr Hill said.
“We will be able to host the best productions across the country and offer our local arts and music fans the same quality acts as they can get in Brisbane or Melbourne.”
Cr Hill said the Civic Theatre refurbishment was about bringing the city’s grand old dame into the modern era.
“The new seats will provide theatre-goers a new level of comfort and the entire theatre has a fresh new look,” Cr Hill said.
“Access for people with a disability has been improved for both patrons and performers with new seating configurations and a lift system in the dressing room area.
“Another standout feature is the new automated fly system back of house, which replaced the manual system that was always very labor intensive.”
Community and Cultural Development Committee Chair Cr Colleen Doyle said of the celebration program
“The Civic Theatre has been a crucial part of Townsville’s arts and cultural scene for forty years,” Cr Doyle said.
“Almost everyone in the local arts community has a connection to the Civic Theatre and that’s why it’s so important to celebrate its re-opening.
“Council has invested in upgrading the facilities at the Theatre so patrons can enjoy performances there for another four decades to come.”
