Sydney Theatre Eyes Expansion Plans

The Sydney Lyric theatre is in line for a major internal remodelling to create a second performance space. 

Foundation Theatres, which also owns the Capitol Theatre at Haymarket, has applied to the City of Sydney Council for permission to undertake the Pyrmont theatre renovation plans.

The application seeks to repurpose a back-of-house area at the theatre at 55 Pirrama Road to create a venue for 630 patrons. 

The space would be able to operate in multiple modes of seated and standing configurations, and would fall under the same management team as the Sydney Lyric.

Operations would be scaled to accommodate the additional venue and patrons.

Designed by Altis Architecture, the remodel would happen within the envelope of the existing building and the new section would provide bar service for food and beverage offerings.

The proposal is permitted within the commercial centre zoning of the site, as it “seeks to strengthen the role of the commercial centre for cultural activities and will provide an entertainment use that serves the needs of the local and wider community”.

▲ A render of the new venue proposed for the Sydney Lyric.

The Lyric underwent an $18 million upgrade in 2017, including movable walls that alter the seating capacity from 1350 up to 2010 seats.

The theatre, opened in 1997, is part of the Star Sydney complex, built in 1995 as a major entertainment complex. 

Since then, it has undergone significant expansions and renovation, with the addition of hotels, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues.

The wider Pyrmont area is subject to the 2020 Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy, which aims to “unlock new jobs, new opportunities and a vibrant 24-hour culture”.

The City of Sydney is now working with landowners on plans for the sub-precincts.