The new Lyric Theatre is expected to be a drawcard for major productions. Images: ACT Government.
Canberra’s new 2000-seat Lyric Theatre will cost $317 million under a contract awarded to Multiplex, with main construction to start early in 2026 and due to be completed in 2028.
The new theatre will be purpose-built to stage large-scale theatrical shows that have not been able to come to Canberra due to limitations at the existing Canberra Theatre.
These productions include major national and international musicals, ballet, opera and international acts such as Hamilton, Wicked, Lion King, Miss Saigon, Frozen, Mary Poppins.
The new theatre will rise from the former car park site on Vernon Circle next to the Playhouse. It will have a large state-of-the-art stage, technical performance capability and excellent sound quality, like that of the Sydney Lyric Theatre and the Princess Theatre in Melbourne.
The government says existing theatres at the Canberra Theatre Centre are too small for major shows to be profitable.
The new theatre’s seating capacity will mean it can attract top-tier performances and be a highly competitive venue on the national touring circuit.
It will feature three seating levels, a larger stage for big casts and sets, a framed stage (called a proscenium), modern orchestra pit for live music, a fly tower to fly scenery in and out, accessible seating, ramps and lifts, ticketing, cloaking and merchandise facilities, hospitality offerings, a sustainable, all-electric green star design and features honouring First Nations connection to Country.
The government expects the Lyric Theatre’s more expansive offering to deliver strong economic and visitor benefits for Canberra.
By year five of operations, it is projected to contribute $33.7 million a year in direct expenditure, representing 111,000 visitor nights each year.
The construction team includes designers Cox Architecture in collaboration with Yerrabingin, Charcoalblue theatre and acoustic consultants, as well as Arcadia Landscape Architecture.
The theatre is a timely investment in the visitor economy and the ACT’s cultural identity, says Chief Minister Andrew Barr.
The design reflects feedback from community consultation over the past two years.
The National Capital Authority provided main construction works approval in November, following public exhibition between September and October this year.
The Canberra Theatre Centre will remain open during construction so the community can continue to enjoy performances at the Playhouse, Canberra Theatre and Courtyard Theatres.
The new Lyric Theatre is part of a significant transformation of the City Centre, including light rail expansion, new active transport connections, multi-level car parks, commercial buildings, new and renewed public spaces, a new university campus, major cultural infrastructure and thousands of homes.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the new theatre would be a major driver of Canberra’s cultural and tourism economies, creating hundreds of jobs during the construction and operational phases.
“This project is also a key part of the transformation of our city centre,” he said.
“It will support the night-time economy, bringing thousands of people into the city centre each night, over the hundreds of nights it will be used each year.
“It’s a timely investment in our visitor economy and our cultural identity.”
Arts and Creative Industries Minister Michael Pettersson said the contract signing marked a major milestone in bringing this world-class cultural venue to life.
“We are another step closer to delivering a new performance space that will inspire creativity, support local talent and attract audiences from across the country,” he said.
“This is an exciting moment for Canberra and we look forward to seeing the site transform as work gets under way.”
Multiplex NSW/ACT regional managing director David Ghannoum said Multiplex had worked closely with the ACT Government, theatre users and stakeholders to ensure the new theatre was a world-class cultural venue for all Canberrans.
“We are excited to move into the next phase of delivery of bringing those plans to life,” he said.
It is not unexpected that Multiplex was awarded the construction contract, given it was selected in May as the early delivery partner for the project.
