New Canberra Theatre Centre executive director Georgia Hendy: the role is a fantastic opportunity. Photo: CTC.
Who could resist the lure of taking charge of a brand new theatre?
Certainly not Georgia Hendy, who will take up her new role as Canberra Theatre Centre executive director in February.
She will walk on to a stage set for someone who has worked intimately with a new theatre project, in her case the Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s 1500-seat Glasshouse Theatre due to open next year.
From 2019 to 2021 she worked in Major Projects at QPAC, involved in the design and construction of the new theatre, something that would have ticked a big box for the Canberra job.
Ms Hendy says becoming familiar with the details of how a theatre comes into being is a fantastic experience.
“I got to see the rigour that goes into the construction, but also refining design to make sure a building is both beautiful but incredibly practical too,” she says.
And future proofed, so productions and projects from Australia and around the world can use the space effectively for decades to come.
Applying that experience will be invaluable for shaping Canberra’s 2000-seat Lyric Theatre, which will open up the national capital to staging bigger and more complex productions.
“Canberra is so exciting because it’s at a really interesting point in its arts and cultural infrastructure journey,” Ms Hendy says.
Her four-and-a-half years at Sydney Opera House should also hold her in good stead for realising the Canberra Theatre Centre’s expanded aspirations.
“My experience at Sydney Opera House was this wonderful time where you got to dream incredibly big, because there’s lots of different venues, it’s incredibly dynamic, there’s really vibrant audiences,” Ms Hendy says.
She learnt you can dream big and audiences will take that journey with you.
Ms Hendy says the new theatre will allow CTC to bring to Canberra “some of the largest, most interesting, most complex, most dynamic and exciting productions the world has to offer”.
“So suddenly you can house productions ranging from musicals to dance to music to theatre from all the major venues from Australia and the world,” she says. “So suddenly you can think really expansively about what’s possible for Canberra and Canberra audiences to enjoy.”
The new Lyric Theatre can be a huge economic driver: Georgia Hendy. Image: ACT Government.
Ms Hendy will also bring a long list of contacts.
“There’s a network of specialists around the country and the world who I’ve engaged with and who I know I can liaise with, speak to and draw on their expertise if we ever have a question.
“It’s a really exciting culmination of all those different experiences and all those different relationships to actually bring this new venue to life.”
Ms Hendy went on to become director of programming at QPAC before heading to Darwin in February 2024 as CEO of the Darwin Entertainment Centre, now known as AANT Centre.
There she oversaw a multi-venue precinct featuring two theatres, a 7000-capacity amphitheatre, gallery space, and hospitality facilities.
Under her leadership, the centre achieved national prominence, securing major sponsorships, diversifying revenue streams, and negotiating a landmark 10-year naming rights agreement to ensure long-term sustainability.
Ms Hendy says arts and cultural institutions can be huge economic drivers, creating jobs, boosting tourism and supporting local businesses.
“The Lyric Theatre has a fantastic opportunity to continue to feed the economics of the whole area around it as well.
“An amazing venue that is brimming with life, that is highly activated, that is really cleverly utilised, that the local community has great affection for, that is contributing programs to the community.
“All of those programs can be really exciting for businesses and for individuals to engage with and support, so I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for growth.”
For Ms Hendy, theatre needs to be community based and shared, whether that’s in framing ticket prices or providing access to facilities for local arts groups.
“I always try and make sure the cultural institutions I’m a part of have balance and variety and inclusivity for all parts of the community, so all people have an opportunity to engage.
“So it’s a matter of having various pricing brackets based on perhaps different locations in the house, it’s also making sure various programs are priced appropriately for community groups.”
In Darwin, the centre subsidised rehearsal and venue spaces for local artists to create and tell local stories.
Ms Hendy says there are many transferable opportunities in Canberra. “Access to the theatre centre is a really important pillar for all of the work that will happen there.”
Her plan is to harness the energy and skill in Canberra, and create inclusive programs to entice people to take a chance on performing arts and empower them to feel welcome in these sorts of public institutions.
“I just really want people to know how excited I am by the opportunity, and I’m really looking forward to moving and being part of Canberra’s cultural life.”
