Brolga Theatre performance space to be enhanced

A new storage area will be added to the Brolga Theatre in Maryborough.

“The extra space is needed to cope with the variety of local productions and touring shows being attracted to the theatre,” Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said.

“The venue also hosts regular conferences (large and small), expos, trade shows, meetings, product launches, celebrations and awards dinners, school formals and weddings.

“There is a need for storage space for large theatrical equipment, a performance workshop area and a larger loading dock suitable for unloading and short-term storage of the travel cases of touring productions.

“While the theatre has hosted some fantastic productions, such as the world premiere of Happy Ever After; the first pantomime ever to be adapted from a chapter of a PL Travers’s Mary Poppins books, there is limited space for construction and storage of sets whilst other performances utilise the primary spaces.

“The extra space will enable us to concurrently deliver performances and conferences while we prepare for upcoming shows, enabling greater utilisation of the theatre in order to expand the theatrical abilities of locals.”

Concept plans for the $500,000 project have been developed. Funding has been provided as part of Round 3 of the Queensland Government – Works for Queensland program.

“Directing the project will be similar to directing a play,” Cr Seymour said.

“The building work has to be undertaken while the theatre continues to operate as performances have already been booked for the year.

“We anticipate building will start in April and be completed in June.”

Minister for Local Government Stirling Hinchliffe praised the Fraser Coast Regional Council for identifying the need for these works.

“As an important community asset, upgrading the Brolga Theatre is exactly the type of project the $600 million Works for Queensland is designed to help regional councils deliver,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“Across the three rounds of the program, Fraser Coast Regional Council has received $39.45 million to help deliver 64 projects while creating or supporting 315 local jobs so far.

“It’s an excellent example of what can be achieved when our two levels of government work together for the benefit of the community.”

Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders said he was very proud of the Works for Queensland program.

“It has delivered over $35 million to the Fraser Coast Regional Council to ensure infrastructure and maintenance programs can occur, while ensuring creating and maintaining jobs is the focus,” he said.