Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre is upgrading its balcony. Photo: Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre.
While there are apparent upgrades to the Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre taking place, there is still no update on when the construction on a promised revamp of the facility to include a new theatre to cater for live music will commence.
Wagga Wagga City Council (WWCC) says it has made no progress on its Civic Theatre Masterplan since the draft was approved in July 2024. The plan sets out a vision for a Performing Arts Centre to provide multi-programming spaces on one site with the addition of two new venues. It was first conceived five years ago.
At the start of the new year, the Civic Theatre announced on social media that there would be upgrades to the balcony in January and February. Council says this is unrelated to its masterplan.
“Heads up, theatre lovers. We’re upgrading our balcony this January and February. While we’re working to improve, the box office is still open and ready to help you with your ticketing needs,” the theatre announced on Facebook.
The Civic Theatre Masterplan
The proposed contemporary Performing Arts Centre will include two new venues.
One of the venues will cater for live music, with 774 people standing, 328 people seated theatre-style, or 270 people seated for a gala dinner-style event.
The second venue will host intimate gigs and events, with the capacity to hold 119 people seated or 200 people standing.
There will be upgrades to the Basement Theatre, while the original Civic Theatre will remain the same with its 491 seats and original facade.
The Civic Theatre Masterplan has officially been unveiled to the Wagga public and has been put up for public submission. Photo: Wagga Wagga City Council.
Wagga art historian Doctor Sam Bowker said the Civic Theatre expansion put Wagga on the theatre map.
“The expansion is a wonderful and much-needed idea,” Dr Bowker said.
“It will change the way people perceive Wagga as a touring destination and expand our capacity for locally produced productions.
“With the arts scene growing in Wagga, this is a much-needed addition.”
The masterplan proposes two new venues to the exisiting auditorium, to allow spaces for shows’ needs. Photo: Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre.
Dr Bowker said the upgrade would enable Wagga to accommodate large-scale and mid-sized events in a more versatile way than the current facilities allowed.
“That versatility will result in better community engagement, better performing arts or touring calendars, and enable more ambitious productions to be part of what is the arts scene.
“The proposed model includes a large space with the capacity for a standing-room, dance-style venue configuration — something we don’t have in Wagga at the moment, of that capacity and calibre.
“It’s also the ability to divide that into smaller spaces, very much on the model of the Sydney Opera House that we are looking to build here in Wagga.”
Timeline
In 2017, the community called for more performance and arts engagement opportunities as part of WWCC’s Community Strategic Plan.
Council then added two new performance spaces in the Cultural Plan 2020–30, and further consultation was held in 2020/21 to develop the masterplan, which was held for public exhibition from April to May 2024.
At the end of 2023, a separate community consultation was held as part of the Riverside Stage Three concept plan.
In June 2024, WWCC announced it would begin seeking funding for the masterplan.
To find out more about the Civic Theatre Masterplan and be updated on the progress visit Wagga Wagga City Council.
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