Get excited because Queensland’s oldest standing theatre, The Princess Theatre, is getting an epic makeover, and will soon be reopened to provide a little extra zest to Brisbane’s arts scene. This stunning 133-year-old theatre will be receiving a long awaited and well-deserved Princess Diaries-style royal makeover to become Brisbane’s newest home for live music and arts.
At the helm of the project are the owners of The Tivoli, brothers Steve Sleswick and Dave Sleswick, so you know they’ll do the theatre—and the future program—justice.
“We feel it’s vital for us to reclaim the building for Brisbane’s vibrant world-class arts sector and return it to the community to be used as it was originally intended,” Dave Sleswick said.
The new venue is just a leisurely stroll away from South Bank and the new Woolloongabba Cross River Rail so say goodbye to your date night parking woes. With a state-of-the-art performance auditorium designed for a standing capacity of 900, and a 500-seat theatre, this will be the jewel in the crown of Woolloongabba’s emerging entertainment and lifestyle precinct. The theatre also features four bars, a public café, private event spaces, a rehearsal room, a creative office and workshop space, and an outdoor courtyard—though they had us at four bars.
From world-class music to family shows, The Princess Theatre’s opening and ongoing program will definitely have something that will perk up your ears. After a year of hardship for the arts sector in Australia and around the world, this is the news we’ve all been waiting for to reignite Brisbane’s passion for all things arts.
The Princess Theatre is set to reopen in late August 2021, so stay tuned for a first glimpse.
Here’s nine other new developments hitting Brisbane to get excited about.
Image credit: Supplied