Burswood Showroom to be given $5 million renovation

12/3/98

A $5 million refurbishment of the Burswood Showroom will provide Perth with a 2,000-seat theatre by the end of the year.

Racing and Gaming Minister Max Evans said today that Burswood CEO Ed Posey had informed him of the decision recently.

The redevelopment would involve installation of new seats specifically designed for theatre which would provide better and more comfortable seating for theatre style productions.

There would be extensions to the dress circle balcony including additional seats; acoustic refinement in the showroom; installation of an orchestra pit lift; an increase in the capacity of the counterweight flying system to enable a vast array of scenery changes for major productions; and creation of alternative access at stage level for stage props.

The work would be done in two stages and it was expected that it would be completed by the end of November.

In addition to providing major theatre productions, Burswood would retain the flexibility to convert the theatre to accommodate dinner shows and conference sessions.

Work on the acoustics, the orchestra pit, and the stage production facilities would improve the venue for theatre productions and provide Perth with a first-class 2,000-seat theatre capable of staging major productions that required large audiences for their commercial viability.

"Burswood's decision is timely and will add significantly to the range and quality of theatres available in Perth," Mr Evans said.