Civic Theatre in daytime with lagoon in foreground

Arts & Culture

Up Staged! Civic Theatre stage to be refurbished

Published: 03 Feb 2022 9:20am

The Civic Theatre’s stage will be upgraded after Wagga Wagga City Council received a $41,000 grant under Create NSW’s Creative Capital Funding Program – Minor Works and Equipment Round 1.

The project will fund the replacement of the ageing and unlevel stage.

Theatre Manager Carissa Campbell said it will ensure the only professional theatre in the Eastern Riverina can continue to provide a safe and fit for purpose space for performances and events.

“This stage receives heavy use each year with more than 150 performances and audiences of over 50,000 each year,” Ms Campbell said.

“It was last refurbished over 20 years ago and is now uneven and sagging in places which makes it hard to level sets to keep them steady.

View of layers of stage at theatre — **LAYERS OF HISTORY:** A slice of stage revealed as part of the investigations for the funding application shows the changes it has undergone since the theatre’s official opening on 29 June 1963.

“It also makes it challenging for people in wheelchairs, dancers or actors who need to use props on wheels.”

The top two layers will be removed, and a levelling compound will be laid down and then the top layers replaced and painted. This will mean it is flat and even and will make building sets and performing safer and easier.

“This upgraded stage will mean the Civic Theatre can accommodate touring productions as well as community performances and provide the high-quality space they require.”

The stage upgrade project is expected to start early next year and be completed by March 2023.