Celebrated theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh has thrown his weight behind a new 1500-seat theatre for Sydney, “preferably” in Sydney’s CBD downtown.
He is the second theatre heavyweight to back the consolidation of a theatre district, his backing coming as the public rallied on Sunday in support of the shuttered Minerva Theatre in Kings Cross.
Protesters took action on Sunday to save the Metro-Minerva Theatre in Kings Cross. Credit:James Alcock
One of the world’s most prolific producers of musicals, Mackintosh is responsible for three of the longest-running musicals of all time: Les Misérables, The Phantom Of The Opera, returning to the Sydney Opera House in 2022, and Cats.
Sir Cameron brought Hamilton to the Sydney Lyric Theatre with the Michael Cassell Group.
And he is bringing a revival of Mary Poppins to Sydney, opening on May 15, having written the synopsis more than 30 years ago at the Quay near the Sydney Opera House, and after winning the stage rights from then elderly author, Pamela Travers.
The musical of Mary Poppins returns to Sydney in 2022 after last playing in the city in 2010.
“The reason why I wanted to bring it back is it’s a show full of joy, iconic songs and incredible characters,” Mackintosh said. “After all the world has gone through in the last couple of years that’s why audiences have reacted so brilliantly to it.”
The owner of eight historic theatres, Sir Cameron ruled out any direct interest in buying into a commercial theatre in Sydney, due to existing commitments and age. But he said a smaller theatre in Sydney was not economical to stage the biggest musicals.
“When they ripped down the Old Her Majesty’s they didn’t replace it with a better version of it,” he said. “Sydney severely lacks a 1500-1600 seat theatre like Her Majesty’s in Melbourne. The Regent went, the Tivoli went.”
Cameron Mackintosh backs new Sydney theatre
Source: Philippines Alive
