What's happening at Thebarton Theatre?

Thebarton Theatre is an iconic State heritage place in the City of West Torrens, located at 108-112 Henley Beach Road, Torrensville.

With the Theatre's 100^th birthday approaching in 2028, the Council successfully secured State Government funding towards upgrade of the Theatre and associated facilities, described together as the Thebarton Theatre Complex. 

Working with heritage experts, a site masterplan has been developed for the Complex that will conserve its unique heritage values, while enhancing its ongoing use as a working entertainment venue.

The Council has recently lodged an application for development approval for the first stage of the Thebarton Theatre Complex Upgrade. The decision authority for the application is the Council's Assessment Panel/Assessment Manager. 

The proposal will be assessed against relevant policies in the Planning and Design Code, and referred to the State Heritage Branch for expert assessment of heritage impacts. A formal public notification process is also underway until Tuesday 30 May 2023 to invite community feedback on the development application.

Short term and long term plans 

The scope of redevelopment of the Thebarton Theatre Complex is specified in Council's funding agreement with the State Government through the Local Government Infrastructure Partnership Program. While all of these elements feature in the masterplan for the Complex, only some form part of the development application Council has lodged. This initial portion of redevelopment work is described as 'Stage 1 works'.

The plans lodged for approval include:

• Improved accessibility and experience for patrons, achieved by a new entry lobby adjoining the Theatre to the east, new bathrooms, stairs and lift, and sensitively renovated bar and lounge areas.
• Improved outdoor/public areas and opportunity for events achieved through paving, landscaping, lighting, seating and shade.
• Repainting of Theatre frontage and interior, and new signage board.
• Reconfiguring car parking to provide parking compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth).
• Improvements to operational access including relocated delivery access and loading areas, a new loading access way, and a new dedicated loading dock and storeroom.

To allow the reconfiguration of access for vehicles, a cottage on the Complex site at 164 South Road will be demolished. This building is identified as a Representative Building in the Historic Area Overlay of the Planning and Design Code. Through the planning assessment process, the proposed demolition will be considered against the relevant heritage policies and in the context of the broader heritage conservation and enhancement work proposed for the Complex as a whole.

It is expected that Thebarton Theatre will be closed from mid-2023 until completion of the Stage 1 redevelopment.

Aspects of the masterplan that are not part of the current development application and would be delivered in future stages of redevelopment are:

• Multi-purpose function spaces on level 1 of the Theatre and in the Assembly Building fronting South Road, as well as corporate boxes.
• Operational improvements such as new stage, dressing rooms, commercial kitchen and fly tower over existing stage with storage expansion to loading dock.
• Additional restoration/refurbishment to Theatre building, including improvements to western front-of-house spaces fronting Henley Beach Road.
• Further upgrade of outdoor spaces on South Road ('Theatre Plaza') and Thebby Lane ('Laneway Bar').

The masterplan has been designed in such a way that should future stages of redevelopment go ahead, impact on previously completed stages will be minimised, limiting costs and disruption associated with the staged approach. 

View the redevelopment plans 

Council is keen to share plans for the Thebarton Theatre Complex Redevelopment with our community, and show how funding secured from the South Australian Government has been invested in the future of this important asset.

Click here to view a selection of concept plans for the Thebarton Theatre Complex Upgrade. 

Interested in a closer look at the long term plans for Thebarton Theatre, and the proposed Stage 1 works? Council staff and the project architects and heritage specialists will be on hand and plans and drawings on display at the following viewing session: 

• Thursday 25 May, 5pm to 7pm at Thebarton Theatre, 112 Henley Beach Road, Torrensville.