How does this sound as a name for QPAC’s new and long-overdue theatre? The Russell Street Theatre. Well, it’s on Russell Street and that name is one of four suggested by the State Government.
Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek flagged these new names on Thursday during a sneak peek walk-through of the new theatre on the corner of Russell and Grey streets, which will open in 2026.
No-one – not even the minister – can tell us when exactly the building itself will open, but it will be in 2026 and construction will be completed late this year. It’s several years late (delayed gratification is sometimes the best kind) and is over budget, but isn’t everything?
It was slated to cost $150 million but that has risen to about $185 million – and it may even end up a smidge more by the time it’s finished. I can report that it will be worth the wait because it is stunning.
Artist’s impression of QPAC’s new fifth theatre, opening in 2026.
QPAC’s fifth theatre with 1500 seats will create capacity for an additional 300,000 visitors each year, making it the largest performing arts venue in Australia under one roof. (We will trump the Sydney Opera House, according to Langbroek)
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This bespoke theatre features a world-class auditorium with a 15m by 15m stage, balcony seating, two modern foyers (the top one has gorgeous skylights) and a stunning 217-panel curved-glass façade. The interior is lined with stained Queensland ironbark and seats have airconditioning beneath them, which is a new thing.
But what to call it? Asking the public is tricky, considering what happened in the UK. Remember Boaty McBoatface, the name that won a public vote to name a new UK polar research ship, though the ship was ultimately named RRS Sir David Attenborough, instead. (The name Boaty McBoatface was given to a fleet of six autonomous underwater vehicles.)
One wag yesterday suggested TheatreMcTheatreFace but, hopefully, that doesn’t get up.
Langbroek is encouraging the community to submit their idea for a name or vote for a pre-selected name.
“The pre-selected names of Glasshouse and Lantern are inspired by the theatre’s shimmering façade, while Watershed and Russell reference the theatre’s location and proximity to the river,” he says. “We’re excited to soon close the curtain on the construction phase and premiere this incredible venue to audiences across Queensland and the globe.”
‘This new theatre will be an artistic masterpiece and … will truly showcase our state’
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Minister for Housing and Public Works Sam O’Connor, on hand on Thursday morning for the sneak peek, praised the major projects team within his department and thanked the workers who have been bringing the new performing arts centre to life.
“This new theatre will be an artistic masterpiece and, with 90 tonnes of Queensland timber in the auditorium and an iconic curved-glass facade symbolising the twists and turns of the Brisbane River, it will truly showcase our state,” O’Connor says. He managed a few digs at the Labor Government, which he blamed for the three-year blowout, but, I guess you have to give them credit for getting it up in the first place.
QPAC chief executive Rachel Healy was also on hand, smiling at the thought of opening a new theatre. It will make her job easier and means she won’t have to knock back as many shows as she does now. Healy says the new theatre will be completed in what will be a milestone year for QPAC.
“As we celebrate QPAC’s 40th anniversary this year, the new theatre represents an exciting growth stage for our centre as it allows our team to program a greater variety of artforms, productions and artists for local and visitor audiences,” Healy says.
“The new theatre will be more than just a building for Queensland -it will nurture our state’s emerging artists and present new work, provide spaces to enable unique entertainment experiences and extend our digital reach. Crucially, it also ensures we can welcome a wider community of audiences with its central commitment to accessibility.”
The QPAC 40th celebrations kick off on Saturday, April 12, with a community event on site with free performances, activities and tours, as well as food and ticket giveaways.
It will be a big year with the return of the popular Out of The Box Festival, established by former chief executive John Kotzas. Also returning is Clancestry and the QPAC International Series is being rebooted with French company Ballet Preljocaj performing in the middle of the year.
Since it opened in 1985, more than 30 million people have come through the doors at QPAC to see 33,500 shows and performances. That number will increase with the new theatre, whatever it is called. Russell Street Theatre is by far the best of the names on the shortlist. Lantern is weird, Watershed is asking for trouble (remember the floods?) and Glasshouse … well, they are mountains. Nope, Russell Street Theatre is what it should be called.
But if you have other name suggestions, consultation is open and closes at 5pm on May 10. For more information and to vote on a name, visit arts.qld.gov.au/newtheatre