Foundry Theatre opens at Sydney Lyric

February 20, 2025

Arts / Entertainment / Venues /

An unused space behind the Sydney Lyric has transformed as a new theatre space with room for 630 standing patrons or 360 in seats.

Making use of the Sydney Lyric’s dock - where sets are unloaded and stored for shows - the new Foundry Theatre is a multi-purpose, flexible, intimate performance space that can be adapted for live music, comedy, musical theatre or cabaret

Opened this month by Foundation Theatres, access is via the Lyric’s foyer, with a winding corridor leading to the space, which is animated by audiovisual effects tailored to each performance.

In a statement, Foundation Theatres Chief Executive, Graeme Kearns explained “taking this underutilised space and turning it into a theatre is something that we’ve wanted to do for more than 10 years.”

The new venue was opened last week by writer, musician, comedian and director Tim Minchin and his band.

Minchin advised “the opening of a new theatre is a rare and wonderful thing.

“I was stoked that the legendary theatre-builder Stephen Found asked me to be the canary in the coalmine. Or the champagne bottle shattering on the hull. Or the mohel removing the foreskin … you get my drift.”

Following Minchin are a wide ranging series of performances including Cole Porter’s musical comedy Kiss Me, Kate which is returning to Sydney stages for the first time since the 1950s. Comedians Akmal, Gillian Cosgriff, Lawrence Mooney, and the Umbilical Brothers are all on the bill between April and May. From 24th May to 6th July, the venue will welcome L’Hôtel an immersive cabaret-burlesque-circus spectacle.

Images: Tim Minchin on stage at the Foundry Theatre last week (top), the audience at the venue (middle) and its foyer (below). Credit: The Foundry.

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