AusLeisure

Singapore's Capitol Theatre has reopened after a billion-dollar facelift.

With the addition of a retail mall and the upcoming opening of residences and a hotel on the site, the 900-seat combined theatre and cinema is the biggest single-screen cinema in South East Asia. It is also the only dual-purpose theatre in Singapore, and can host arts and film events.

The Theatre's owners have developed synergies between the theatre and its retail arm, using old world charm and new offerings to engage consumers and attract tenants.

Masaki Nakashim, Chief Operating Officer of developer 45r explained "the theatre has a lot of history. They keep all the old buildings and make new ones. This is the same as our concept. So that’s why we decided to come here."

Capitol General Manager Dawn Tan told Channel NewsAsia "the theatre is a very important marketing tool for us because it allows us to continue to bring in different kinds of patrons.

“We can actually have musicals, forums like the arbitration forum, and also parties like the post-F1 party.

“The patron profile is constantly changing and it allows Capitol to be known and marketed to different people, and it brings a constant source, a new source of customers to capitol and to the brands."

Property analyst Chestertons said the renovated Capitol could inject new life into the Civic District, especially the stretch leading up to the Funan Mall .

Chestertons Managing Director Donald Han added "with Capitol, the Piazza, the Theatre and the two components, Patina and residential coming up, it helps to revitalize that entire area."

The Capitol Theatre opend in the 1930s, then became the flagship cinema of the Shaw Organisation from 1946.

Images: The Capitol Theatre today (top) and in 1958 (below).

28th Janaury 2014 - MARINA BAY SANDS PARTNERS WITH SHOWBIZ INTERNATIONAL TO LAUNCH BOOKINGS WEBSITE

31st July 2013 - SINGAPORE RECOGNISES 353 DONORS FOR THEIR $35.3 MILLION CONTRIBUTION TO THE ARTS

26th September 2012 - SINGAPORE INAUGURATES NEW ART ZONE 

19th December 2011 - WICKED CASTS ITS SPELL ON SINGAPORE 

7th April 2011 - LIVE! SINGAPORE 2011 TO CONNECT ASIAN PERFORMING ARTS MARKET WITH THE WORLD

30th November 2010 - SINGAPORE EXPECTS RECORD 12 MILLION VISITORS THIS YEAR 

11th November 2009 - HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE BATTLE TO BECOME ASIA’S REGIONAL ARTS HUB

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.