Sydney Theatre Company’s year-round cheap ticket scheme could revolutionise access for thousands.

In a major new arts funding partnership, Sydney Theatre Company and Suncorp have announced a deal that will make a selection of tickets available for just $20 for every STC performance.

The initiative was a long held ambition of Andrew Upton and Cate Blanchett throughout their tenure as Co Artistic Directors of STC. Launching the deal today Andrew Upton, STC Artistic Director and Cate Blanchett, currently in rehearsals for Genet’s The Maids, were clearly delighted: “At last, a corporate partner to help make cheap tickets available on a permanent basis for all our shows! With Suncorp Twenties more people will have a chance to give theatre a go.”

The scheme comes into immediate effect and will make $20 seats available for performances such as the eagerly anticipated production of The Maids, in which Blanchett stars alongside iconic French actress Isabelle Huppert and The Great Gatsby’s Elizabeth Debicki, Waiting For Godot with Richard Roxburgh and Hugo Weaving and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead with Tim Minchin, Toby Schmitz and Ewen Leslie.

Geoff Summerhayes, CEO of Suncorp Life, said: “We are thrilled to sponsor this new program because it’s about access...