The Sutherland Shire’s principal performing arts venue, the Sutherland Entertainment Centre, is in the final stages of its reconstruction. Today, the Sutherland Shire Council has announced that it will reopen on 4 March 2023 as The Pavilion Performing Arts Centre Sutherland, though performances and production will begin in the venue in late January with the 2023 Sydney Festival.

The Opening Gala in March will be directed by Hayes Theatre’s Co-Artistic Director Richard Carroll and feature prominent Australian talent, while the entire reopening is being led by Rachel Healy, former Joint Artistic Director of Adelaide Festival, as its Interim Director.

A building render of the new Pavilion Performing Arts Centre Sutherland. Photo supplied.

The upgrade has been a $42 million dollar endeavour by the Council, which aims to strengthen local arts and culture. The venue hosts a 686-seat theatre with a fly-tower and new rehearsal spaces, alongside a new forecourt and foyer and additions to the Peace Park which surrounds it. It will commission new Australian works in a pledge to the local community. For its first commission, the...