Our Home : A Future Plan
25 Belvoir St. Once a former sauce factory, turned home to one of Australia’s most celebrated and beloved theatre companies. A now-iconic corner stage where magic happens when new work, reinvented classics, First Nations storytelling and more take place.
In 1970 Nimrod Theatre Company and friends mucked in and turned an old garage and factory at 25 Belvoir St into a theatre. In 1984, 600 theatre-lovers saved it from redevelopment and Company B was founded. In 2006, the building was renovated after an unprecedented community campaign. In 2021, we re-upholstered the seats.
But there is so much more to come…
‘Somewhere along the way Belvoir passed from being a Surry Hills upstart to an institution of the town… [it] speaks to its city year after year with great theatrical bravery’. – David Marr, 25 Belvoir Street
THE PLAN
Sydney has a unique lack of creative development rehearsal spaces in comparison to other major cities. The shortages have been highlighted by a study commissioned by the NSW Government which found producers currently wait an average 5.6 years to stage shows in Sydney, compared to 3.7 years in Melbourne.
Belvoir St Theatre’s planned renovation is an important opportunity to maximise usage of existing creative centres, and cement Belvoir’s Surry Hills home as a creative hub for new work development.
Work will take place over a number of stages, so that we can maintain our artistic programming and stay connected with audiences throughout.
Stage One is underway and Stage two is within our sights!
STAGE ONE: Belvoir St Theatre Foyer & Bathrooms
Project completion date: 16 August 2024
After 50 years of too few toilets for women at Belvoir St, we’re renovating the foyer. Of course it’s about more than toilets – our dear old foyer needs some love and attention to set it up for the next 50 years.
Through an act of architectural magic we’re simultaneously adding extra toilets and making more space in the foyer.
On Tuesday 31 October we’re going to hold our first ever Giving Day to raise funds for the reno
We’ve been busting to get this reno done almost as much as everyone in those infamous interval toilet queues.
We can’t do it without you.
Join us. All donations made between 9am and 9pm will be quadrupled by our generous matching patrons!
Join Us for Giving Day STAGE TWO
STAGE TWO: Belvoir St Theatre Rehearsal & Offices
Project completion date: tbc 2026-2027
Through transformation and upgrade to the Belvoir Warehouse (our offices and rehearsal space), the renewal project will create a unified creative precinct in Surry Hills, connecting Elizabeth St to our iconic theatre.
The project will provide additional performance spaces for the performing arts community through transformation and reorganisation of existing facilities, provide new versatile working spaces for creative industries, and create future income streams for Belvoir through provision of greater range of spaces available for arts and allied creative industries.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING
We will keep you up to date as these exciting plans develop. As it has always been, the whole Belvoir community will be engaged to support the renovations, starting with our Giving Day on 31 October, 2023 for Stage One.
If you’d like to know more about donating to our capital campaign please contact Samantha Jones, Director of Development [email protected]
Keep up to date with the latest news at Belvoir
