In 1829, the first jetty in the area of Pier 4/5 was constructed and called ‘Pitman’s Wharf’. In 1919, work on Pier 4/5, was completed by H.D Walsh.
In 1979, the Sydney Theatre Company was searching for a home. Elizabeth Butcher, administrator at NIDA, discovered the derelict finger wharves at Walsh Bay and proposed that Pier 4/5 be restored and become STC's place of residence. Her recommendation was accepted by the Premier's department. When the designing architect, Vivian Fraser, began work on the redevelopment of Pier 4/5 one of the major design issues was which end of the finger wharf to put the theatre. In keeping with the brief to do as inexpensive a conversion as possible, the government architects did a feasibility study which put the theatre at the Hickson Road end of The Wharf. Fraser argued, on aesthetic grounds, that the theatre should be put at the sea end. Richard Wherrett, artistic director at the time, agreed with him and it was their opinion which prevailed. In Wherrett's words “I liked the metaphorical notion that every time you went into the place to see a play, you went on some kind of journey”. Vivian Fraser's re-development of Pier 4/5 officially opened by Premier Neville Wran in 1984.
Theatresedit
The Wharf Theatre contains two theatres. Wharf 1 of 339 seats and Wharf 2 of 205 seats. From the street a 200-metre wooden walkway lined with framed posters of STC productions takes patrons through the history of the theatre. Large windows are open to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the waters of the harbour. At the end of the building, The Theatre Bar at the End of the Wharf, complete with east and west facing balconies, provide views of Luna Park and the North Shore skyline.
Approximately the size of 1.5 rugby fields, the Wharf cost $3.7 million to restore, and took the builders 56 weeks to refurbish. The influence of water is seen in the company's logo and the use of blue as the company's colour. The Wharf Theatre is mentioned in the 2013 travel book National Geographic Traveler: Sydney, as a venue for one of Sydney's main theatre companies.[1]
Renovation and reopeningedit
The theatre closed for renovations in 2018 and reopened in February 2021 for the performances of Kate Mulvany's adaptation of Ruth Park's Playing Beatie Bow.[2] They include "modernised theatres and audience facilities, more flexible theatres, rehearsal and workshop spaces".[3][4]
wharf, theatre, this, article, about, sydney, south, wales, theatre, other, uses, disambiguation, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challe. This article is about the Sydney New South Wales theatre For other uses see Wharf Theatre disambiguation This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Wharf Theatre news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Wharf Theatre is a theatre in Sydney New South Wales Australia This theatre is part of the Sydney Theatre Company and located on Pier 4 5 of the former Sydney port facility in Walsh Bay at Dawes Point Wharf TheatrePier 4 5 at Walsh BayAddressPier 4 amp 5 15 Hickson Road Dawes Point NSW 2000SydneyAustraliaCoordinates33 51 18 S 151 12 21 E 33 855087 S 151 205757 E 33 855087 151 205757CapacityWharf 1 Theatre 330Wharf 2 Theatre 200ConstructionOpenedNovember 1984Rebuilt2021ArchitectVivian Fraser Stage 2 Hassell Websitehttps www sydneytheatre com au your visit the wharf theatres The Wharf Theatre from the harbour Contents 1 History 2 Theatres 3 Renovation and reopening 4 Architecture awards 5 References 6 External linksHistory editIn 1829 the first jetty in the area of Pier 4 5 was constructed and called Pitman s Wharf In 1919 work on Pier 4 5 was completed by H D Walsh In 1979 the Sydney Theatre Company was searching for a home Elizabeth Butcher administrator at NIDA discovered the derelict finger wharves at Walsh Bay and proposed that Pier 4 5 be restored and become STC s place of residence Her recommendation was accepted by the Premier s department When the designing architect Vivian Fraser began work on the redevelopment of Pier 4 5 one of the major design issues was which end of the finger wharf to put the theatre In keeping with the brief to do as inexpensive a conversion as possible the government architects did a feasibility study which put the theatre at the Hickson Road end of The Wharf Fraser argued on aesthetic grounds that the theatre should be put at the sea end Richard Wherrett artistic director at the time agreed with him and it was their opinion which prevailed In Wherrett s words I liked the metaphorical notion that every time you went into the place to see a play you went on some kind of journey Vivian Fraser s re development of Pier 4 5 officially opened by Premier Neville Wran in 1984 Theatres editThe Wharf Theatre contains two theatres Wharf 1 of 339 seats and Wharf 2 of 205 seats From the street a 200 metre wooden walkway lined with framed posters of STC productions takes patrons through the history of the theatre Large windows are open to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the waters of the harbour At the end of the building The Theatre Bar at the End of the Wharf complete with east and west facing balconies provide views of Luna Park and the North Shore skyline Approximately the size of 1 5 rugby fields the Wharf cost 3 7 million to restore and took the builders 56 weeks to refurbish The influence of water is seen in the company s logo and the use of blue as the company s colour The Wharf Theatre is mentioned in the 2013 travel book National Geographic Traveler Sydney as a venue for one of Sydney s main theatre companies 1 Renovation and reopening editThe theatre closed for renovations in 2018 and reopened in February 2021 for the performances of Kate Mulvany s adaptation of Ruth Park s Playing Beatie Bow 2 They include modernised theatres and audience facilities more flexible theatres rehearsal and workshop spaces 3 4 Architecture awards editThe Wharf Theatre received both the New South Wales Enduring Architecture Award and the National Award for Enduring Architecture 5 from the Australian Institute of Architects in 2008 References edit Evan McHugh National Geographic Traveler Sydney 2nd Edition p36 Playing Beatie Bow Sydney Theatre Company Retrieved 24 September 2021 FAQs Sydney Theatre Company Retrieved 27 September 2019 FEATURE Sydney s The Wharf theatre reopens Auditoria Magazine 31 March 2021 Retrieved 24 September 2021 25 Year Award for Enduring Architecture The Wharf Theatre ArchitectureAU com au 1 November 2008 Retrieved 20 August 2023 External links editThe Theatre Bar at the End of the Wharf Jo Litson 2008 The Harbour End Sydney Theatre Company at The Wharf Dictionary of Sydney Retrieved 8 October 2015 CC By SA 33 51 18 S 151 12 21 E 33 855087 S 151 205757 E 33 855087 151 205757 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wharf Theatre amp oldid 1201230948, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
