A protest rally was held recently in the Fitzroy Gardens in Kings Cross to demonstrate against the unsympathetic redevelopment of the Metro-Minerva Theatre. Over 100 objections to developer Central Element’s Development Application to convert the theatre into a hotel have been received by the City Of Sydney.
If one attended this rally one had the benefit of having a highly enjoyable show to enjoy with the ire of the audience.
Naturally, Marcie Hines and John Waters appeared on stage to voice their protest and express how important their roles in the 1969 production of Hair at the Metro Minerva Theatre were to them both to their careers and to them personally.
Important speeches were also made by renowned folklore musician Warren Fahey who was the convenor of the protest.
The former renowned government architect Andrew Anderson outlined the history of the theatre which opened in May 1939 to house an audience of 1,031 people in terms of seating dimensions and its state of the art air conditioning system.
As well as citing the theatre as an art deco masterpiece he stated, “there is every reason to restore this remarkable building to its original use. This would make a tangible contribution to Sydney’s cultural life and to the quality of the much loved Potts Point neighbourhood.
Theatre producers such as John Frost and English impresario Howard Pants have expressed the need for another 1,000 seat venue to house the increasing number of musical and large theatrical productions, many of which currently go straight to Melbourne which can accommodate them.
MP for the area Alex Greenwich spoke against the development. Olivia Ansell, current Artistic Director of the Sydney Festival quoted figures that if $11,000,000 were invested in restoring and modernising the theatre the community would benefit by $35,000,000.
The entertainment side of things was provided by opera singer David Carroll, cabaret artists Bob Downe, Cindy Pastel and Christa Hughes, as well as powerful singer Catherine Allcorn, renowned for her stage performance as Bette Middler.
Celebrities in the audience, some carrying protest signs, included Nancye Hayes, Leo Schofield, Margaret Fink and Kate Fitzpatrick. Several of the celebrities and the crowd then convened to take a closer look at the exterior of the theatre.
At the rally many praised the support that the Arts Minister Don Harwin had given to the rescue of the Minerva-Metro Theatre. Since then Harwin has resigned from the Ministry.
Importantly the New South Wales Government through Create NSW, commissioned Hawkridge Consulting to conduct a feasibility study. The study was co-funded by NSW Government and the City Of Sydney. The reports from the studies stated unequivocally that there was commercial market interest and it is viable to reopen the theatre.
Featured image : Warren Fahey. Text and photos by Ben Apfelbaum
