Ahead of the grand reopening of the Sydney Opera House’s Joan Sutherland Theatre on New Year’s Eve, the media were invited today for a behind-the-scenes look at the renewal projects that have been taking place over the last seven months.

“When audience members take their seats in the JST they may not notice huge changes in the auditorium, but behind-the-scenes it will be a different story,” said Opera Australia CEO Rory Jeffes. “The backstage machinery upgrades, orchestra pit works and acoustic enhancements will transform the experience for artists and audience members alike, allowing us to push creative artistic boundaries in entirely new ways.”

Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, RenewalThe new-look Joan Sutherland Theatre. Photo © Daniel Boud

The renewal of the Joan Sutherland Theatre, included a $45 million upgrade of theatre machinery that had reached the end of its operational life, funded by the Opera House, while the NSW State Government contributed $26 million for additional improvements – such as the addition of six extra female toilets for audience members.

“Investing in our arts and culture is absolutely critical,” said NSW Arts Minister Don Harwin. “The State Government is spending $200 million dollars because...