Sydney Theatre to be renamed in honour of one of Australia’s leading arts philanthropists.

Sydney Theatre Company has announced that the 850-seat Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay is to be renamed the Roslyn Packer Theatre Walsh Bay from March 2015 onwards in recognition of the philanthropist and arts lover’s support and commitment to the arts in Australia.

“Ros has been a great friend to STC and the arts community for a very long time,” said Artistic Director Andrew Upton. “I think this is a great way to acknowledge her tireless commitment, much of which flies beneath the radar. When we sit down to enjoy a show at The Ros (as we have already begun to call it) I hope we can occasionally remember that, increasingly in this country, the generosity of individuals makes possible the work of Australian artists – and in particular works of scale and ambition.”

The architecturally acclaimed theatre, which is owned by the NSW State Government, is leased, operated and managed by STC. The former cargo storage site from the 1830’s had fallen into disrepair by the 1970s but in 2004 was made over into a theatre which hosts both STC mainstage shows, Sydney Dance Company...