A new vision, new story for Sydney’s Theatre Royal

One of the world’s top theatrical companies The Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) has been granted the lease and management of Sydney’s oldest theatrical institution, the Theatre Royal.

As part of the renewal of Sydney’s MLC Centre, which houses the Theatre Royal, the co-owners QIC and GPT Group have agreed to lease the 1100+ seat venue in a bid to boost the Sydney arts and cultural scene. Working with the MLC Centre co-owners, the theatre will undergo a major refurbishment under management by ATG, to improve its facilities and create a premium experience for theatre patrons in order to guarantee a promising future the iconic venue.

ATG, founded by Sir Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire OBE, own and operate 40 venues (and counting) in the West End of London, across the UK and on Broadway in New York. They are also an international award winning production company, as well as a market leader in theatre ticketing so the addition of the Theatre Royal to their portfolio can only strengthen their status in the theatrical world.

“We plan to showcase the very best of theatre from Australia and the rest of the world, placing the MLC Centre and the Theatre Royal firmly in the centre of Sydney’s theatrical life,” said Sir Howard Panter.

ATG’s Asia Pacific operations are headquartered in Sydney and they are an active theatre producer in Australia, with recent productions including the award-winning Legally Blonde the Musical; Thriller Live; Guys and Dolls; West Side Story and the recent hit production of The Rocky Horror Show.

ATG Asia Pacific CEO Tim McFarlane said, “For ATG this heralds the dawn of its venue management operations in Asia Pacific, a region that will play a major part in our international expansion plan.”

ATG continues active discussions with other Australian venues and developments are underway for additional theatres, as well as, in Korea, Japan, Singapore and China, with new productions also earmarked for these territories.