WELCOME TO RIVERSIDE THEATRES
The best shows in the best theatre in the heart of Sydney!
The staff of Riverside Theatres are passionate about bringing the very best the performing arts can offer to audiences in all pockets of the greater Sydney area. Parramatta is the geographic and demographic heart of Sydney and is easily accessed by road, train and ferry.
Located on the banks of the Parramatta River, Riverside Theatres is nestled in the midst of the Church Street Restaurant precinct. Pre-show dining and parking is ample, accessible and affordable.
A Bicentennial Project, Riverside Theatres opened in 1988 offering three venues under the one roof. The Rafferty's Theatre, the most intimate space seats around 100 people and suits small corporate events, seminars, stand up comedy acts, small scale productions, or even an exhibition. The Lennox Theatre is a flexible space seating approximately 220 people. The largest theatre, the Riverside Theatre, can house up to 761 patrons with comfortable, plush seating in a conventional proscenium arch stage with orchestra pit and fly tower. Larger scale productions including international acts are often seen on the Riverside stage including Shakespeare, comedy, drama, ballet, contemporary dance and musicals.
Over 700 performances and events take place every year at Riverside Theatres. Here are details about some of them...
PERFORMANCE SEASON
Riverside's annual subscription season of professional theatre and dance brings Australia's leading performance arts companies to Parramatta including Pacific Opera, Sydney Theatre Company, Bien-Etre Productions, Guna Nua Theatre, Malthouse Theatre, Riverside Productions and many more!More details...
MUSIC AT RIVERSIDE
The new expanded annual music concert series, which incorporates the Crescendo youth and community music series, embraces some of the best classical, jazz, world music and cabaret artists currently performing in Australia. This diverse program is sure to have something for everyone and subscriptions are available.More details...
PERFORMANCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE,
SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES
Each year Riverside Theatres presents several live performance productions for schools, young people and the young at heart. Riverside aims to present the best theatre, dance and music performances from companies across the nation for educational live entertainment. Also Powerhouse Youth Theatre runs a holiday workshop program each school holidays.More details...
FORM DANCE PROJECTS
Riverside hosts FORM Dance Projects. FORM Dance Projects delivers a vibrant artistic program in four key areas: presentation (perFORM), education (transFORM), professional development (platFORM) and industry networking (inFORM). FORM Dance Projects works with Australia's leading choreographers and dancers, and a diverse range of partners from Riverside Theatres to independent producers and companies, arts organisations, education institutes, council and community service providers to nurture and support dance as an art form. For further information or to join FORM Dance Projects contact Annette McLernon on 8839 3354 or send mail. Visit the brand new FORM Dance Projects website here.COMMUNITY
Riverside remains a vibrant hub of Western Sydney with a myriad of community events all year round. It is home to community arts organisations such as Riverside Lyric Ensemble who present a yearly season of well known plays and musicals. The Cumberland Gang Show presents their annual showcase of talent with the local Scout groups. Other community performances include cultural groups, dance academies and local schools presenting their annual showcases.THEATRE APPRECIATION COURSES
Renowned theatre personality Charlie Little runs fortnightly theatre appreciation seminars on a variety of topics and shows. Special guests are sometimes invited to speak about their careers in the theatre, film and performing arts. Contact 8839 3398 for more details.ARTS & DISABILITY PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
Watch this space! A performing arts program for people that identify as having a disability is here at Riverside. More details to come…but for now…
So far the program consists of:
Community
Beyond ABBA - A drama & movement workshop program for people who identify as having a disability.
Outreach
Beyond The Square - An in school film and theatre workshop program for school aged students with a disability.
Artistic Development
Exercise (book) classes - A performance making workshop series for people who identify as having a disability who have some experience in acting and writing.
All enquiries can be directed to Creative Director, Alison Richardson on 8839 3359 or wapd_riverside@parracity.nsw.gov.au
Riverside Theatres is also a venue for hire and caters for the corporate sector, community arts organisations, community cultural groups, and schools. Please see the Venue Hire page on our website for details.
If you have any comments or suggestions for the theatre, please phone us on (02) 8839 3398 or email admin_riverside@parracity.nsw.gov.au
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