In exchange for a $100,000 novelty cheque, Ku-ring-gai Council has agreed to keep the dream of renovating Marian Street Theatre alive, but mystery remains as to whether it’s all smoke and mirrors, a trick of the light, misdirection, sound and fury signifying nothing.
What happened: Ku-ring-gai councillors gathered at chambers on Monday for an Extraordinary Meeting relating to a last ditch attempt by locals to preserve the historic Marian Street Theatre.
The theatre, owned by council, has sat vacant since 2013, when it was found to be non-compliant with the Australian Building Code. Council received approval for a DA to renovate the theatre in 2021, but lacked the funds to do so.
Residents in support of the theatre have been calling on council to act on the DA in order to prevent it from expiring. In NSW, development consent generally lapses if work does not commence within five years.
Undertaking some internal demolition work — at the cost of around $100,000 — would constitute the job “starting”, thus buying five more years for local theatre types to find another source of funding.
In the last two weeks, the Save Marian Street campaign crowdfunded $100,000, and on Monday presented it to council. Most donations ranged between $50 and $200, with a few donations in the thousands of dollars.
On Monday, councillors gave way to the theatre group’s demands, allowing the DA to be saved, conditional on them handing over the cash. Council noted that this was not a commitment to reviving the theatre.
What now: Revitalising Marian Street Theatre would cost around $30 million, and supporters are hopeful of receiving a chunk of the federal government’s Thriving Communities program.
Applications for this grant reopen in late 2026, and allow for up to $15 million in community infrastructure funding.
However, in a classic example of how three tiers of government work, any federal funding would require a commitment from the state government to chip in. Save Marian Street plans to lobby state politicians ahead of the NSW state election in March 2027.
When asked whether it was standard practice for council to receive major funds from a community group, a spokesperson for Ku-ring-gai said: “Community groups do contribute to projects, such as clubs raising funds for upgrades to their facilities. In this case, the community group has made the contribution knowing that the project is not guaranteed.”
The plot for the Marian Street Theatre story is still being written, and it’s unclear whether it will ultimately be filed under tragedy, against-the-odds heroism or pure farce.
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