Sydney Theatre Company Is NSW's First Live Performance Venue to Run at 100 Percent Capacity

As restrictions continue to ease and Sydney's cultural calendar begins to fill up, the city's theatres are starting to come alive with shows, performances and gigs once again. But, if you've been to a theatre any time in the past couple of months, you would've noticed quite a few empty seats — even at sold out shows.

Under current NSW restrictions, indoor entertainment facilities, including theatres, music halls and dance halls, can only have a 75 percent capacity audience and a maximum of one person per two square metres. In exciting news for theatre-goers, however, one Sydney venue has just been given the go-ahead to perform shows to a full house.

Sydney Theatre Company (STC) has become the first live performance venue in the state allowed to host shows with 100 percent capacity audiences, with NSW Health granting the company an exemption from the current Public Health Order.

This means, STC will be able to have a full house for Playing Beatie Bow at Wharf 1 Theatre from Tuesday, March 9, and for Appropriate and Fun Home at Roslyn Packer Theatre when they open later this autumn. New seats for these performances will go on sale at 10am on Tuesday. As performances at Sydney Opera House and Seymour Centre are not covered by these exemptions, STC's Home, I'm Darling and The Wharf Revue will remain at 75 capacity.

As part of the STC's COVID-19 Safety Plan, masks are currently mandatory for all theatre-goers 12 years and over. You can check out all the company's safety protocols over here.

'Playing Beatie Bow' at Wharf 1 Theatre by Daniel Boud

The announcement comes as NSW records its 47th consecutive day of no locally acquired cases of COVID-19. The state's restrictions were last eased back on Friday, February 26, when indoor private gatherings were allowed to increase to 50 and cinemas could return to 100 percent capacity. Seated outdoor entertainment facilities are currently allowed to run at 100 percent capacity with a max of one person per two square metres.

More restrictions — including allowing vertical drinking — are expected to be announced on Wednesday, March 17.

Sydney Theatre Company will be allowed to host 100 percent capacity audiences at its Roslyn Packer, Wharf 1 and Wharf 2 theatres. Additional tickets for Playing Beatie Bow, Appropriate and Fun Home will go on at 10am on Tuesday, March 9 via sydneytheatre.com.au.

Top images: The Wharf Theatres by Hugh Hamilton and Brett Boardman.