THEATRE ‘TO RIVAL HOTA’ FOR COAST SCHOOL
STUDENTS of The Southport School are set to polish their performances in a theatre tipped to rival the city’s Home of the Arts in a new multi-million-dollar project.
Construction has begun on the prestigious school’s Annand Theatre, a 1200-seat multi-purpose theatre capable of functioning in full production mode with theatre lighting, sound and performance acoustics including a full curtain and second curtain that will transform the theatre to a more intimate setting of 300 seats.
Powerhouse Robina business Condev Construction has won the tender for the job it says is the biggest capital work in the school’s history.
TSS has declined to reveal the project’s cost.
TSS headmaster Greg Wain said the project would also incorporate a state-ofthe-art music centre.
“The theatre will be large enough to house all the boys and staff for our weekly assembly, which is a crucial community and spiritbuilding event,” he said.
“We are excited to be working with a local Gold Coast construction firm to bring this project, 10 years in the planning, to fruition.”
The undercroft section of the building will feature a custom designed music level that will include rehearsal rooms, tutoring space, recording studios and more.
The TSS Foundation has called on donors of between $5000 and $50,000 to the project, named in honour of its 1972 Rhodes Scholar Peter Annand.
The project tips Condev’s total value of education projects over $100 million as it undertakes work at Somerset College, St Hilda’s School, St Andrews College, Benowa State School, Currumbin State School, Coombabah State School, Palm Beach State School, Hillcrest Christian College, St Stephens and Pimpama State School.
Condev executive chairman Steve Marais said the company had embarked on school sporting complexes, libraries, boarding amenities, swimming pools, commercial kitchens and cafeterias as well as complete upgrades to site infrastructure and refurbishments of classrooms.
“Growth on the Gold Coast hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down and with many schools reaching capacity and outgrowing existing facilities, extra resources are essential to meet this growth,” he said.
“We have an astute awareness of the importance education infrastructure plays in the local community and are proud to play a significant role in further developing the education sector in Southeast Queensland.”
The Annand Theatre is due for completion in early 2021.