The Civic Theatre is putting on the glitz this week as it shakes off the shackles of lockdown to welcome audiences back into the iconic Newcastle venue.
The 92-year-old theatre will host its first live performance in three months with the long-awaited opening on Wednesday of fabulous Australian musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert by renowned local theatre company Metropolitan Players.
Civic Theatre Manager Leonie Wallace said the timing was perfect for a return to the theatre, with further easing of restrictions from today allowing even more people to experience the joy of live performance.
“COVID-19 brought our vibrant industry to a halt, with the restrictions and shut-downs a blow for performing artists and production companies such as the Metropolitan Players, who were relying on this show to secure their future beyond this production,” Ms Wallace said.
“The staging of our first live performance on Wednesday could not have been better timed, with the new Public Health Order that will be in effect allowing us to resume with 100 per cent capacity for fully vaccinated audience members.
“Reopening the theatre will provide a much-needed boost to the city’s night-time economy in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions, while also allowing us to support our local performing arts community.
“It also paves the way for a fantastic launch of our new subscription season on December 1.”
While audience numbers will be able to return to pre-COVID levels, theatregoers will still be subject to COVID safe measures to ensure the health and wellbeing of staff, customers and performers. This will include the mandatory wearing of masks inside Civic Theatre for anyone aged 12 years or older, which will apply until the end of December 2021.
Tickets for all upcoming shows, including the seven performances of Priscilla, are now on sale, giving Novocastrians their first chance to experience the Civic Theatre’s new ticket counter, now located in the heart of the historic building.
Face-to-face ticket sales have moved from the Hunter Street box office into a bespoke new space adjacent to the Civic Theatre Café, which was designed by EJE Architects to compliment the unique mix of historical and contemporary elements within the Theatre.
Online ticket sales for all shows at the Civic Theatre, the Playhouse and City Hall Concert Hall are also still available through the Civic Theatre website.
Category: Newcastle News
All the news happening in the Newcastle and Hunter Region
A man and a woman charged over aggravated break and enter – Beresfield
A man and a woman will face court today following an aggravated break and enter in the state’s north.
About 1.50am today (Monday 8 November 2021) a man and a woman – both aged 23-years-old – forced entry into a house on Beresfield Road, Beresfield.
The occupants of the home – a man and a woman – who were asleep at the time, were awoken to sounds of items being knocked over.
Their 8-year-old child was also home at the time, but no-one was injured.
A short time later, police attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and located the man and woman walking down Beresfield Road.
They were taken to Maitland Police Station where they were charged with aggravated break and enter in company.
They were bail refused and will appear before Maitland Local Court today (Monday 8 November 2021).
City of Newcastle recognised for innovative cultural change and city planning excellence
City of Newcastle’s innovative approach to cultural change and city planning excellence has been recognised at the Local Government NSW Planning Awards (LGNSW) and the 2021 Planning Institute Australia (PIA) NSW Awards for Planning Excellence.
A ‘Special Acknowledgment’ was awarded by LGNSW to City of Newcastle’s Regulatory Planning & Assessment team in the ‘Cultural Change Innovation and Excellence’ category for significantly reducing Development Application processing times to achieve quality urban design outcomes whilst improving the customer experience.
Since restructuring the planning and business support teams in 2018, net processing times have reduced by 40% and undetermined Development Applications have been reduced by 50%. A shift towards a value-based team culture has also delivered significant improvements in the customer experience.
At the PIA Awards for Planning Excellence, City of Newcastle received a ‘Highly Commended Award’ in the ‘Great Place’ category for the Bathers Way Coastal Revitalisation Project. This award category recognises positive change as a result of quality planning outcomes with a true sense of place, cultural and historical interest, community involvement and a vision for tomorrow.
Bathers Way is City of Newcastle’s flagship Coastal Revitalisation Program project, which links Newcastle’s iconic beaches of Merewether, Dixon Park, Bar Beach, Newcastle and Nobbys in a continuous path. Of the seven sections of Bathers Way proposed in the Public Domain Plan, four have been completed, two are in design development, and construction is underway at South Newcastle.
Strong community engagement, collaboration, and support for the project by the community has resulted in the success of the project and a collective sense of Bathers Way being a ‘great place’. From planning and design to implementation, Bathers Way provides safe, comfortable pedestrian and cycleway access for all people in the community.
A ‘Special Acknowledgment’ was awarded by LGNSW to City of Newcastle’s Regulatory Planning & Assessment team in the ‘Cultural Change Innovation and Excellence’ category for significantly reducing Development Application processing times to achieve quality urban design outcomes whilst improving the customer experience.
Since restructuring the planning and business support teams in 2018, net processing times have reduced by 40% and undetermined Development Applications have been reduced by 50%. A shift towards a value-based team culture has also delivered significant improvements in the customer experience.
At the PIA Awards for Planning Excellence, City of Newcastle received a ‘Highly Commended Award’ in the ‘Great Place’ category for the Bathers Way Coastal Revitalisation Project. This award category recognises positive change as a result of quality planning outcomes with a true sense of place, cultural and historical interest, community involvement and a vision for tomorrow.
Bathers Way is City of Newcastle’s flagship Coastal Revitalisation Program project, which links Newcastle’s iconic beaches of Merewether, Dixon Park, Bar Beach, Newcastle and Nobbys in a continuous path. Of the seven sections of Bathers Way proposed in the Public Domain Plan, four have been completed, two are in design development, and construction is underway at South Newcastle.
Strong community engagement, collaboration, and support for the project by the community has resulted in the success of the project and a collective sense of Bathers Way being a ‘great place’. From planning and design to implementation, Bathers Way provides safe, comfortable pedestrian and cycleway access for all people in the community.
Critical incident investigation underway following house fire – Lake Macquarie
A critical incident investigation is underway following a house fire in Lake Macquarie last night.
About 6.30pm (Friday 5 November 2021), officers from Lake Macquarie Police District responded to reports of a house fire on Park Avenue, Argenton.
On arrival, police attempted to speak to a male occupant in the home. The man confronted police with a knife and retreated into the house, which was alight.
Police assisted the man from the home a short time later and commenced CPR, before NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived and assisted the man at the scene.
He has been taken to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.
NSW Fire & Rescue officers extinguished the blaze a short time later.
A crime scene has been established and will be examined by forensic officers.
A critical incident team has been formed and has established Strike Force Janet to investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident.
That investigation will be subject to an independent review.
No further details are available at this time.
Two men charged following shooting death – Port Stephens
Two men have been charged over their alleged involvement in a fatal shooting in Port Stephens in August this year.
About 1.45pm on Sunday 29 August 2021, emergency services were called to Hideaway Drive, Salt Ash, following reports a white Ford Ranger utility had hit a tree.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended along with NSW Ambulance paramedics and located a male driver suffering a fatal gunshot wound.
He was later identified as 45-year-old David King.
A short time later, officers located a burnt-out white Santa Fe located on Masonite Road, Heatherbrae, which police believe is allegedly linked to the shooting.
Detectives established Strike Force Breve to investigate the incident, with assistance from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad.
Following investigations, about 11.30am yesterday (Friday 5 November 2021), police stopped a vehicle travelling along Wahroonga Street, Raymond Terrace.
The driver – a 27-year-old man – was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station.
He was charged with murder, take/detain person in company with intent to obtain advantage, damage property by fire and possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit.
About 1.45pm (Friday 5 November 2021), police attended a shopping centre on Pearson Street, Charlestown, and arrested a 39-year-old man.
He was taken to Waratah Police Station, where he was charged with accessory after the fact to murder and accessory after the fact to kidnapping.
Both men were refused bail and will appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Saturday 6 November 2021).
Strike Force Breve investigations continue.
City of Newcastle invests $135,000 into multi-arts activation at landmark site
Local arts, cultural, and tourism businesses are set to benefit from the opening of a multi-arts activation lead by the Hunter Writers Centre, funded by City of Newcastle in response to COVID-19’s impact on the Newcastle economy.
Nobbys-Whibayganba headland cottages will provide studio and exhibition spaces for Indigenous and non-Indigenous writers, musicians, visual and digital artists on weekdays, and host exhibitions and events on weekends.
With COVID-19 significantly impacting the arts, cultural and creative industries, the Lighthouse Arts project was identified as critical to Newcastle’s post COVID-19 recovery by the City Taskforce, in support of community wellbeing, social and cultural connectedness.
This unique space for artistic collaboration also celebrates one of the city’s historically significant Indigenous, wartime and maritime sites, Nobbys-Whibayganba, and features an arts trading store showcasing the creative communities of Newcastle, in a bid to increase tourism visitation.
The Industry Response Package is a component of City of Newcastle’s adopted $5.5 million COVID-19 Community and Economic Resilience Package, to provide direct support to the industries hit hardest by the pandemic.
To find out more, visit Lighthouse Arts
Further vision released as part of appeal for public assistance into shooting death – Port Stephens
Detectives have released further vision and continue to appeal for public assistance following a fatal shooting in Port Stephens earlier this year.
About 1.45pm on Sunday 29 August 2021, emergency services were called to Hideaway Drive, Salt Ash, following reports a white Ford Ranger utility had hit a tree.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended along with NSW Ambulance paramedics and located a male driver suffering a fatal gunshot wound.
He was later identified as 45-year-old David King.
A short time later, officers located a burnt-out white Santa Fe located on Masonite Road, Heatherbrae, which police believe is linked to the shooting.
Detectives established Strike Force Breve to investigate the incident, with assistance from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad.
As part of extensive investigations, strike force detectives have released vision of two vehicles driving in a convoy in the vicinity of Mount Hall Road, Raymond Terrace, shortly after the incident.
Pair charged following pursuit in state's Hunter region
Two people have been charged following a pursuit through the state’s Hunter region yesterday.
About 8.50am on Monday (1 November 2021), officers attached to Traffic & Highway Patrol Command and Hunter Valley Police District were patrolling along the New England Highway, Ravensworth, when they were alerted of an unregistered Ford Fiesta travelling north.
Police attempted to stop the vehicle at a safe location along the highway; however, the driver allegedly failed to stop and a pursuit commenced north along the highway.
The pursuit continued to the Muswellbrook township until the Ford stopped on William Street, Muswellbrook and the driver – a 29-year-old man – exited the vehicle and was arrested by police.
The front passenger of the vehicle – an 18-year-old woman – also left the vehicle and approached police. A police officer attempted to arrest the woman when she allegedly assaulted the senior constable.
Police checks revealed the man’s driver’s licence was suspended until 2024.
A search of the vehicle resulted in police allegedly locating and seizing two bags of cannabis.
The pair was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station and the man was subjected to a breath test analysis which allegedly returned a reading of 0.035.
The man was charged with police pursuit, not have interlock fitted, unregistered/uninsured vehicle, special range PCA, drive whilst disqualified and contravene AVO.
He was refused bail and appeared at Muswellbrook Local Court yesterday (1 November 2021).
The woman was charged with two counts of possess prohibited drug, assault police, resist arrest, fail to disclose particulars and offensive language.
She was granted conditional bail to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court on 20 December 2021.
Appeal for public assistance into shooting death – Port Stephens
Detectives have released vision as part of an ongoing appeal for public assistance following a fatal shooting in Port Stephens.
About 1.45pm on Sunday 29 August 2021, emergency services were called to Hideaway Drive, Salt Ash, following reports a white Ford Ranger utility had hit a tree.
Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended along with NSW Ambulance paramedics and located a male driver suffering a fatal gunshot wound.
He was later identified as 45-year-old David King.
A short time later, officers located a burnt-out white Santa Fe located on Masonite Road, Heatherbrae, which police believe is linked to the shooting.
Detectives established Strike Force Breve to investigate the incident, with assistance from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad.
As part of investigations, strike force detectives have released vision of a man who was near the crime scene in Heatherbrae and may have information that could assist police with their inquiries. It is not believed this man is linked to the death of David King.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
City of Newcastle helps drive lifesaving blood and plasma donations
With months of lockdown causing a massive shortfall in blood and plasma donations, City of Newcastle staff and Councillors have volunteered their time (and arms) to help raise awareness of the urgent need to give blood.
City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said staff jumped at the chance to help get the message out to increase donations.
“At least 2,300 donations are needed each month just in Newcastle to meet the current demand to assist cancer patients and to get people through other serious health challenges in their lives,” Mr Bath said.
“City of Newcastle considers the situation to be so serious that we are encouraging our staff, several times each year, to travel to the Australian Red Cross at Broadmeadow during work time to donate blood.
“This year, City of Newcastle’s Lifeblood team have made 137 donations, meaning 411 lives have been saved, but this number is lower than previous years due to COVID-19 restrictions.”
City of Newcastle Senior Project Officer Tania Antony co-ordinates City of Newcastle’s Lifeblood team said her personal journey drives her to encourage others to donate blood.
“For me, my brother suffered from aplastic anaemia. On two occasions in his life, he needed three platelet transfusions and one whole blood transfusion each week, just to survive until transplant time. He literally came alive after each transfusion,” Ms Antony said.
“I am so appreciative of those strangers who gave their blood to save my brother’s life. Before that, I was just a casual donor, now I do whatever I can to drive donations.
“I encourage more organisations and businesses to band their employees together to form a Lifeblood team.”
The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Manager Brian Bruce said a lift in donations in Newcastle is urgently needed, and the community are encouraged to come forward to donate as restrictions ease across the city.
“Newcastle is in particular need of O negative blood and plasma donations with supply at a ten-year low due to the pandemic,” Mr Bruce said.
“Collectively, Lifeblood teams in Newcastle have helped save 17,800 lives so far in 2021. More than a third of our blood supply locally comes from groups donating together from local business, sporting, and community groups.
“Thank you to City of Newcastle’s Lifeblood team for setting a great example by helping us to raise awareness and get the message out to the community to come and donate blood as restrictions ease and feel great knowing they are saving lives.”