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| Hayes Theatre Co | |
|---|---|
| Name | Hayes Theatre Co |
| Caption | Hayes Theatre interior |
| Address | 19 Forbes Street, Potts Point |
| City | Sydney |
| Country | Australia |
| Capacity | ~200 |
| Opened | 2014 (as Hayes Theatre Co) |
| Owner | Darlinghurst Theatre Company (venue owner: City of Sydney) |
Hayes Theatre Co is an Australian professional theatre company based in Potts Point, Sydney, specialising in musical theatre, cabaret, and new Australian works. Founded through the adaptive reuse of a historic West End–style venue, the company is noted for producing intimate revivals, premieres, and transfers that connect Sydney with national and international musical theatre networks. Hayes Theatre Co has become a nexus for creators, performers, and producers associated with major institutions and festivals in Australia and abroad.
Hayes Theatre Co emerged after a lineage of theatrical uses associated with the Forbes Street venue, including service as a cinema and live performance space linked to the theatrical circuits of Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir St Theatre, State Theatre of New South Wales, Enmore Theatre, and independent producers. The company was established in the wake of initiatives by local government bodies such as the City of Sydney and advocacy from arts organizations like Live Performance Australia and the Australia Council for the Arts to revitalise inner-city cultural precincts. Early seasons featured artists and creatives with affiliations to Theatre Royal (Sydney), Opera Australia, Melbourne Theatre Company, and the Adelaide Festival Centre, reflecting a cross-pollination between major Australian institutions. Hayes Theatre Co quickly built relationships with international entities including producers from the West End, Broadway, and festivals such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the New York Musical Festival.
The venue occupies a converted early 20th-century building in Potts Point, proximate to cultural landmarks like Star Casino, Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney, Kings Cross, and the Sydney Opera House. Its auditorium, with a seating capacity of around 200, provides an intimate setting that contrasts with larger houses like the Capitol Theatre and the Sydney Lyric Theatre. The theatre includes rehearsal spaces, a green room used by practitioners from institutions such as Victorian Opera and Canberra Theatre Centre, and technical facilities compatible with touring designs from companies including Christie Digital Systems and lighting suppliers used by LightingAustralia. The venue’s scale enables transfer-ready presentations for small-cast musicals originating from incubators like the Australian Theatre for Young People and training institutions such as National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
Programming emphasizes musical theatre, cabaret, and new Australian musical works, presenting seasons that feature revivals, Australian premieres, and contemporary reinterpretations. Notable productions have included transfers and reimaginings associated with creative personnel who have worked on productions for Matilda the Musical, The King and I, Les Misérables, Chicago (musical), and Company (musical). Collaborations with writers and composers connected to festivals like Melbourne International Comedy Festival and institutions such as Sydney Festival have produced short-run premieres and developmental seasons. The company programs cabaret seasons that showcase artists who also perform at venues like Jazzgroove, The Basement (Sydney), and the Evensong Room. Hayes Theatre Co has served as a launching pad for works that later toured regionally to venues in Perth (including the His Majesty's Theatre, Perth), Brisbane (including the Brisbane Powerhouse), and Adelaide.
Artistic leadership has comprised directors, musical directors, and producers with track records at organisations such as Opera Australia, Melbourne Theatre Company, Royal Shakespeare Company, and international producers from the Nederlander Organization and Sonia Friedman Productions. Resident creative staff have included stage managers and designers who worked on seasons at Sydney Opera House and touring productions for Production Arts. The company’s casting often features performers who trained at NIDA, WAAPA, and Victorian College of the Arts and who maintain credits with ensembles like Australian Chamber Orchestra and productions by The Production Company (Melbourne). Administrative teams liaise with funding bodies such as the New South Wales Government arts departments, philanthropic trusts including The Myer Foundation, and corporate sponsors that support national tours.
Hayes Theatre Co and its productions have won and been nominated for multiple industry awards, with recognition from award bodies like the Helpmann Awards, Sydney Theatre Awards, and the Green Room Awards. Productions associated with Hayes Theatre Co have achieved Helpmann nominations alongside major works from Bell Shakespeare and Company B (Belvoir), and individual performers have received accolades comparable to peers honoured by the Mo Awards. The theatre’s impact on musical theatre practice in Australia has been noted in coverage by arts critics who have compared its output to international off-Broadway and fringe successes at events such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the New York Musical Festival.
Community and education initiatives include workshops, masterclasses, youth programs, and partnerships with training institutions like Australian Theatre for Young People, NIDA, and WAAPA. Outreach projects have connected with local councils such as the City of Sydney and cultural programs at University of Sydney and University of New South Wales to broaden access to musical theatre and cabaret. The company collaborates with philanthropic and government arts funding streams including the Australia Council for the Arts to support artist development, and it participates in festivals and curated seasons alongside organisations like Sydney Festival and Vivid Sydney to integrate performance with citywide cultural programming.
Category:Theatre companies in Australia