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MY COLISEUM

I’m thrilled to welcome you to the inaugural edition of MY COLISEUM. This magazine is our way of sharing what makes the Coliseum Theatre special - a celebration of the shows, the people who bring them to life, and the vibrant news that define the Coliseum - Western Sydney’s home for exceptional live performance and events.

Our story began with Richard Errington, CEO of West HQ, whose vision was to build not just a theatre, but a home where artists and audiences could connect. A place for our communities to gather and experience the transformative power of live performance. The Coliseum has grown into something we’re deeply proud of. It represents more than beautiful spaces and state-of-theart facilities. We love being part of our region’s artistic story, whether we’re presenting world-class performances, running programs for young people, or simply creating spaces where our community can come together.

and content creators who understand that live performance is something truly special. From intimate concerts to grand productions, conventions to community events, filming and live broadcasts, each experience matters to us.

What brings me the greatest joy are the artists and events who choose to make the Coliseum their home and who have become part of our extended family, each bringing their own magic to our stage time and again. These enduring relationships represent far more than bookingsthey’re a reflection of the trust and loyalty that have been built over time. I’m grateful for our successes and excited about the exceptional shows we will cotinue to bring you in the years ahead.

This publication is our way of opening our doors to you, our invitation to step behind the curtain and be part of our journey.

Behind every show you see, there’s a team of people who genuinely care about making magic happen. We’ve been fortunate to work with incredible artists, dedicated crew members, and passionate Producers

YOUR COLISEUM STANDS READY TO BECOME PART OF YOUR STORY – THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OURS.

WELCOME

MEET THE TEAM

TRISH CHARAN leads the Coliseum with extensive theatre experience, including five years as General Manager at Sydney’s Theatre Royal, working on major productions from Phantom of the Opera to Jersey Boys. Her leadership drives our artistic vision and operational excellence.

ED TOLLAND, our Technical Manager, brings comprehensive global production experience from Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ international tour to touring the ‘Imperial Ice Stars’. He heads our international technical team: CALLUM ADAMS (Lighting), FLO BECKER (Sound), and KAYLAN KOKS (Staging).

Theatre Services Manager PRAMILA ARUMUGAM brings over a decade of commercial theatre and events expertise, serving as our in-house Producer and financial strategist who seamlessly orchestrates everything from co-productions to external hires.

ALISON DEBOO joined late 2024 as Senior ManagerSales & Audience Development, bringing three decades of local and international marketing and business development experience. The past 10 years overseeing Alternate Content within the cinema exhibition industry.

With Content & Campaign Executive DANIELLE CANETE, they’ve delivered 200% social media growth already in early 2025.

Our front of house operations is anchored by IAN ZAMMIT, Front of House Manager. Ian brings considerable theatre passion directing and co-producing local productions.

Ticketing Manager REEZ SAIDIN rounds out the team with over a decade of local and international ticketing expertise from Ticketek to Antix and The Australian Ballet, optimising revenue across productions from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast to Frozen.

VENUE

Photo credit: John Gollings

HISTORY

The Coliseum Theatre, Western Sydney stands as a transformative cultural beacon, redefining entertainment excellence beyond traditional metropolitan boundaries. Originally opened as Sydney Coliseum Theatre in 2019, our strategic 2025 rebrand represents more than a name change—it’s a powerful narrative shift from Sydney-centric identity to authentic Western Sydney cultural ownership.

Our 2,000-seat auditorium - 2,600 in concert mode - complemented by three foyers, seven bars, and state-of-the-art facilities, rivals Australia’s premier entertainment destinations. The venue hosts diverse programming from ballet and concerts to comedy, exhibitions, conferences and children’s entertainment, attracting international attention through its architectural brilliance and technical sophistication.

Our 2025 community awareness campaign reached over 2 million people, cementing our position as Western Sydney’s cultural heart. The Coliseum proves exceptional arts venues can flourish beyond traditional boundaries, delivering metropolitan-quality experiences while celebrating regional identity and community connection.

The Coliseum Theatre has revolutionised Western Sydney’s entertainment ecosystem, hosting over 300 performances while welcoming 250,000+ attendees. Our venue demonstrates how strategic cultural investment drives unprecedented regional growth.

ARCHITECT AND DESIGN

The Coliseum Theatre was designed by Cox Architecture and built in just over two years.

- Excerpt by Brooke Lloyd, Director-COX:

The (Sydney) Coliseum Theatre is a 2000seat multi-mode performance venue located in burgeoning Western Sydney.

The conceptual narrative for the design stems from the concept of transcendence, with the journey from the outside world to the magic of performance reflected through form, materiality and colour.

The design confidently rejects superfluous decoration and employs a purposely restrained use of three primary materials: timber, terrazzo and plaster.

The dramatic interplay between layered mezzanines and sweeping staircases creates a symphonic quality to the interior, imbuing the heart and soul of performance into every inch of its built form.

A generous sweeping stair connects the multi-layered atrium, carving out multiple vantage points to take in the charged atmosphere before the quiet calm of curtains up. The palette heightens the drama as you move into the theatre – stirring patrons’ expectancy for what lies within. The space dramatically shifts from an ivory lined façade and dove grey terrazzo floors to a fluid ribbon of timber, enveloping the central volume into an inky dark performance space where all attention is on centre stage.

The curved volume of the theatre is mirrored in the facade. An exemplary project in exhibiting the rigour of designing from the inside and out. A rhythmic pattern of ribbon windows carved into deep reveals veils the mundane surrounds, minimises solar gain and filters dramatic dancing light across the honed floor.

A chandelier within the atrium provides a focal point and sense of grandeur. Designed in collaboration with Yellow Goat, crystals appear to be suspended in animation to embody a special moment like the crescendo of a symphony.

“This venue is for everyone, from ballet lovers to rock enthusiasts. The honest and unpretentious materiality is almost chameleon-like in its ability to suit everyone and every occasion”.

The (Sydney) Coliseum Theatre certainly delivers beauty but more importantly provides a cultural heart to enrich and unite a steadily growing community.

AWARDS

Public Design Award, Australian Interior Design Awards, 2020

Product Commercial and Industrial Award, Good Design Australia, 2020

Architectural - Interior Award, Good Design Australia, 2020

Photo credit: John Gollings

CHANDELIER

The Coliseum’s architectural grandeur comes alive through sweeping staircases, terrazzo floors, seven marble-lined bars, and bespoke furnishings that create an unforgettable backdrop for every visit.

At the heart of this elegance sits our signature Chandelier Bar on the ground floor. Nestled within the curves of the grand staircase and crowned by a cascading chandelier visible from every level, it’s the perfect destination for pre-show anticipation, intermission conversations, or post-show reflection. Our seasonal cocktail program launched in June

2025, evolving throughout the year to complement each season’s mood. This Winter, guests can indulge in our Maple & Rosemary Old Fashioned, the striking Pomegranate Martini, or the rich Salted Caramel Espresso Martini. Preordering for intermission ensures your drink awaits, while post-show nightcaps provide the ideal finale to your theatre experience.

Sustainability meets sophistication in our commitment to environmental responsibility – all auditorium beverages are served in biodegradable cups, ensuring our luxury doesn’t compromise our planet.

Photo credit: Aiden De La Paz

FIELD OF STARS

The interior atrium of the Coliseum shimmers under the bespoke FIELD OF STARS chandelier – a 241 stranded chandelier featuring thousands of suspended crystals in animation which follow the curve of the grand staircase, a centrepiece of the magnificent foyer. The chandelier was designed by Cox Architecture in collaboration with Yellow Goat Design.

Photo credit: George Fetting

WE ARE THE HOME OF AUSTRALIAN IDOL

The Coliseum has become the exclusive home of Australian Idol for four consecutive years (2023-2026) – an unprecedented achievement that reshapes the entertainment landscape. This major television partnership proves that world-class broadcast productions can flourish beyond the city limits, establishing Western Sydney as a serious player in national television.

Beyond providing the stage and audience, we create a complete production ecosystem. Cast and crew call the Coliseum home for up to three months each season, with our facilities supporting every aspect of the massive undertaking.

The numbers tell the story: 5,000 meals served, 5,400 dinner rolls consumed, and one tonne of beef and chicken prepared across each season. It’s not just television –it’s a community.

Being back here at the Coliseum is AWESOME, I love this place. I opened this place with Keith Urban so, I have an attachment to it, if feels really nice

- Amy Shark, Australian Idol Judge

THE COLISEUM TRANSFORMED

January 2025 marked a defining moment when the world-renowned Imperial Ice Stars brought their awardwinning “Swan Lake on Ice” to the Coliseum Theatre.

The acclaimed theatrical ice-skating company, created in 2004 by Tony Mercer, celebrated for their innovative interpretations of classical ballet, required something extraordinary: our entire stage transformed into an ice rink.

Under the expert leadership of our Technical Manager, Ed - together with our technical team - a traditional theatre stage was seamlessly converted into an Olympic standard ice rink.

“HOW WE DID IT”

Ice Rinks Australia came on board to provide the necessary equipment to create the temporary ice surface for the production. The principle of the system is that Glycol, a food-grade antifreeze, is cooled to -14 degrees by two 200 kW Aggreko chillers positioned outside the building.

These chillers then pump a flow and return circuit through pressurised hoses to the aluminium ice pad to freeze the water and create ice. The system is pressure tested, and once the Glycol has reached -14 degrees, the ice pad is sprayed or flooded with layers of water, which is frozen by the radiated low temperature of the Glycol within the ice pad.

A jet-ice white mesh is laid to give the ice an even white surface and is frozen into the ice. The ice is then built up to 100mm. The rink must be maintained daily by a Zamboni Machine. This machine, equipped with a sharp blade and a hot water tank, is used to repair surface damage and give the ice surface a clean, glass-like appearance. It shaves a thin layer of ice, removing any rough patches, and then sprays a thin layer of hot water, which freezes quickly, creating a smooth surface.

The entire process, from start to finish, took 48 hours. The skating troop could then enter the ice rink for warm up and production rehearsals.

This ambitious transformation showcased not only the Imperial Ice Stars’ artistry but the Coliseum’s versatility and technical prowess, setting a new standard for what’s possible in live entertainment.

Photo credit: Suzy Bernstein

Photo credit: Chris Pavlich

NO MORE QUEUES

We’ve reimagined the theatre bathroom experience. Forget those endless intermission lines – the Coliseum features state-of-the-art facilities across all levels with over 50 private stalls and six accessible bathrooms / parent rooms strategically positioned on each level of the venue.

Every visit becomes part of the experience, with stunning architectural details that make even your brief intermission break feel special. Because great theatre shouldn’t be interrupted by poor planning.

Designed with our audience in mind, comfort and convenience are never an afterthought at the Coliseum.

Photo credit: George Fetting

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!

WIN AN OVERNIGHT STAY & DINNER FOR TWO

We’d love to know more about what you love about a night out at a concert or show. Help us improve your Coliseum experience with this quick 2-minute survey and you'll automatically enter our prize draw where you could WIN* dinner for two at CHU Restaurant By China Doll plus an overnight stay at Novotel West HQ including breakfast!

SURVEY CLOSES 11.59PM – 30 OCTOBER 2025

*T&Cs apply – use QR code for full details Help us improve your theatre experience