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Theatre

Our 199 tiered seat Theatre opened in April 2025. If you are looking for a flat floor venue, you may also be interested in our Hall venue.

Venue Hire Form

Our proscenium arch Theatre is a dedicated performance space with (mostly) fixed raked seating and state-of-the-art lighting, sound and AV, located in the centre of Merimbula on the Sapphire Coast of NSW.

  • Performer view of the Theatre Auditorium. Capacity 199
    Performer view of the Theatre Auditorium. Capacity 199

Auditorium

  • Seating Plan
  • Accessibility
  • Total maximum seating capacity 195 – 199 (fixed tiered seating, with 4 removable seat-pairs for up to 4 wheelchairs Row J)
  • Level access to theatre doors from Main Entrance via lift and theatre foyer.
  • Each of our 2 entry doors has space to store a maximum of 2 walkers or wheelchairs or prams if patrons wish to transfer to regular seats. Otherwise devices will be moved to a safe place by our ushers and returned before interval/end of show.
  • Removable seating: up to 15 seats in Row A; up to 8 seats in Row J for 4 wheelchairs or camera/rehearsal desk positions
  • Lower auditorium rows A to H: 8 rows, 15 or 16 seats in each row, 2 outer aisles (up to 124 seats) – stair access only
  • Upper auditorium rows K to N 4 rows, 14 or 16 seats in each row, 1 central aisle (60 seats) – stair access only
  • Airconditioning and heating
  • All toilets for the public including a unisex accessible toilet are located on the Ground level inside the main entrance – accessible via lift or stairs from the Theatre Foyer on Level 1.

Stage Specifications & Plans

All documents correct as at 25 September 2025

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

TECH FACILITIES

STAGE MASKING

ELEVATIONS

    LX PLANS

    Stage Features

    Proscenium arch stage with sacrificial brown board layer over timber.

    Stage Width

    • 9m wide at proscenium arch
    • 10.25m wide forward of/behind proscenium arch

    Stage Depth

    Setting line is the upstage edge of the Safety Curtain bottom batten.

    Fire safety curtain at proscenium arch must be free of sets/props at all times – 30 second drop time on fire trip.

    • 7.8m deep from down stage apron to upstage wall (no crossover)
    • 6.53m deep from setting line to upstage wall
    • 5.18m deep from setting line to flexible crossover upstage (black traverse curtain upstage in front of cyclorama)

    Stage Height

    • Row A auditorium floor to stage level: 0.51 metres
    • Stage level to top of proscenium arch: 5 metres
    • Stage level to lighting bar: 5 metres
    • Clearance to most of stage rigging: 5 metres
    • Clearance under upstage catwalk: 4.5 metres

    Wings

    • Stage right (OP) wing width: 5 metres from edge of proscenium arch to OP wall
    • Stage left (PS) wing width: 6.5 metres from edge of proscenium arch to PS loading dock edge
    • Note: Twyford Hall and Hall stage adjacent to the Theatre stage may also be hired as an offstage orchestra space for the Theatre, a green room (PS of Theatre stage) or additional dressing area for large casts/crew, subject to availability.

    Stage Equipment

    Full list provided on request

    • Lectern with mic, light and accessories
    • Sound system including built in L-Acoustics speakers, Dynacord foldback speakers, Shure mics, mic stands, DIs, cables, A&H SQ7 sound desk in Control Room.
    • All LED programmable lighting rig including ShowPro lights, DMX network, ETC ION XE 2k lighting control desk in Control Room.
    • Mobile Stage Manager Desk can connect PS or OP with QSC Qsys paging to discrete areas, Clearcomm headset, 2 video monitors, stopclock and little lites.
    • Stageview wide view of stage from camera located in Control Room with monitors at Stage PS/OP, Dressing Rooms, Foyer, Main Entrance Corridor and Hall stage. Additional cameras that are hired in or supplied by Hirer may use side windows beside Control Room provided follow-spots not also in use.
    • Video projection with fixed Epson projector below FOH lighting bridge 2, mid stage Screen Technics 0620029-XL 200 inch projection screen. Front projection also possible onto upstage cyclorama. Additional portable 4m wide x 2.8m high projection screen in aluminium frame with/without legs available for hire.
    • Video production desk (Roland ) and switcher (ATEM Mini Pro)
    • Filming and streaming service available on request, with notice
    • Keyboard Yamaha Clavinova CLP-50
    • Rostra/Risers 4 x 2m x 1m All Terrain Stage decks with adjustable legs (40cm to 100cm) Duraflex surface plus one set of steps (20 & 40 cm steps)
    • Stage furniture (tables, lounge, seating, plants etc) available on request – additional fee may apply
    • Double mobile clothing rack available for stage use on request

    Crew Facilities

    Please contact our Technical Manager to discuss your specifications/equipment, access security and prerig requirements

    • Control Room at rear of auditorium on upper level with adjustable seating for three operators – open to auditorium.
    • Additional openable windows left and right in outer control rooms at rear of auditorium for follow spots or cameras.
    • Stage door entrance accessible via doorcode on Market St leads to Control Room, Upper and Lower Dressing Rooms + attached bathrooms, Stages, Foyer.
    • Loading dock entrance on Beach St beside loading dock double roller shutter loads directly onto Theatre Stage.
    • Paging/Music system from FOH to Theatre + Hall and ground floor entrance/toilets for show relay or background music.
    • Paging system from SMD to Dressing Rooms/FOH/Control Room
    • Hoisted Lighting bars 3 over stage on winches accessible from stage and fly floor, lighting focus using EWP on stage (must be certified to use)
    • Fixed Lighting bars 2 over FOH on lighting bridges accessible via Level 2 Control Room (no access permitted on lighting bridges during performances), 1 rear lighting bar over Control Room, 2 follow spots can be set up through sliding windows beside Control Room
    • High Speed NBN FTTP for streaming – specification available – coming soon
    • Guest WiFi available on request
    • Motorised Hoist controls OP on Stage and on Fly Floor
    • Motorised Main curtain control PS on Stage (SMD position) or Control Room
    • Fire Curtain behind proscenium arch – path must be clear at all times – breakglass located PS and OP on Stage for manual control
    • Fire Curtain Drenchers – breakglass located PS on Stage for manual control
    • Genie AWP-30S vertical mast EWP 9m (certification / induction required)
    • Fibreglass 8 Step Platform Ladder
    • Fibreglass extension ladder (to reach sidebars)
    • Fibreglass 5 step A Frame ladder
    • Flatbed trolley (350kg load) available
    • Steel hand truck available
    • Loading Dock for Hall and Theatre stages – entrance on Beach Street. Loading dock loads direct onto stage level (820mm above driveway level). Width of roller doors 3800mm. Length from edge of dock to closest edge of outer door: 2700mm (a 3 tonne truck will protrude onto outer driveway – trucks must be moved to carpark after bump in to allow double roller shutters to be closed). Alternatively there is a parallel Loading Zone next to the loading dock driveway.
    • Laser Printer/Scanner/Copier available in Theatre Office

    Cast Facilities

    Please contact the Venue Manager regarding riders or additional facilities required.

    Lower Dressing Room/Green Room – stage level

    • Access via Stage Door on Market St between Horizon Bank and Superette (access coded door)
    • Seating capacity – up to 6 (including 2 wheelchair spaces at an accessible height bench)
    • Accessible sliding door to stage corridor
    • Level access to Theatre stage (OP side)
    • Level access through to Hall Stage (some assistance may be required from Stage Manager to enter Hall stage door)
    • Washbasin with mirror
    • Mirrored and lit benches
    • Single Mobile Clothes Rack and spare hangers
    • Stageview monitor
    • Stage Manager paging speaker
    • Bar fridge
    • Kettle and water filter, glasses, cups – tea, coffee, milk and sugar available on request
    • Independent aircon/heating
    • Accessible bathroom with shower (shower curtain+seat), toilet and washbasin – please bring own towels and toiletries

    Upper Dressing Room

    • Access via Stage Door on Market St and northern stairwell
    • Access to stage via stairwell and stage entrance corridor
    • Seating capacity 12 +
    • Washbasin with mirror
    • Mobile Double Clothing Rack x 2, spare hangers
    • Mirrored and lit benches
    • Ironing board and iron, drying rack
    • Garbage bin
    • Small bar fridge
    • Kettle and water filter, glasses, cups – tea, coffee, milk and sugar available on request
    • Stageview monitor
    • Stage Manager paging speaker
    • Independant aircon/heating
    • Steam iron + ironing board
    • Front loading clothes washer + heat pump dryer (induction required) – detergent and rinse aid provided
    • Collapsible clothes drying rack and washing basket
    • Adjacent lockable bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin – please bring own towels and toiletries

    Additional

    Things to Note

    • Smoking or vaping are not permitted at any time inside the building or within 10 metres of any of the building entrances under NSW and local council regulations. This includes e-cigarettes/vapes. The fire emergency system will activate if smoke/vape is detected. Avoid using hairspray near smoke detectors. Keep bathroom door closed when using shower. False alarm attendance fees by fire brigade will be charged back to Hirer if these rules are not observed.
    • Use of haze or smoke in shows must be pre-approved and may incur additional fire safety officer cost as fire system will need to be isolated.
    • CCTV cameras are used in our venue.
    • BYO alcohol is not permitted under our licence conditions. No BYO and no alcohol to be consumed backstage/on stage. The Twyford has a zero-tolerance policy for the consumption of alcohol or drugs while working on events to comply with Work Health & Safety laws – this includes artists, crew and volunteers. Post-show drinks are available in the Foyer Bar. Riders with non-alcoholic drinks and snacks are welcome and to be submitted at the time of booking.
    • Theatre Foyer may be hired after shows for Meet & Greets or after parties until 11.30pm only – RSA certified Twyford staff member must be in attendance if alcohol served – prebook with the Venue Manager.
    • All visiting cast and crew, staff, hirers, Board members and volunteers agree to abide by Work Health & Safety standards and procedures at all times in the venue including use of appropriate PPE, adherence to COVID safety requirements and adherence to NSW liquor laws.

    Pricing

    Listed rates are space hire only. For show buy-ins, share deals, crew costs, bar service, catering or additional equipment hire details, please contact the Venue Manager directly.

    • Theatre Hire rates include use of the Theatre auditorium, dressing rooms & attached bathrooms, Theatre stage, loading dock and up to 2 hours of cleaning per session plus use of the Main Entrance, toilets and Foyer on Level 1 by audience members.
    • The licensed Foyer Cafe/Bar is operated by The Twyford preshow, at interval and at any post show event.
    • The Foyer can be used in its own right as a small venue if the Theatre is not in use.
    • Hall Hire rates include use of the Hall auditorium, dressing rooms (accessed via theatre stage), Hall stage, Kitchen (shared use only for basic tea & coffee prep).
    • Other areas such as Supper Room, use of Theatre Foyer for Hall shows etc to be negotiated with Venue Manager.
    • Venue hire rate assumes standard rig use with basic lighting wash only and minimal audio equipment. Use of additional equipment – POA
    • Tech Staffing is charged back to Hirers are is in addition to hire rates. Please note that Sunday/Public Holidays incur penalty rates.

    Minimum staffing requirements for events in the Theatre:

    • Duty Manager and at least 2 volunteer ushers trained in evacuation procedures. At least one staff member on duty will have First Aid/CPR certificate and Fire Warden training.
    • RSA certified Twyford staff member serving if alcohol to be supplied or sold
    • Technical Manager to consult on design, perform prerig, induction of crew, supervision of bump-in, operations and bump-out. Tech Manager may also be hired as lighting and/or sound operator during shows. We also have a casual pool of operators available depending on your requirements.

    Additional technical and volunteer staff available on request. Please discuss your event’s technical and staffing requirements with the Venue Manager as early as possible. Being a regional location, there is a limited pool of operators who are in high demand for other events.

    Enquire about this venue now