Theatre Twyford
The Theatre is expected to open in 2024. The following is provided as a guide only – final configuration and equipment may change prior to opening. Contact us for more details.
We are taking bookings now for events in 2025-2026. You may also be interested in our existing Hall venue instead of the Theatre.
Theatre Twyford is a proscenium arch dedicated theatre space with raked seating, located in the centre of Merimbula on the far south coast of NSW.
Auditorium
- Seating Plan
- Accessibility
- Total maximum seating capacity up to 199 (fixed tiered seating)
- Practical maximum capacity 196 including 3 wheelchair spaces in Row J.
Flexible seating for up to 4 wheelchairs plus 8 accompanying carers, or 3 wheelchairs plus 10 accompanying carers – level access via lift and theatre foyer. Each entry door has space to store 2 walkers/wheelchairs if patrons wish to transfer to regular seats. - Removable seating: up to 15 seats in Row A; up to 8 seats in Row J for 4 wheelchairs or camera positions
- Lower auditorium rows A to H: 8 rows, 15-16 seats in each row, 2 outer aisles (up to 124 seats) – stair access only
- Upper auditorium rows K to N 4 rows, 14-16 seats in each row, 1 central aisle (60 seats) – stair access only
- Airconditioning and heating
- Unisex accessible toilet located on ground floor inside main entrance – accessible via lift or stairs via Theatre Foyer
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
- 7.8m deep from down stage to upstage wall (no crossover)
- 6.6m deep from setting line (behind proscenium arch) to upstage wall
- 5.45m deep from setting line to black drop flexible crossover upstage
- Fire safety curtain behind proscenium arch must be free of sets/props at all times – 30 second drop time on fire trip.
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 Plans
- Theatre Stage Lighting Detail
- Theatre FOH Lighting Detail
- Standard Theatre Lighting Rig Simplified A3
- Standard Theatre Lighting Rig A3
- Theatre Stage Elevation Full Depth No Crossover A2
- Theatre Stage Elevation With Crossover A2
- Theatre Stage Masking Plan Full Depth A2
- Theatre Stage Masking Plan with Crossover A2
- Theatre Plan v1.1
Stage Equipment
- 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 connected 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
- Stage furniture (risers, rostra, tables, lounge, seating, plants etc) available on request, with notice – additional fee may apply
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 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 on Market St leads to Control Room, Upper and Lower Dressing Rooms + bathrooms, Stage, Foyer area.
- Loading dock entrance on Beach St beside loading dock roller shutter leads directly onto Theatre Stage.
- Paging/Music system from FOH to Theatre + Hall and ground floor entrance/toilets
- 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)
- 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
- 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 – 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
- 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 door 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).
- 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
- Seating capacity – up to 6 (including 2 wheelchair spaces)
- Accessible sliding door
- Level access to Theatre stage (OP side) and through to Hall Stage
- Washbasin
- Mirrored and lit benches
- Small Mobile Clothes Rack
- Stageview monitor
- Stage Manager paging speaker
- 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 stairwell
- Access to stage via stairwell and stage entrance corridor
- Seating capacity 10 +
- Washbasin
- Mobile Double Clothing Rack
- Mirrored and lit benches
- Washing machine, dryer (coming soon)
- Ironing board and iron, drying rack, laundry basket
- Recycling/waste bin
- Bar fridge
- Kettle and water filter
- Stageview monitor
- Stage Manager paging speaker
- Aircon/heating
- Bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin – please bring own towels and toiletries
Additional
- Free guest wifi for cast and crew
- Backstage catering available with prior notice + additional fee
- Smoking or vaping 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. Fire system emergency system will activate if smoke/vape detected. Avoid hairspray near smoke detectors.
- > Venue Services
- > Info for Touring Artists
Things to Note
- Smoking or vaping 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.
- CCTV cameras are used in our venue.
- BYO alcohol is not permitted under our licence. No alcohol to be consumed outside licensed area. Consumption of alcohol or drugs while working on events is not permitted.
- Theatre Foyer may be hired after shows until midnight only – RSA certified Twyford staff member must be in attendance if alcohol required.
- 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 commercial hires, show buy-ins, share deals, crew costs, bar service, catering or additional equipment hire details, please contact the Venue Manager directly.
- Hire rates include use of the theatre auditorium, dressing rooms & attached bathrooms, stage, loading dock and up to 2 hours of cleaning per session.
- Equipment hire in addition to standard rig – POA
- Tech Staffing is in addition to hire 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.