Victoria Theatre, Victoria Concert Hall to reopen in October

SINGAPORE — After a three-year refurbishment that cost S$158 million, the curtains will rise again at the Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall in October this year.

The National Arts Council (NAC) said yesterday it was working closely with The Esplanade in preparation for the re-opening of the 152-year-old national monuments.

A range of pre-opening activities and events have been scheduled at the venues from October, said the NAC, leading up to the official opening in the first quarter of next year.

The return of Singapore’s oldest performing arts centres will fill a gap in the local arts scene, after both venues underwent renovation work that transformed them into state-of-the-art facilities with improved acoustics, while preserving their Victorian architecture and heritage.

The venues will be converted into intimate spaces, designed to provide an engaging experience between the audiences and performers.

The Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall will also function as for-hire performing venues that will be managed and operated by The Esplanade. In addition, the Victoria Concert Hall will be the home of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

The NAC said booking of the venues will begin by April.