We look forward to keeping you informed about our new and improved venues for live performances and events. Please subscribe to The Twyford e-News or Like our Facebook page. If you have specific questions about the impact of the project not already covered in this FAQ, please contact us. Getting the development to this stage has taken some 20 years and we thank the community for its support and understanding during the disruptions.

After 20+ years of lobbying, Twyford Hall Inc has been successful in receiving $7.4 million in grant funding from the NSW State Government through the Regional Communities Development Fund. The remainder of the project is being funded through Twyford Hall Inc's own resources, private donations and corporate sponsorships. Twyford Hall Inc is a registered charity and The Twyford Hall Incorporated Theatre Project Building Fund is a registered Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) meaning that all donations to the fund over $2 are tax-deductible. If you would like to be part of the success of the new venue you can become a donor or become a sponsor.

Building works have begun and are expected to continue until fitout is completed in mid 2021. To keep up to date on what is happening, subscribe to The Twyford eNews.

Construction work activity during these times will, wherever possible, be restricted to internal areas of the site. Deliveries are planned to be via the site access on Beach Street. Over weekends and the Xmas/New Year period, the site will normally be closed.

Plans for the new theatre were developed by local architect Michael Marshman & Associates. Development Approval has been obtained for the work. Project Managers Donald Cant Watts Corke (DCWC) have been appointed. The successful tender for the construction of the theatre was announced in December 2019 as Monarch Building Solutions from the ACT. Local contractors are being employed on site where possible.

The Monarch site office is located in the shop next to the Horizon Bank on Market St.

Primary access to the site is from Beach Street.

Traffic control measures for vehicles and pedestrians have been provided as necessary. Alterations to Beach Street vehicle and pedestrian traffic have been made to accommodate the construction site for the Theatre Twyford Construction Project. The Beach Street loading zone has bene relocated to around the corner on Alice Street. Two-way traffic will continue to be maintained on Beach Street, however lane widths will be reduced. Pedestrian traffic has been diverted to the lake side of Beach Street. This traffic and pedestrian management arrangement will remain for the duration of the project. At various times throughout the course of the project, full road closure of Beach Street will be implemented to the Market Street end of Beach Street. Access to Alice Street via Main Street will remain available during these closures as will Beach Street parking. Vehicle traffic in Market and Beach Streets may be busier than usual due to construction vehicles. Should this need to change, eg for services connection or craneage, application to the relevant authorities will be made. Notices - in accordance with the approvals - will be advised via the newspaper, on our website and via e-news. A footpath hoarding is required in Market Street for the width of the new theatre to allow for safe working overhead. Interruption to foot traffic will occur during the installation and removal of the hoarding. The hoarding structure is in accordance with council requirements.

The shop in Market Street beside the Hall is being used as a site office for Monarch Building Solutions during construction. Horizon Bank will remain open during most of the construction period.

Whilst we will endeavour to minimise disruptions to the operations of the venue, for safety and logistical reasons, access to Twyford Hall, the Supper Room and Kitchen will be disrupted at various times to enable the theatre construction to go ahead. The existing venues currently remain closed except for an exhibition 2-11 April 2021 but are expected to reopen in May. A new online booking procedure has been implemented so that all bookings come via THI Operations and require approval by the Building team before they can be confirmed. Bookings must be made via our Venue Hire page or by calling 02 64957435. The Merimbula newsagency no longer handles bookings.

A list of blackout periods and bookings for each of the venues is maintained on our Calendar.

The Twyford Room on Market Street is no longer available. It will become the main entrance for the new Theatre and includes a lift and stairwell to the new theatre foyer on the first floor, as well as providing access to the toilets for Hall and Theatre patrons.

Twyford Hall is currently closed apart from an exhibition 2-11 April 2021. It is expected to reopen fully around May 2021, depending on theatre construction schedules. The door of the Hall along the side wall, currently used as a second doorway into the Supper Room, has been closed off. The old biobox and old box office are no longer accessible to the public. Access to the toilets will be impacted at various times. See the diagram at the top of this page for details.

The Twyford Hall stage depth has been shortened by approximately 2 metres to accommodate construction of the new theatre backstage area and loading dock. Its dimensions are now 8.25m wide x 3.96m deep, inclusive of 0.9m extension at the front. Electrical work has been completed to move the sound box to the front of the proscenium at stage right. The lighting bars are still in place but there are no stage lights at present apart from the quartz lights to the front and side of the stage. See the Venue Hire - Twyford Hall page for more details. The stage in the new Theatre will be larger than the old Twyford Hall stage. The Hall stage will have double door access to the Theatre backstage and loading dock. There is single door access at stage right for offstage entrances from the Theatre backstage. It can be used as an orchestra area for the Theatre, with video and comms access to the Theatre stage. It can also be used as an assembly area/additional dressing room area for large cast acts in the theatre.

The shed at the back of the Hall has been removed from the site and the Twyford Hall Green Room has been removed to enable theatre construction. Two new Dressing Rooms, each with their own toilet and shower facilities, are being built into the new theatre and will be located on the northern side of the venue. The Theatre stage door will be located on Market St adjacent to the Horizon Bank. Access to the dressing rooms from the Hall will be via the Theatre backstage.

The bio box at the back of Twyford Hall will become a Technical/Communications Room accessible only to technicians. The new Theatre will have new lighting, sound, video and communication systems in place. The Operations group is currently working on sourcing funding for updated lighting and sound in the Hall as well as a portable rostrum for sound/lighting operators at the rear of the Hall, adjacent to the Supper Room.

The Twyford Hall Supper Room has been downsized, losing about 10 square metres at the Market St end. A section has been walled off and converted to a sprinkler pump room for the venue. Tables will be stored at the rear of the Hall and chairs under the front of the Hall stage. Access will be via the main Market Street or Beach St foyer entrance or the main Theatre entrance once the Theatre opens.

The existing box office is being replaced by a box office/foyer in the new Theatre. The old box office has become the Electrical Mains plant room for the whole venue.

Access to the Hall toilets will be maintained during the course of the works, though the access route will alter from time to time and access may be limited briefly at the point when new ventilation systems need to be installed and other building works are scheduled.

All venues are currently closed and there is no public access at this time. All contractors connected to the building site must report to the site office. All bookings must be made via our online Venue Hire form or by calling 02 64957435. Operations and the building team will determine if the hire can go ahead and hirers will then receive an invoice for payment. Hirers will be invoiced directly and payment is made by direct credit to Twyford Hall's bank account before the hire is confirmed. Hirers with confirmed bookings only can collect keys from our Operations Manager until the Theatre Office opens in mid 2021. Details will be provided once the booking has been confirmed. All other enquiries should be submitted via our Venue Hire page.