Marian Street Theatre: Community Rallies to Save DA

On Sunday I attended the ‘Rally in Red’ outside Gordon library, and since that short time ago, I’ve been watching this story unfold almost by the hour. I’ve been deeply moved to see a passionate, fiercely determined community stand united in opposition to losing their cherished arts space in Ku-ring-gai. For those who haven’t been following this protracted issue, a rapidly ticking clock has now pushed local arts advocates into an unprecedented corner.

Ku-ring-gai Council voted on June 16 to allow the long-approved architectural plans for the iconic Marian Street Theatre to expire on August 19. Unless $100,000 is raised before Thursday to preserve the approval, more than 20 years of continuous planning, community consultation, and detailed design work, together with $1.7 million of taxpayer investment, will be completely lost.

Over 250 residents, artists, performers, and local leaders formed a sea of red outside Gordon Library for a passionate “Rally in Red,” officially launching an emergency GoFundMe campaign. The strategy is simple yet urgent: raise the money to force Council’s hand before the deadline passes.

“These will impact current and future generations of Ku-ring-gai locals who will now have to grow up in a community with less going on, a diminished cultural scene and fewer venues to bring people together and to create and connect.”
— Nicolette Boele, Federal Member for Bradfield

Boele also submitted a statement highlighting that the Marian Street Theatre presents a clear case where, rather than building expensive new infrastructure from scratch, leaders can step in right now to preserve and revitalise a vital cultural space that already exists in the community.

Marian St Theatre Action Chair Jessica Blaxland Ashby stressed the sheer frustration that brought the community to this point:

“We didn’t come here today to ask the community for money. We came because we were angry. Council has left us with almost no time. Thursday is the last day an Extraordinary General Meeting can be called in time to save the approved architectural plans. If the community can raise the money, there is no excuse left. Councillors can rescind their previous decision and preserve the plans.”

As of this afternoon, funding is growing by the hour, demonstrating an overwhelming commitment to the cause and a deep, enduring love for the performing arts across the region. Campaigners have clarified that every single donation will be refunded in full if Council still declines to preserve the Development Application (DA). “This isn’t about funding the theatre,” Blaxland Ashby emphasised. “It’s about saving the DA. It isn’t the Council that will save the theatre – it’s the community.”

The situation leaves many local ratepayers asking uncomfortable questions about Council’s financial priorities. Why is it that the local arts community is forced to pass the hat around to salvage a critical $100,000 planning approval, while sporting crowds and major athletic facilities receive millions in public money without having to raise a cent?

Designed by leading theatre architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, the approved redevelopment would transform the historic site into a state-of-the-art contemporary arts centre, featuring dedicated spaces for theatre, live music, dance, art exhibitions, and community gatherings. If these plans are allowed to lapse on August 19, advocates warn that reopening Marian Street Theatre could be delayed by another decade – or abandoned altogether.

Late this afternoon The Post received an update from Ku-ring-gai Council and we are pleased to confirm that an Extraordinary Meeting of Council has been called to consider the Marian Street Theatre project. It will be held on Monday 10 August 2026 as 12pm, full details can be located on the Council website.