4 weeks ago
4
February 2, 2026 — 1:45pm
Brisbane’s long-awaited new performing arts centre has opened its doors for the first time, revealing a sleek and high-tech arena designed to slip into the existing precinct.
Behind the giant curved-class exterior on the second level, golden carpets lead to long, black bars where theatre-goers will order drinks in little plastic cups.
Inside, 1500 “rainforest green” seats stretch in front of a wide stage. The room feels intimate despite the scale of the building, which required more than 6300 cubic metres of concrete and 1500 tonnes of steel, along with all that glass.
On the stage, automated fly lines and sound shells hover at the ready, replacing hand-run systems at QPAC’s older theatres. Backstage, 79 mirror spaces mean the theatre can easily accommodate larger performances.
According to architect Jayson Blight, who gave a tour to media on Monday, the mission of the building was to blend into the existing centre, not cast a shadow over it.
He also said the complex structure of the 217 undulating panes meant they supported themselves.
“There is actually no structure holding up that glass,” he told the crowd, some of whom laughing nervously.
Named The Glasshouse after a public survey to choose a moniker, the theatre was meant to open its doors in 2022, but flooding and COVID-19 pushed it back four years.
Still, Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek said there was no cost blowout to match, thanks to a $184 million guaranteed construction sum contract with the builder, Lendlease.
The Queensland Performing Arts Centre contributed $25 million, with the rest provided by the state, he said.
“It certainly has taken a long time, but it’s really important to acknowledge that we’re here now, and it’s a wonderful theatre,” Langbroek said.
Public Works Minister Sam O’Connor described the issues faced during the project as biblical.
“We had the floods here in 2022; we had the COVID pandemic prior to that,” he said, as well as laying blame at how “the former Labor government handled the CFMEU”, who had a strong presence on the site throughout the project.
Despite that dig, both ministers thanked the more than 2500 workers who brought the theatre to life.
“They should all be proud of their efforts to produce what is truly one of the most beautiful buildings in our state,” O’Connor said.
QPAC chief executive Rachel Healy said the new 1500-seat theatre — to go along with the 2000-seat Lyric — would attract an extra 300,000 visitors to the arts precinct annually.
“The opening of the Glasshouse Theatre will also see us build on our reputation as one of Australia’s most dynamic and popular cultural destinations,” she said.
Among the first shows to be performed at The Glasshouse is the April opening of musical The Last Ship, written and performed by Sting, the story of a British community losing their shipyard.
The theatre will officially open to the public on March 3.
Get alerts on significant breaking news as happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert.
