Ten days ago, supporters of a beloved northside theatre dressed in red to convince Ku-ring-gai Council to revive a plan to convert the home of the Marian Street Theatre into a $30 million arts centre.

Lead organiser Jessica Blaxland Ashby initially intended the rally as a simple demonstration of deep public support for a project the council had effectively shelved for the next decade.

By the end of that day, she had received $30,000 in community pledges towards the $100,000 needed to fund minor works, keep the architectural plans alive, and bring council back to the table. Just seven days later, Blaxland Ashby had raised the full $100,000 from 312 donors, with contributions ranging from $10 to $10,000.

“Six weeks ago there was absolutely no hope. It was really grim and depressing, and there were a lot of tears at that point,” Blaxland Ashby said. “It was a very low point in the campaign, without a doubt. We’ve managed a complete 180-degree turn, and it was the community that made it happen.”

Built in 1906 as a community hall, Marian St became a professional theatre in 1966, hosting its first all-youth performance in 1969. Over the decades, many of Australia’s most notable actors graced its stage, including Helen Morse, Belinda Giblin and Ruth Cracknell.

The venue was shut down in 2013 due to safety concerns, forcing drama classes and children’s performances to relocate.

Council initially approved new plans in 2020, then estimated it would cost $15 million. Those approved designs by architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer transforming the building into a state-of-the-art, multipurpose arts centre featuring two theatres, a music space, community meeting rooms, a cafe, an exhibition foyer and an outdoor amphitheatre, were set to expire.

However, a majority of councillors last month voted to allow the development application to expire, noting that the project’s projected cost had doubled to $30.3 million as of October 2024.

The theatre holds a personal legacy for Blaxland Ashby. Her grandmother, Audrey Blaxland, founded it and her mother Wendy has long campaigned for its revival for her own granddaughter Ida.

Playwright David Williamson, patron of the Save Marian St Theatre Action group, rallied to the cause, describing the setback as deeply disappointing and chipping in with a personal donation.

“I had many very good and well-attended productions of my plays there in the past and think it would be a great community asset,” Williamson said. “The design of the renovation is first-class, but the council keeps deferring a decision while approving expensive sports oval developments, demonstrating yet again where the arts rate in our national psyche.”

Los Angeles-based actor Barry Creyton had also urged the council to consider “giving new life to this once-thriving theatre” adding, “It’s of immense sadness to me to know that the theatre has been dark for so long.”

They were backed by actors Hugo Weaving, Jacki Weaver, Tony Sheldon, John Bell and rising names Ava Madon and Jordan Hare.

Community advocate Bronwyn Hanna contrasted council’s refusal to spend the budgeted $100,000 required to preserve Marian St’s approved plans with its willingness to pursue the unbudgeted Norman Griffiths Oval development.

Ku-ring-gai Council has invested heavily in sporting infrastructure over the past 13 years, supporting 44 sports fields, 67 tennis courts, two golf courses and spending $26.6 million on two indoor basketball courts at St Ives High School.

Council unanimously voted on Monday to reverse its decision this week when a cheque for $100,000 was deposited two days ahead of the deadline it had set for the community to crowdfund minor works needed to extend the development application. While it doesn’t guarantee the theatre will be rebuilt or redeveloped, it does keep the consent alive.

Meanwhile, the historic building has begun to rapidly degrade with most of the front windows smashed and boarded up and graffitied, and its exterior growing moss and mould.

“It was such an extraordinary relief when I transferred the funding, and I shed more tears,” Blaxland Ashby said. “There is still a big mountain to climb, the next step is we need to get funding for the full renovation. There is a Thriving Suburbs grant what we need to get and for that, we need state government support. We have a petition that needs 20,000 signatures for the matter to be debated in parliament.”

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