Tim Minchin – First at the Foundry

Sydney’s newest theatre has been launched with show business royalty Tim Minchin giving lucky audience members an intimate concert with exquisite audio quality.  David Spicer reports.

The first surprising thing about the new Foundry Theatre is how you get there.

It is of course the loading dock of the Sydney Lyric Theatre, and just weeks before the first performance it was indeed used as a loading dock.

For a fortnight the team from MJ The Musical delivered their stuff into the big space upstairs and all the new little theatre bits and pieces were pushed to the side during the delivery.

As the loading dock is usually only needed for four weeks of the year, it gives the new space 48 weeks to put shows on.

I was half expecting to enter the Foundry Theatre from the outside, from the same direction which trucks enter the building.

But cleverly, access is through the main foyer of the Lyric Theatre. Next to the bar and merch stand you enter through a few narrow dark passageways with the vibe of entering a hip nightclub. 

Those directors dreaming up immersive theatre experiences could well be licking their lips at the possibility of using these spaces in future productions.

The Foundry Theatre is perfectly sound-proofed from the adjoining Lyric. The owner Stephen Found (who must have spent his childhood building tall towers and contraptions with Lego and Meccano) discovered this dual usage was possible when he noticed a solid dividing wall during an inspection.

The venue itself is a knockout. The 360-seat theatre in sitting mode gives audience members in the dress and circle close proximity to the action.  It will also be a thrashing good rock venue in standing mode for 600 plus. 

I almost felt like I was in a lounge room at a private soiree with Tim Minchin. The fact that I was seated two rows behind his wife and children – who he directed a lot of attention to – added to this intimacy.

Minchin (as he pointed out) normally performs in 2000 seat venues so to get him in a little theatre is very lucky.

The surround sound of the little venue was fantastic. Every note from the three-piece band was perfectly balanced.

A renaissance man with buckets of talent as a songwriter, comedian, author and performer, Minchin is like a prophet handing out pearls of wisdom to his devotees.

The first song was dedicated to switching off mobile phones and leaving behind social media. We were told how much clearer his life was since he took control of what information he consumes. 

He cheekily quipped that he’s solved problems by singing songs about them – recounting a tune dedicated to phasing out plastic straws.

In front of his spouse, the song ‘I’ll take Lonely Tonight’, about his success in fending off fans and staying faithful on the road, seemed especially poignant.

About to turn 50, Minchin is a becoming a little more conservative. Songs criticising organised religion were off his playlist. How refreshing to hear a left of centre performer questioning the wisdom of cancel culture and social media pile-ons. 

There was plenty of fun too. The first act ended with a cheeky number that saw him unbutton his shirt and have front row fans blow smoke on him with a fan.

The encore was ‘When I Grow Up’ from the musical he composed, Matilda.

The Foundry Theatre is off to a flying start.

Photographer: Damien Ford