The Schonell Cinema & Live Theatre is a venue for theatre, special events and cinema screenings in

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. It consists of Theatre One: a 420-seat, single auditorium theatre capable of hosting

music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspect ...

al performances, plays and

lectures A lecture (from Latin ''lēctūra'' “reading” ) is an oral presentation intended to present information or teach people about a particular subject, for example by a university or college teacher. Lectures are used to convey critical inform ...

and Cinema 2, a 175-seat cinema suitable for exclusive screenings, presentations and small performances. The Schonell Cinema & Theatre has ceased weekly film sessions as of Monday 5 June 2017 and is now exclusively available for private hire.

History

It is situated in the UQU complex at the University of Queensland's

St Lucia Saint Lucia ( acf, Sent Lisi, french: Sainte-Lucie) is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean. The island was previously called Iouanalao and later Hewanorra, names given by the native Arawaks and Caribs, two Amerindia ...

campus. The theatre was constructed in 1970 and underwent refurbishment in 2005. It is owned and operated by the University of Queensland Union (UQU). For three decades, the theatre hosted regular screenings of popular, alternative, and foreign motion pictures. On 24 June 2006, however, Schonell Theatre was forced to cease regular cinema screenings of major motion pictures. Film began again in 2008, with screenings from Thursday to Monday in Cinema 2.Schonell Theatre remains an important part of campus culture and the theatre community. Live theatre performances are extensive and ongoing throughout the year. The Schonell is home to the popular gourmet

pizza Pizza (, ) is a dish of Italian origin consisting of a usually round, flat base of leavened wheat-based dough topped with tomatoes, cheese, and often various other ingredients (such as various types of sausage, anchovies, mushrooms, onions ...

café A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café is an establishment that primarily serves coffee of various types, notably espresso, latte, and cappuccino. Some coffeehouses may serve cold drinks, such as iced coffee and iced tea, as well as other non-ca ...

. The theatre was constructed in 1970 and was renovated in 2005 with $4 million provided by the University of Queensland Union (UQU). Shows during its history include the '' Brisbane Scouts

Gang Show A Gang Show is a theatrical performance by members of Scouts and Guides. The shows are produced with the dual aims of providing a learning opportunity for young people in the performing arts, as well as contributing to the artistic and cultura ...

'', Home of Strangers and ''Rent''. It was named after Fred Schonell, a previous Vice-Chancellor of the university.

Closure

The Schonell Theatre closed its regular cinema operations on the 24 June 2006. The University of Queensland Union (UQU) cited low attendance rates, the increasing cost of airing major motion pictures and the introduction of

Voluntary Student Unionism Voluntary student unionism (VSU), as it is known in Australia, or voluntary student membership (VSM), as it is known in New Zealand, is a policy under which membership of – and payment of membership fees to – university student organisations ...

(VSU) as the cause. Following the introduction of VSU, the union could no longer afford to subsidise the failing Theatre. In 2008 the Schonell re-commenced regular screenings of films again. Arthouse, foreign language, Australian films and independent releases are screened from Thursdays through to Mondays (closed public holidays). The theatre is still used for live theatre productions, university lectures, and is available for booked special screenings and events. The Cement Box Theatre has recently been refurbished and renamed the Geoffrey Rush Drama Studio. This venue is now used by the University as a teaching space. In 2018 the University of Queensland announced
development plan
that does not include the theatre causing widespread concern amongst the student body, alumni and the local community. A petition was launched by then UQ Union Vice President Nicholas Comino seeking to "save the Schonell" from the University's plans. In 2019, The Schonell Theatre will not be added to the historical list of the state at the University of Queensland, indicating that it would ultimately be destroyed. As part of its $300 million renovation project, the university intends to demolish the UQ Union building that includes the Schonell Theatre.

References

Schonell Theatre Official Site
{{coord, 27, 29, 49.5, S, 153, 00, 55.1, E, type:landmark_region:AU, display=title Theatres in Brisbane Cinemas in Brisbane Former cinemas University of Queensland

History

Closure

See also

References