Changes ahead for Lorne Theatre

LIVE music will return to the Lorne Theatre next month, as Australian singer-songwriter Stella Donnelly takes to the stage alongside three emerging local youth bands.

It marks the latest development for the Mountjoy Parade venue, after landlord Sparkling Cinema last month was forced to take possession of the space after the present operators breached their lease by failing to maintain rental payments.

“We invested a lot of money into the venue and took a bit of a risk with some tenants that we thought were going to be perfect for it,” Sparkling Cinema’s chief financial officer Ben O’Halloran said.

He said when the rental payments stopped, Sparkling Cinema held on for as long as possible, taking a “fairly big loss”, before deciding it was time to move forward.

 

 

When brothers Barrie, Bob and Chris Barton – co-founders of Melbourne’s Rooftop Cinema and Sydney’s Golden Age Cinema & Bar – took over management of the Lorne Theatre in November last year, it was heralded as a new era for the venue.

The trio had plans to unite locals and visitors alike around great cinema, live music and food, teaming up with chef David Moyle and neighbouring seaside tavern The Clam, in what they dubbed at the time “a community at the end of the earth”.

The Clam has since closed and will be replaced by Surf Coast restaurant Pholklore.

The Torquay Hotel has also stepped in to host two high-profile gigs – English punk rockers the Buzzcocks and Gomez members Ben Ottewell and Ian Ball – which were scheduled to take place at the Lorne Theatre over the Melbourne Cup weekend.

Golden Age Cinema and Bar co-founder Chris Barton said a difficult economic climate, defined by a cost-of-living crisis, had led to the project facing several challenges.

 

 

He said this was particularly true regarding liquor licensing “which is an important aspect for Lorne Theatre to become a viable multi-arts hub”.

The premature closure of the operation saw Golden Age incur several debts, which Barton said the team was working to rectify.

“We are grateful for the support we have received from the community to date and appreciate their patience during this time.

“Lorne Theatre still has incredible potential, and we hope that the community continue to support the much-loved venue through whomever takes it on from this point.”

He said the focus was now on working with the Lorne Theatre’s landlord to support the venue’s next phase, as well as maintaining Golden Age’s existing business to assist with the team’s supplier commitments in Lorne.

Mr O’Halloran said the owners were keen to keep the venue going and had already begun looking at new tenants to take over the front two shops, while planning continues for the venue’s future.

For more information on the Lorne Theatre’s November 17 all-ages event, presented by Surf Coast FReeZA, email [email protected]