Esplanade Theatre
| Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay | |
|---|---|
The Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay in 2010
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| Alternative names | The Esplanade Theatre |
| General information | |
| Type | Performing arts centre |
| Location | Marina Bay, Singapore |
| Construction started | 1996 |
| Completed | 2002 |
| Opened | 12 October 2002 |
| Cost | S$ 600 million |
| Management | Esplanade Co Ltd |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 4 |
| Floor area | 60,000 square metres (6.0 ha) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect |
DP Architects Russell Johnson |
| Structural engineer | T. Y. Lin International |
| Main contractor | Penta-Ocean |
| Website | |
| www |
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| References | |
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, also known as the Esplanade Theatre or simply The Esplanade, is a 60,000 square metres (6.0 ha) performing arts centre located in Marina Bay near the mouth of the Singapore River. Named after the nearby Esplanade Park, it consists of a concert hall which seats about 1,600 and a theatre with a capacity of about 2,000 for the performing arts.
In 1989, the Advisory Council on Culture and the Arts, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ong Teng Cheong, produced a report assessing the status of arts in Singapore. The report would form the blueprint for cultural policy in Singapore, and led to the establishment of the National Arts Council and National Heritage Board. The report noted a lack of suitable performance arts venues; for example, Victoria Theatre was deemed only suitable for small to medium-sized performances, while Victoria Concert Hall was similarly lacking in its seating capacity and stage size. It recommended that a new performing arts centre be built, and in 1992 the Singapore Arts Centre (now known as "Esplanade Co Ltd") was established to build the Esplanade.
The name for the centre was revealed in 1994. It was named after Esplanade due to its significant presence in the Esplanade Park.
Planning for the construction of the centre started in 1992, headed by the Singapore Arts Centre Co. Construction officially started on 11 August 1996, with a groundbreaking ceremony officiated by then Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Tony Tan. The Esplanade occupies the site of the former "Satay Club", a popular food haunt for Singaporeans which had been discontinued prior to the Esplanade's construction. The "Satay Club" had been relocated next to Sembawang Shopping Centre, before closing down.
The Esplanade was developed at a cost of about SGD 600 million.
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