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The Art Deco cinema, characterized by its curved walls, was designed by local architect William Leighton and added to the National Heritage List in 2000.
“William Leighton was an ornamental artist, so he used ornamental motifs. . . the curved taste gave the impression a few years later, when war broke out and cost-cutting was sought,” said the president of the Art Deco Society of WA. Vyonne Geneva.
Since its purchase in 2018, APC Director Brett Jackson says more than $2 million has been invested to maintain the 85-year-old building.
Upgrades include a new roof, new acoustic panels, mechanical maintenance and new paint.
“(When we bought it), it was essentially no longer a functional, cost-effective single-screen theater,” Jackson said in PerthNow.
“The paintings we’ve done now were just paints to keep it from falling off.
“The cinema has been operating for many years on a non-profit basis. . . And when we bought it, we didn’t need to be the ones to close it.
“We made a deal with Grand Cinemas to subsidize them to run it, but there were only one or two other people at the screening, so it worked, but it was actually not sustainable. “
APC is now awaiting approval from the estate and council to upgrade the theatre’s bathrooms, bedrooms, seating, disabled amenities and garage, with the hope that the task will be completed by the end of 2025.
“We think we can do these paintings in a multifunctional venue that offers everything from a variety of children’s daytime exhibits, plays, matinee sessions and (live) music,” Jackson said.
“We will be able to house another 120,000 people in this basin; That’s another 120,000 people who don’t come here right now.
“The Tarantinos and the Nolans are buying these kinds of theaters because streaming is killing the big screen. . . So what those places do is get other people to see that they’re not old-fashioned. “
The City of South Perth’s interim chief executive, Gerry Adams, said the city has granted progressive approval for modifications and additions to the cafeteria, level and back room of the theatre.
“The city’s goal is for its heritage buildings and places to be protected, exhibited and celebrated,” he said.
“The recovery paintings made so far, as well as the new progression proposal, will allow the Cygnet Theatre to take advantage of its full perspective for generations to come. “
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