Key Facts:
Marian Street Action
Rally in Red
12 noon to 2pm
Gordon Library forecourt, 799 Pacific Hwy, Gordon NSW 2072, Australia.
Photography, Family & Children, Arts, Multicultural, Community, Mental Health, Inclusion, Urban Development, Culture, Entertainment, Education.
Be there to witness a flood of red costumes and Ku-ring-gai’s enthusiasm for music, creative storytelling, dance, diversity and a revived meeting place.
Actors and politicians will be attending.
Creative Director Sally Dashwood says:
“Curating the speakers and performers for Rally in Red has been a joy and a powerful reminder of Marian St Theatre’s extraordinary legacy and, importantly, its future. From long‑standing contributors like Dolores Dunbar, whose connection to the theatre dates back to the 1979 production of Seesaw, to emerging artists such as Scarlet Lindsay and the dynamic young trio Tillies Tap House, the event brings together generations shaped by this remarkable place. We’re honoured to welcome leaders like Nathan Gilkes — Helpmann Award‑winning musician and current Head of Education, Learning and Participation at Opera Australia, community voices including Matt Cross, as well as artists such as Hannah Gwatkin, local triple threat performer. Kylie Harris and Sarah Armstrong, Co‑Artistic Directors of Midnight Feast: Stories That Unite will also be joining us. Collectively their stories and artistry reflect the enduring impact of Marian St Theatre: a home for community and the shared belief that local theatre matters.”
Residents are determined to have their local performance space back. Resolve has not dimmed despite a roller-coaster of threats to the theatre since it was shuttered in 2013. In fact it has become red hot.
Despite broken Council election promises, extensive investment in sport, developer interest, dubious process and stalling, this accessible site remains earmarked for community cultural use.
“It’ll be curtains for this Council if they renege on their commitments,” said local resident Jane Salmon. “The major rate rise was accepted on the understanding that the theatre rebuild would proceed”.
“It is this playhouse and its theatre workshops that drew many families to the area,” Salmon said. “Marian Street has been accessible, inclusive and a drawcard. Generations of children have performed or watched plays like ‘The Magic Pudding’ right here. There were many skills to learn. Why must more recent arrivals miss out? Why lose venue and ticket takings for 13 years?”
“Many famous Aussie actors have performed or studied at Marian Street. It’s all about balancing new high rise with amenities that bring diverse people to shared experiences. There is nothing like the enrichment of creating theatre together”. Supporters have been leafletting railway stations up and down the North Shore Line for a month. A petition is also gathering momentum.
The entire spectacle will draw the eye of motorists along the main road into and out of Sydney, shoppers and library visitors from noon on Sunday August 2nd 2026. The program runs until 2pm.
