Frequent intensive cleaning

Cleaners will be onsite before and during your arrival at the theatre, where they will continue to disinfect high touch surfaces like door handles, handrails, lift buttons, etc. up until the performance begins. 

Seats inside the auditorium will be individually cleaned each day.

In addition to this high frequency cleaning, we ask that you please sanitise your hands on arrival and during your visit when necessary. Hand sanitiser will be available around the venue.

Ticket exchange flexibility

If you need to exchange your tickets to another performance because you have experienced any coronavirus symptoms in the past 14 days, or are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test, please stay home and contact us up to 1 hour in advance of your scheduled performance so we can help you change your ticket to a future date.

Reduced venue capacity

The maximum audience capacity for the Sumner will continue to be in line with Victorian Government guidelines for seated indoor entertainment venues, at the time of each performance.

Inside the theatre you'll notice two centre aisles dividing the auditorium into four sections, to allow easier access to your seats.

During the Summer Series, seating will be socially distanced within these quadrants. However, please note that for the mainstage productions of Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes and Berlin, the quadrants will remain but seating between groups will not be socially distanced. The capacity inside the auditorium for these productions will continue to be in line with government advice.

Expanded outdoor forecourt

The newly landscaped outdoor forecourt will have plenty of space, including an undercover area, for audiences to wait outside until doors to the Sumner open approximately 30 minutes prior to the performance.

Upgraded air conditioning systems

Our system at Southbank Theatre has been reprogrammed to increase fresh air drawn in from outside and reduce recirculated air flow inside the building.