Schonell Theatre
A University of Queensland venue in Brisbane providing theatre, private events, lectures, and cinema facilities.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Schonell Theatre, also known as the Schonell Cinema & Live Theatre, is a university-based cultural and event venue at the University of Queensland's St Lucia campus in Brisbane, Australia. It forms part of the UQ Union complex and is owned and operated by the University of Queensland Union. The venue was constructed in 1970 and named after Fred Schonell, a former vice-chancellor of the University of Queensland. The facility combines live performance, cinema, educational, and private-hire functions. Its principal Theatre One auditorium seats approximately 420 people and is designed to accommodate musical performances, plays, lectures, and other staged events. Cinema 2 seats approximately 175 people and can be used for film screenings, presentations, small performances, and exclusive bookings. The venue has also been associated with a gourmet pizza café, contributing to its role as a social and cultural meeting point on campus. For roughly three decades, the Schonell presented regular screenings of popular, alternative, and foreign-language films. Its regular cinema operations were suspended on 24 June 2006. The University of Queensland Union attributed the closure to low attendance, the rising cost of showing major motion pictures, and the financial consequences of the introduction of voluntary student unionism, which reduced the union's ability to subsidise the theatre. Film programming resumed in 2008, focusing on arthouse, foreign-language, Australian, and independent releases, with screenings generally scheduled from Thursday to Monday and excluding public holidays. The cinema model later changed again. Weekly film sessions ceased after 5 June 2017, after which the venue became primarily available for private hire rather than operating as a conventional weekly cinema. Live theatre, university lectures, special screenings, presentations, and other booked events remained central uses. Productions and events associated with the venue have included the Brisbane Scouts Gang Show, Home of Strangers, and Rent, although the theatre's broader significance lies in its continuing role in university and Brisbane performance culture. The building was refurbished in 2005 using approximately A$4 million provided by the University of Queensland Union. A related space formerly known as the Cement Box Theatre was refurbished and renamed the Geoffrey Rush Drama Studio, becoming a university teaching space rather than an extension of the main theatre's public program. The Schonell became the subject of a preservation debate during planning for major redevelopment of the UQ Union complex. In 2018, a university development plan that did not include the theatre prompted concern among students, alumni, and local community members. A petition seeking to save the venue was launched by Nicholas Comino, then a UQ Union vice-president. In 2019, the theatre was not added to the relevant historical list considered for the University of Queensland site, increasing concern that it could eventually be demolished as part of a proposed A$300 million renovation involving the UQ Union building. The venue was temporarily closed in May 2021 for asbestos-dust removal and essential electrical and fire-safety assessments. On 29 March 2022, the UQ Union and the university jointly announced that the theatre would not be demolished, citing the absence of community support for demolition. The Schonell therefore remains an active, hire-oriented venue with a continuing connection to campus culture and live performance.
History
The Schonell Theatre was built in 1970 within the University of Queensland Union complex at the university's St Lucia campus in Brisbane. It was named after Fred Schonell, a former University of Queensland vice-chancellor, and developed as a campus venue capable of supporting both performance and film exhibition. Its location within the student-union precinct gave it a role that extended beyond conventional theatre presentation: it served students, university groups, visiting performers, lecturers, and members of the wider Brisbane community. For approximately three decades, the venue operated regular cinema sessions featuring popular films as well as alternative and foreign-language material. Cinema was one of its most visible public functions, alongside live performances and university activities. The regular cinema service was suspended on 24 June 2006. The University of Queensland Union identified several factors, including low attendance, the rising cost of licensing major motion pictures, and the financial impact of voluntary student unionism. With less ability to subsidise the theatre, the union could no longer sustain the previous cinema model. The cinema program restarted in 2008 with a different emphasis. Screenings concentrated on arthouse, foreign-language, Australian, and independent films, generally running from Thursday to Monday except on public holidays. This restored the Schonell's role as a specialist film venue while its stage continued to host performances, lectures, and booked events. Its live program has included productions and presentations such as the Brisbane Scouts Gang Show, Home of Strangers, and Rent. A gourmet pizza café associated with the venue also reinforced its function as a social destination within the campus precinct. The venue underwent refurbishment in 2005, funded by approximately A$4 million from the University of Queensland Union. The wider complex also included a smaller performance and teaching area historically known as the Cement Box Theatre. That space was refurbished and renamed the Geoffrey Rush Drama Studio, becoming a university teaching facility. The Schonell's future became uncertain as the university considered redevelopment of the UQ Union complex. In 2018, a development plan that did not include the theatre generated opposition from students, alumni, and members of the local community. Nicholas Comino, then a UQ Union vice-president, launched a petition calling for the theatre to be saved. In 2019, the venue was not included on the historical list under consideration for the University of Queensland site, reinforcing fears that it would be removed as part of a proposed A$300 million renovation project involving demolition of the UQ Union building. The theatre also underwent a temporary operational interruption in May 2021 while asbestos dust was removed and electrical and fire-safety assessments were carried out. On 29 March 2022, the University of Queensland and the UQ Union jointly stated that the theatre would not be demolished, citing a lack of community support for the proposal. By this stage, weekly film sessions had already ended after 5 June 2017. The venue's current model is therefore centered on private hire, live theatre, lectures, presentations, special screenings, and other events rather than a recurring public cinema schedule. Its survival preserves a long-standing piece of the university's cultural infrastructure and Brisbane's independent theatre and cinema history.
- 2022
Demolition proposal is abandoned
[1]The university and UQ Union announce that the theatre will not be demolished after community opposition to its removal.
- 2021
Temporary safety-related closure
[1]The theatre closes temporarily for asbestos-dust removal and electrical and fire-safety assessments.
- 2018
Preservation campaign begins
[1]A redevelopment plan omitting the theatre leads to public concern and a petition to preserve the venue.
- 2017
Weekly film sessions end
[1]After 5 June, the venue ceases weekly cinema sessions and becomes available exclusively for private hire.
- 2008
Specialist film programming returns
[1]Cinema screenings resume with a focus on arthouse, foreign-language, Australian, and independent films.
- 2006
Regular cinema service is suspended
[1]Regular screenings of major motion pictures stop on 24 June because of weak attendance, rising film costs, and reduced union subsidy capacity.
- 2005
Major refurbishment
[1]The venue is renovated with approximately A$4 million provided by the University of Queensland Union.
- 1970
Schonell Theatre is constructed
[1]A theatre and cinema venue is established in the UQ Union complex at the University of Queensland's St Lucia campus and named after former vice-chancellor Fred Schonell.
Products and positioning
A university-connected cultural venue combining live performance, cinema, educational use, and private event hire, with particular importance to the University of Queensland and Brisbane theatre communities.
Live performance auditorium · 1970
Theatre One
The main auditorium has approximately 420 seats and supports musical performances, plays, lectures, presentations, and other staged or community events. It is the principal live-performance space within the Schonell complex and can also be booked for private functions.
Cinema and presentation room · 1970
Cinema 2
Cinema 2 is a roughly 175-seat screening room designed for film exhibition, exclusive screenings, presentations, and small performances. Although weekly public film sessions ended after 2017, the space remains available as part of the venue's private-hire and event offering.
University teaching and drama space
Geoffrey Rush Drama Studio
The space formerly known as the Cement Box Theatre was refurbished and renamed the Geoffrey Rush Drama Studio. It is used by the university as a teaching space and is associated with the broader performing-arts facilities around the Schonell complex.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Save the Schonell
Australia · University of Queensland community
Students, alumni, and local community members organized opposition after a university development plan omitted the theatre. UQ Union vice-president Nicholas Comino launched a petition calling for the Schonell to be preserved.
Outcome. The campaign contributed to sustained public opposition to demolition; in 2022 the university and UQ Union announced that the theatre would not be demolished.
Brand decisions
2022
Retain the theatre instead of demolishing itStrategyBackground
A redevelopment proposal involving the UQ Union building generated community concern and opposition to the removal of the Schonell.
Action taken
The University of Queensland and the UQ Union jointly announced on 29 March that the theatre would not be demolished.
Aftermath
The venue remained part of the university's cultural and event infrastructure.
2017
Move from weekly cinema to private hireStrategyBackground
The venue's regular cinema model was no longer being maintained as a weekly public service.
Action taken
Weekly film sessions ceased after 5 June 2017, with the facility becoming exclusively available for private hire.
Aftermath
The venue continued to support live theatre, lectures, special screenings, presentations, and booked events.
2006
Suspend regular major-film screeningsStrategyBackground
The venue faced low attendance, higher costs for showing major motion pictures, and reduced financial support after voluntary student unionism limited the union's ability to subsidise operations.
Action taken
Regular cinema operations were stopped on 24 June 2006.
Aftermath
Film programming resumed in 2008 with a more specialist focus on arthouse, foreign-language, Australian, and independent releases.
Recent events
- 2022
University and union announce that the theatre will not be demolished[1]
Other
The University of Queensland and the UQ Union jointly announced on 29 March that the Schonell Theatre would not be demolished, referring to a lack of community support for demolition.
- 2021
Temporary closure for asbestos and safety work[1]
Regulation
The theatre temporarily closed in May for asbestos-dust removal and essential electrical and fire-safety assessments.
- 2019
Schonell Theatre faces possible demolition under redevelopment plans[1]
Other
The theatre was not added to the historical list associated with the University of Queensland site, increasing concern that a proposed redevelopment of the UQ Union building could result in its destruction.
- 2018
University development plan raises concerns about the theatre[1]
Other
A University of Queensland development plan that omitted the Schonell Theatre prompted concern among students, alumni, and local community members. A petition seeking to preserve the venue was launched by UQ Union vice-president Nicholas Comino.
- 2017
Weekly cinema sessions cease[1]
Other
Weekly film sessions ended after 5 June 2017, and the venue shifted to an exclusively private-hire model for cinema, events, presentations, and performances.
- 2008
Cinema programming resumes at the Schonell[1]
Product generation
Regular film screenings returned with a program centered on arthouse, foreign-language, Australian, and independent releases.
- 2006
Schonell Theatre ends regular cinema operations[1]
Other
The University of Queensland Union stopped regular screenings of major motion pictures, citing low attendance, increasing film-booking costs, and reduced capacity to subsidise the venue after voluntary student unionism was introduced.
Sources1 sources
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