Major new performing arts centre for Brisbane still in the pipeline

On Monday, Building Queensland's Infrastructure Pipeline Report recommended a new performing arts venue as one of 20 projects for further development.

The report states that Brisbane's major performing arts venues are at capacity and there is increasing pressure on the largest venues to satisfy demand from touring producers and audiences.

The proposal is investigating the need for a 1500 to 1700 seat theatre close to the existing arts, cultural and entertainment precincts, which would likely narrow the focus to South Bank and the inner-city.

The debate over whether Brisbane needs a new 1500 has continued for years, including a study on the need for a new QPAC-style theatre in 2012 and exploration of the idea in late 2015.

Opposition Leader and Arts spokesman Tim Nicholls said Brisbane was no closer to a much-needed second major performing arts venue, despite the Building Queensland document highlighting its need.

"It does not, however, provide a timeline for the actual delivery of a second theatre," Mr Nicholls said.

Mr Nicholls said the government had not said where the proposed theatre would be located, presumably in Deputy Premier Jackie Trad's South Brisbane electorate.

"The LNP worked to make sure a new 1500-seat theatre was part of the Queen's Wharf development to show our arts precinct seamlessly linked with the city, further enhancing cultural tourism opportunities," he said, pointing out it would have been privately funded.

But during estimates hearings in 2016, Ms Palaszczuk said when Labor came into government, a theatre was not included in the Queen's Wharf proposal.

"Both shortlisted proponents for the Queen's Wharf project proposed early underdeveloped contributions towards a theatre development within the precinct, however, there was no business case, no construction plans, no blueprints," Ms Palaszczuk said at the time.

"There was no mature proposal put to the former government or this government for consideration."

Ms Palaszczuk also said during estimates hearings that a $1.3 million business case to determine the feasibility and location for a 1500 seat theatre was due later in 2016.

But the Infrastructure Pipeline Report stated an Arts Queensland-led business case was expected in the first quarter of 2017.

Mr Nicholls accused Ms Palaszczuk of missing her own deadlines.

"In the mean time, Brisbane continues to miss out on shows because there is insufficient capacity," he said.

A government spokesman said the business case for a major performing arts venue was expected to be considered by government soon.

But what is on the wish list for people inside the industry?

Strut & Fret production house founding director Scott Maidment

"We're missing out on a lot of great international acts and a lot of great musicals simply can't come to Queensland because there's only one or two venues that can really take that capacity," Mr Maidment said.

Mr Maidment, who has brought shows such as Blanc de Banc to Brisbane, said recently he had taken matters into his own hands to solve the venue shortage.

"In recent times we put them in the Spiegeltent [during the Brisbane Festival], we build our own venue that has 600 seats," he said.

Mr Maidment said a new 600-seat venue and a 1500 to 1700-seat venue would be amazing, with more intimate or local shows catered to a smaller venue.

"It's really only big scale spectacle once you're going into 1700s, it's seeing the musicals that Queensland is missing out on and also international works that could be touring, that may be touring interstate but they simply can't get the last minute booking for a size that scale," he said.

"I think by the time you get to 1700 seats it's really just for The Book of Mormon [which is showing in Melbourne] or big scale musicals like Matilda and things like that - there's only really one place for them to play in Queensland at the moment and that's the Lyric Theatre."

Mr Maidment said having competition for the Queensland Performing Arts Centre would be healthy for the arts community.

Queensland Theatre executive director Sue Donnelly

"There's a lack of performing arts venues in the city for a city this size, and it's growing, yes, there's a need for more venues," Ms Donnelly said.

"There's QPAC... But it's at capacity.

"Lots of people have been talking about a new venue for many years.

"If you want to bring an international tour, if you can't get a venue in Brisbane that tour can fall over."

Ms Donnelly said a variety of different spaces were needed to suit different shows.

"You can't put a big show in a small venue, it doesn't fit," she said.

"It's just like choosing a different type of sink for your kitchen."

Ms Donnelly welcomed the investigation into a new performing arts venue.

"Brisbane is a really great cultural city and its reputation as such is growing widely nationally and internationally," she said.

"I think it's a really appropriate thing to do and it shows the government is really thinking long term in what's required."

Ms Donnelly said a new venue would have flow on effects across the economy.

"It's not just about the sale of the tickets, it's about restaurants, the transport, even down to things like shops selling clothes because some people like to dress up when they go to the theatre," she said.

Queensland Symphony Orchestra chief executive David Pratt

"The arts and cultural scene has grown exponentially here and the pressure on infrastructure and the demand is extremely high," Mr Pratt said.

"We're attracting audiences from around the region and state and nationally as well."

Mr Pratt said a new 1500 seat venue would be great for Brisbane.

"I think it just sends a message too, to the greater community around Australia, that Brisbane is becoming this real arts and cultural hub," he said.

Mr Pratt said aspects such as public transport, parking and restaurants would need to be considered when choosing a venue, with the South Bank arts precinct an attractive option.

Queensland Performing Arts Centre

Chief executive John Kotzas was on annual leave so was not available for comment, but previously said QPAC supported the new performing arts venue business case.