NORTH POINT STATE THEATRE
BY Willy Sit Sketcher
2021, Originally created plein air, marker and ink on Moleskine, 420 x 297mm
Story Behind This Print
The State Theatre is a former cinema located in North Point. Originally designed by architects George W. Grey and Liu Sun-Fo, the theatre first opened its doors in December 1952 under its original name, the Empire Theatre. It closed in 1957, but reopened in 1959 under its current name, the State Theatre.
Its parabolic exoskeleton trusses give the State Theatre its signature architectural look. The choice of reinforced concrete over steel for the exposed arch-beam roof structure made the design stand out and exemplified the spirit of post-war modern architecture. Described by some as a massive “claw” supporting the theatre, the structure allowed for a pillarless auditorium, providing excellent acoustics and an exceptional theatre experience.
The theatre finally closed in 1997. Since then, the property served as a local shopping arcade for small businesses and a snooker hall. The exterior façade was mostly covered in billboards, leaving its architectural features hidden for years. In my younger days, my family and I lived in a flat across the street for a few years. On summer afternoons, I would always stare out of my window at the billboards, wondering what was hidden behind those fabric façades.
In 2015, New World Development purchased the property with the intent to demolish and redevelop it. Docomomo International, an international non-profit organization, responded in 2016 by publishing a “Heritage in Danger” warning. In a joint effort, Docomomo and the Conservancy Association urged the Antiquities Advisory Board to grant the State Theatre Grade I Historic Building status.
At the same time, public awareness was raised across multiple fronts, including community arts and urban sketching. My path crossed with the State Theatre again when I returned as an urban sketcher in 2016. That was when I finally saw the billboards removed, revealing a beautiful stone mural façade above the theatre entrance—a quiet testament to the theatre's lost glory.
In 2017, after years of effort, the Antiquities Advisory Board declared the State Theatre a Grade I Historic Building, securing a major victory for the local community.
In April 2021, New World Development held a month-long exhibition titled “Discovering State Theatre” showcasing the venue in its former glory before kickstarting the conservation project. An art group I was associated with was invited to private rooftop access, bringing my path full circle with the State Theatre once more. In the week leading up to the visit, I thought a lot about how I would envision my sketch and best utilize my limited time on the roof. I recalled the summers I spent as a child staring across at the street and the theatre. Twenty years later, sitting on the roof of the State Theatre, I looked back at that same street from the other side—finally seeing through the eyes of the child who could only wonder what lay behind the billboards.