WORLD-class theatre technicians have brought their expertise to the Far North, starting work on the next stage of plans for the Cairns Entertainment Precinct.

London-based acoustics designer Robert Essert and Chicago-based theatre planner Robert Shook said they would focus on developing a facility that suited all groups from local performances to large-scale touring productions.

Between them, Mr Essert and Mr Shook have worked on some of the world’s most recognisable performing arts complexes including the Opera House in Dallas, Texas; Hamer Hall in Melbourne and Los Angeles’ Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

The technicians say Cairns could have an entertainment precinct of the same standard.

"I love the site and I think it’s a great opportunity," Mr Shook, from Schuler Shook theatre planners said.

"It feels like there’s already a gathering of critical mass in that area with the convention centre and the sea port terminal, so to me, it’s a natural gathering point for an entertainment precinct."

Mr Essert, the director of Sound Space Design, said the precinct’s 1100-seat main theatre lent itself to a mixture of uses by large and smaller scale productions.

"A local school choir is likely to sound just as wonderful as a full-scale opera," he said.

"They’d all be a great match for this scale of room."

The companies, with their Australian partners Acoustic Studio and Richard Stuart, won tenders for phases two and three of precinct planning worth almost $300,000.

Actor Peter Sumner, (pictured) who has performed on the Cairns Civic Theatre stage as a member of the Bell Shakespeare company, said the consultants’ expertise would be worth the expense.

"There’s no point in getting the second best – if Cairns wants the best theatre and cultural centre, then you’ve got to be tough and find the very best people for the job," he told The Cairns Post.

He said outdated designs often hampered the experience for both performer and audience member.

"I remember performing The Tempest on the civic theatre stage and feeling at the time that I had to strain, and my brother Michael commented that he had to strain to hear me from the audience," Mr Sumner said.

"If it’s not done as well as it can possibly be, the performers aren’t going to be able to please all of the audience members."

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