Giant Dwarf: Comedy and Cabaret Surry Hills Venue Shuts Down For Good

After fighting to thrive for the last eight years and after struggling to stay afloat during the past two challenging years, Giant Dwarf, the comedy and cabaret theater on Cleveland Road in Surry Hills, has announced its permanent closure.

Giant Dwarf is no stranger to challenges as a small theatre relying on funding and public support for its presentations to feature up-and-coming talents in Sydney. In March 2020, the theatre almost shut down after its former home, just down the road in Redfern, increased its rent by 40 per cent.

The group, however, was able to secure a new but short-term lease in a smaller venue in Surry Hills that dropped its audience size from 290 to 160. Despite the adjustments, Giant Dwarf continued to deliver its trademark cabaret shows, drag king shows, and storytelling nights.

At that time, managing director Bec Annetts, program producer Moira Kennedy, and producer Jess Gordon, were encouraged to remain positive that Giant Dwarf will continue to entertain the public and showcase the talents of the next generations.

In July 2021, Giant Dwarf was forced to temporarily close due to the COVID-19 lockdowns as public venues were not allowed to operate.

“Taking this time to rest, to reflect and to recover, because without that creativity can’t come through. I think it’s about not being so hard on yourself because really we’ve done it once and we can do it again. We are experts now and we will stay creative and connected no matter what. We live in an age where we have the resources to do so,” the operators said.

However, in a statement on Facebook in late January 2022, Bec, Moira and Jess announced the venue’s door will no longer open.

“The second lockdown really hit us hard and we have been unable to find a way to continue. Even with a reduction in rent during the lockdown period, it is so difficult to continue in such uncertain times and very little funding support. We simply cannot survive through this ongoing pandemic,” the trio wrote in their statement.

“We fought as hard as we could for almost 8 years and we are so proud that we even made it as far as we did and of what GD became. This decision was not an easy one to make and we can assure you, we have thought it through.”

The sound stage of the Giant Dwarf in its original home in Redfern was designed for ABC TV’s “The Checkout,” which was cancelled in 2018. Its members were also part of the production as studio assistants, art directors, equipment operators, and talents in the editing room. The independent theatre is located within the soundstage that is also hired for mounting larger productions in TV or music videos.