Sunbeam Theatre gets new owners

The new owner of Sunbeam Theatre in North Point is The Island Evangelical Community Church, which purchased it for HK$750 million and aims to transform the building into a landmark community.

The church was saving for eight years to expand its premises, and its board decided to purchase the theatre when it became available on the market.

In addition to serving as a fixed place of worship, the venue will also be open to the community for activities like graduation ceremonies, performances, and so on.

The Island ECC will maintain the residential part of the 6th floor, and the other floors will be created with children and youth theme areas and multi-purpose activity spaces. Island ECC's senior pastor Brett Hilliard told Sing Tao Daily, the sister newspaper of The Standard.

Sunbeam is one of the city's most historic theaters, founded in 1972 by a troupe of Shanghai immigrants, and renowned particularly for its Cantonese opera. Many famous opera stars and troupes from the city and the mainland have appeared on its stage.

Hilliard said that the well-known landmark will be revitalized to protect it and serve the community.