A Ghost at the Center?

As is often the case with any building of cultural significance, the Center has its own ghost story. Since the Center opened in 1988, people working in the Sydney Laurence Theatre have experienced some peculiar happenings. These peculiarities have sometimes been attributed to a “friendly gremlin” or ghost, affectionately referred to by staff as “Syd” (nothing to do with Sydney Laurence himself).

 Some of the peculiarities that occur in the Sydney Laurence Theatre include theatrical lights flickering and house lights turning on and off when no one is near the light switches.  A drifting red haze has reportedly been seen in the follow spot light booth even though there is no red light in the booth. There have also been a mysterious set of dusty footprints found in a void area inside a wall where no one could have walked without literally going through the sheetrock.

Floating red orb in the Sydney Laurence Theatre- photo effect or Syd?

The Sydney Laurence Theatre Production Manager Wendy Odden points out that theatre people are a superstitious group. “We consider Syd a ghost with a sense of humor who likes to prank us.  Most theatre technicians will greet Syd coming in and say good night going out and attribute the lack of problems to those courtesies, because when a technician doesn’t greet Syd, he pranks them.” 

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, here at the Center we give our Syd his due respect. So, the next time you’re in the Sydney Laurence Theatre, give a nod and say hello to Syd and don’t forget to say goodbye as well!