Charles Sturt University (CSU) will join with the regional arts community this week to celebrate the re-opening of the Riverina Playhouse in Wagga Wagga.

The 250-seat Playhouse is home to the University Theatre Ensemble (UTE) but was closed in 2012 to make way for Wagga Wagga City Council's remediation of the old gasworks site in nearby Tarcutta Street.

Celebrations to mark the re-opening of the premiere arts facility will be held from 6.30pm Wednesday 29 April in Cross Street, Wagga Wagga. This will coincide with the launch of UTE's 2015 season of performances.

The UTE is the stage production arm which allows acting, design and television production students from CSU's School of Communication and Creative Industries to gain valuable public performance experience.

UTE director and lecturer, Mr John Saunders, welcomes the return to the Riverina Playhouse stage.

"Professional, student and community actors alike have always eulogised the sense of sharing and intimacy that is developed through performance, between the actors and the audience on the engaging thrust stage of the Riverina Playhouse," he said.

"At last, the students' productions are back in the public arena where they can be shared with the wider community."

The Playhouse was opened in 1986 by the Riverina Theatre Company (RTC) and CSU's predecessor institution, Riverina Murray Institute of Higher Education. In 2007, the University took ownership of the facility.

CSU is putting the final touches on a minor interior and exterior refurbishment of the property.

Executive Director of the CSU Division of Facilities Management, Mr Stephen Butt, said, "This includes a fresh coat of paint, new carpet and lighting, landscaping of the gardens, CSU branding, a new bar has been built with service area, and a small kitchenette with cabinetry.  The University has spent about $200 000 in total."

Mr Saunders said the 2015 UTE season features a great variety of presentations including musical theatre, contemporary Australian and British dramas, plus two of Shakespeare's popular comedies.

"We'll also be celebrating with the performance of The Seven Deadly Sins, our 250th main-stage production since the establishment of UTE's predecessor, Rivcol Drama in 1974, over 40 years ago," said Mr Saunders.