Theatre Royal

The Theatre Royal was opened in 1855. In 1883 it was taken over by American actor/entrepreneur J.C. Williamson. The theatre was partially destroyed by fire in 1892 and was rebuilt in 1893. It screened its first film on February 19, 1916 with Theda Bara in “Carmen”. Films were continued to be screened until 1918, with occasional breaks for live theatre productions.

In 1921 the interior was redesigned to the plans of architect Henry Eli White. The 13 pillars which had supported the dress circle and upper circle were replaced by one centrally positioned post. The Theatre Royal continued with a mixed program of films, opera, musicals and vaudeville. In October 1929 it screened its first sound film Ruth Chatterton in “Madam X”. Hoyts Theatres were the operators at this time, and it screened its last film programme in June 1931 with El Brendel in “Just Imagine” & Dorothy Seacombe in “Leave it to Me”.

A period presenting vaudeville from 1931 to 1933 followed and then it became a live stage theatre presenting plays and operated by J.C. Williamson. It was sold at auction on 25th September 1969. The Theatre Royal was closed on 29th April 1972 with a production of William Shakespeare’s “Love Labour’s Lost”. It was demolished at the end of 1972.

A new Theatre Royal was built on the site which continues in 2025 operated by the UK based Trafalgar Entertainments group

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