Theatre Royal, Sydney
NSW Government[1] | |
Operator | Trafalgar Entertainment[1] |
---|---|
Type | Performing Arts Venue |
Capacity | 1,200 |
Construction | |
Opened | 1875 |
Renovated | 2021[1] |
Demolished | 1971 |
Rebuilt | 1976 |
Years active | 1875-1971, 1976-2016, 2021- |
Architect |
|
Website | |
www |
Theatre Royal Sydney is a theatre in Sydney, Australia built in 1976 and has offered a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. The theatre reopened in December 2021 under parent company Trafalgar Entertainment with patrons now able to book tickets directly from the venue itself with its Box Office operating 7 days a week.[1]
Earlier theatres also called the Theatre Royal, on the same site, date back to 1833.[2]
Earlier theatres
First Theatre Royal
Construction by Barnett Levey of the first Theatre Royal commenced in 1827 and was opened on 5 October 1833. It closed in March 1838 and a few days later Joseph Wyatt's Royal Victoria Theatre, a much larger building, was opened, with an entrance on Pitt Street. Levey's Theatre Royal burned to the ground in 1840 with the "Vic" (Royal Victoria), which abutted the rear, having a narrow escape. However, the "Vic" was itself totally destroyed by fire on 22 July 1880.[3]
Second Theatre Royal
The
It reopened on 7 January 1893 with a much improved electric lighting system.[5] Its interior was substantially remodelled in 1921 by architect Henry Eli White.[6]
Current theatre
In 1971–72 the theatre, along with the Hotel Australia, and much of the block on which it was situated, was demolished to construct the
The theatre has hosted a mix of entertainment from dramas, comedies and musicals, with notable productions such as The King and I, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, War Horse, Cats (1985-1987), Les Misérables (1987-1988), and Phantom of the Opera (1993-1996).
The theatre closed in March 2016 amid development of the MLC Centre and calls for a new larger lyric theatre to be built.[7][8][9][10]
In March 2019, the
It was announced that the theatre will reopen in late 2021, after it was acquired by Trafalgar Entertainment, the company of British theatre impresarios
In November 2021, Theatre Royal Sydney opened with its first production, Jagged Little Pill the musical commencing the same week with it proceeded by Girl From The North Country and An American In Paris.
References
- ^ a b c d e "Sydney's Theatre Royal Will Reopen in 2021 with a Globally Renowned Company at Its Helm". 7 May 2020.
- ^ Sydney Harbour Bridge Official Souvenir Book Sydney, 1932, p.123.
- ^ Sydney Harbour Bridge Official Souvenir Book Sydney, 1932, p.123-4.
- ^ "Fire at the Theatre Royal". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 16, 923. New South Wales, Australia. 17 June 1892. p. 5. Retrieved 8 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Stage, Song, and Show". The Australian Star. No. 1590. New South Wales, Australia. 7 January 1893. p. 11. Retrieved 8 June 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Theatre Royal". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ "Theatre Royal". cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au. Archived from the original on 6 April 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
- ^ "Theatre Royal". theatreroyal.net.au. Archived from the original on 18 July 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
- ^ "Theatre Royal". goaustralia.about.com. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
- ^ "Producers push for new lyric theatre in Sydney". The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ "The Show Goes On for Sydney's Theatre Royal". The Urban Developer. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
External links
- "Official website". Theatre Royal Sydney. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- Theatre Royal at sydney-theatre.com
- Ailsa McPherson (2010). "Theatre Royal". Dictionary of Sydney. Dictionary of Sydney Trust. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- Ailsa McPherson (2010). "Barnett Levey's Theatre Royal". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 2 October 2015. [CC BY-SA]