Canberra Theatre Centre facts for kids
ABC Classic FM live concert, Canberra Theatre; Artists: dominantSEVEN; April 2007
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| Location | Canberra's City Centre |
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| Coordinates | 35°16′54″S 149°07′50″E / 35.2818°S 149.1305°E |
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| Construction | |
| Opened | 24 June 1965 |
| Architect | Yuncken Freeman |
The Canberra Theatre Centre (CTC) is a super important place for performing arts in Canberra, Australia. It was actually the very first performing arts centre built by the Australian Government! It opened its doors on June 24, 1965, with a special show by the Australian Ballet.
You can find the centre right in the middle of Canberra city centre. It's next to the local government building and close to City Hill.
Contents
History of the Centre
When it first opened, the Canberra Theatre Centre was made up of two separate buildings. These were the Canberra Theatre and The Playhouse. A covered walkway connected them.
The Canberra Theatre was built to hold about 1,200 people. It was designed for big national and international shows. The Playhouse was smaller, with 310 seats. It was meant for local arts groups and smaller touring shows. The Playhouse also had a small art gallery, a meeting room, and a restaurant.
- 1965: The Playhouse officially opened on August 18, 1965. The first show there was Romanoff and Juliet by Peter Ustinov. The Canberra Repertory Society put on this play.
- 1971: The covered walkway between the two venues was closed in. This created more space for the Canberra Theatre's lobby and ticket office.
- 1975: The Playhouse got better storage space backstage. It also received new dressing rooms and places for costumes.
- 1982: The Courtyard Studio was added. This space could be used for rehearsals or as a small venue for about 90 people. New offices and a special workshop for building stage sets were also built. This workshop included a rare electric paint frame for painting large canvases.
- 1988: The Canberra Theatre's main hall, lobby, and connecting area were updated. This made them as good as other major performing arts centres in Australia.
- 1998: The rebuilt Playhouse opened its doors.
- 2006: A new library was built between the Canberra Theatre and the Playhouse. A new lobby also connected the two theatres.
- 2007: The Courtyard Studio's lobby and dressing rooms were updated. A lift was also put in to reach the administration offices on the first floor.
The Playhouse Rebuilt
In the mid-1990s, the old Playhouse building was taken down. A new one was built in its place. This new Playhouse had a "soft" opening in April 1998. The official opening was on May 16, 1998.
Unlike many theatres built in the 20th century, the new Playhouse has a unique design. It looks like a half-circle drum. Seats are on the main floor and two balconies, with special "boxes" for viewing. It can seat 618 people. This design reminds people of ancient Greece and Elizabethan theatres from the late 1500s.
The Playhouse has dressing rooms on two levels. It also has a costume area, a green room (a waiting area for performers), a reception room, and a lobby with a bar and cafe.
Amazing Performances
The Canberra Theatre Centre has hosted many famous artists and shows over the years.
Shows at the Canberra Theatre
Many famous performers have graced the stage of the Canberra Theatre.
- In October 1970, Dame Margot Fonteyn danced with the Australian Ballet.
- From the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, international stars like Dame Joan Sutherland performed.
- Canberra Opera put on a big show of La Traviata.
- The Canberra Theatre Trust presented Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore.
- Other groups included the Bell Shakespeare Company and the Dave Brubeck Quartet.
- The Whitlams, a music group, performed here in the early 2000s.
- The Bangarra Dance Theatre, an Aboriginal dance company, performed in 2006.
In recent years, local company Free Rain Theatre Company has put on many successful musical shows. These include:
- The Phantom of the Opera in 2013.
- Mary Poppins in 2015.
- The Little Mermaid and Wicked in 2016.
Shows at The Playhouse
The Playhouse has been a home for many local and visiting groups.
- Local groups include Canberra Opera, Prompt Theatre, and the Woden Valley Youth Choir.
- It has also been used for meetings and even naturalisation ceremonies.
Visiting companies have also performed here:
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by the Old Tote Theatre Company.
- Plays by David Williamson like Travelling North.
- Chamber music concerts by Musica Viva.
- Performances by Robyn Archer and Pam Ayres.
- Shows by the NIDA.
- Pianist David Helfgott and many comedians have also performed.
Shows at The Courtyard Studio
The Courtyard Studio is a smaller, cozy performance space at the Canberra Theatre Centre. It's very flexible!
- It can be used for rehearsals.
- It's great for parties, business meetings, or art shows.
- For a performance, it can comfortably seat up to 90 people.
- For parties, it can hold up to 140 people.
See also
In Spanish: Teatro de Camberra para niños
