Forum Theatre facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Forum Melbourne

Former names	State Theatre (1920-1962)
Address	154 Flinders Street Melbourne Australia
Coordinates	37°49′00″S 144°58′10″E / 37.8165732°S 144.9693686°E / -37.8165732; 144.9693686
Owner	Marriner Group
Designation	Victorian Heritage Register, Historic Buildings Register
Capacity	2,000 standing (Forum 1), 520 seated (Forum 2)
Current use	live music, comedy, film
Construction
Opened	23 February 1929
Years active	1929–1985, 1995–present
Architect	John Eberson

The Forum Theatre is a very old and special building in Melbourne, Australia. It's located right in the city, on the corner of Flinders Street and Russell Street. It first opened in 1929 as a cinema called the State Theatre.

This amazing building was designed by a famous American architect named John Eberson. He worked with local architects to create a unique 'atmospheric theatre'. This means the inside was made to look like a beautiful outdoor scene. Imagine a Florentine garden with a dark blue ceiling that looks like a night sky, complete with twinkling lights like stars!

In 1962, its name changed to the Forum Theatre. A year later, it was split into two smaller cinemas. After the cinemas closed, it was used for religious services for a few years. But since 1995, it has been a popular place for live music, comedy shows, and other events. Most people just call it The Forum.

History of the Forum Theatre

The land where the Forum Theatre stands was bought in 1927. The idea was to build a grand theatre, similar to another one in Sydney. In 1928, Stuart F. Doyle bought the site. He was the head of a company called Union Theatres. He planned to build the State Theatre there.

His company was in a race with another cinema chain, Hoyts. Hoyts was building the Regent Theatre nearby. Both wanted to open the first truly amazing 'picture palace' in Melbourne. The State Theatre won! It opened on February 23, 1929, after only seven months of building. This was three weeks before the Regent. When it first opened, it was the biggest cinema in Australia. It could hold 3,371 people!

The opening night was a huge event. They showed silent films like The Fleet’s In and The Cameraman. The first movie with sound, called The Doctor's Secret, was shown on April 6, 1929.

Unique Design and Architecture

The outside of the Forum Theatre looks very exotic. It has a Moorish style, with tall towers called minarets and a clock tower. The main hall, where people watch shows, was designed to look like a 'Florentine courtyard'. The curved ceiling is painted dark blue, like the night sky.

The main designer was John Eberson, an American expert in cinema design. He worked with local designers Bohringer Taylor & Johnson. Eberson was famous for creating 'atmospheric' theatres. These theatres often had walls that looked like old European courtyards, with statues and even moving clouds projected onto the ceiling. Eberson also designed the Capitol Theatre in Sydney. Its inside looks almost exactly like Melbourne's Forum, but mirrored. These are some of the few atmospheric theatres built outside North America. The Forum's unique Moorish style outside is very rare for cinemas built in the 1920s.

A special musical instrument called a Wurlitzer organ was installed in the theatre. It was the first of its kind built 'west of Chicago'. It had 21 rows of pipes and could even sound like a grand piano or an oboe. This organ was removed in 1963. It is now in the Kingston City Hall in Moorabbin.

Changes Over the Years

In 1962, the building was officially renamed the Forum Theatre.

In 1963, the cinema company Greater Union changed the large theatre. They split it into two smaller cinemas. The upstairs area became the Rapallo Theatre, with its own entrance from Russell Street. The downstairs area kept the name Forum Theatre and its Flinders Street entrance. In 1981, they made more changes. The cinemas were renamed Forum I and Forum II.

In 1985, a Christian group bought the building. It started to look a bit run down. But in 1995, David Marriner's company bought it. They fixed it up to be a place for films and concerts, calling it Forum Melbourne. It became part of the Marriner Group's collection of theatres. This group also owns other famous Melbourne theatres like the Princess Theatre and the Regent Theatre.

The Forum Theatre is a very important building. It was added to the Victorian Heritage Register in 1978. It was also recognized by the National Trust of Australia in 1994. This means it's protected because of its history and special design.

In early 2024, the Marriner Group asked for permission to do urgent repairs. Some of the decorations on the outside of the building were unstable. They needed to be fixed to keep everyone safe.

What is the Forum Theatre used for today?

Today, the Forum Theatre is a very busy place! It has two main areas. Forum I, or Forum Downstairs, is on the ground floor. It's usually used for big concerts and performances. Forum II is upstairs. It's a smaller theatre with 550 seats, shaped like an amphitheatre.

Many famous artists have performed concerts at the Forum. These include One Ok Rock, Oasis, Madonna, Ozzy Osbourne, Katy Perry, Harry Styles, and many more.

The Forum is also a popular spot for comedy shows. It hosts many acts during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Comedians like Akmal Saleh, Mark Watson, and Arj Barker have performed there.

From 2009 to 2012, the Forum was a main venue for the Melbourne Festival. It hosted many international and national music artists. It is also used for the annual Melbourne International Film Festival.

In 2016, the Forum had a big makeover inside. They restored many of its original features. This included uncovering and fixing the mosaic tile entrance. They also repaired statues and moved interior walls back to their original 1929 spots. The Forum officially reopened on September 5, 2017.

Awards and Nominations

The Forum Theatre has won awards for being a great venue! The Music Victoria Awards celebrate music in Victoria every year. The award for Best Venue started in 2016.