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	2000 standing (Forum 1), 520 seated (Forum 2)
Current use	live music, comedy, film
Construction
Opened	1929
Years active	1929–1985, 1995–present
Architect	John Eberson

The Forum Theatre is a super cool and historic place in Melbourne, Australia. You can find it right on the corner of Flinders Street and Russell Street. It started as a cinema, but now it's a popular spot for live music, comedy shows, and other fun events.

It was built in 1929 and was first known as the State Theatre. A famous US architect named John Eberson designed it. He wanted the inside to feel like a beautiful Italian garden. The ceiling was painted blue with lights that looked like twinkling stars. This made it feel like you were sitting under a twilight sky!

In 1962, it was renamed 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 busy place for live music and events. Most people just call it The Forum.

History of the Forum Theatre

The land where the Forum Theatre stands was bought by a company called Empire Theatres Ltd. They wanted to build a big new theatre. Later, Stuart F. Doyle from Union Theatres bought the site in 1928. He planned to build what would become the State Theatre.

Building Design and Opening

The outside of the building looks like something from a storybook. It has a special design style called Moorish Revival. You can see cool features like tall, thin towers called minarets and a big clock tower.

When it opened in February 1929, it was Australia's biggest cinema. It could hold 3,371 people! It also had a special musical instrument called a Wurlitzer organ. This organ was very fancy, with many pipes and even a piano attached. The organ was moved out in 1963 and is now in the Kingston City Hall.

Changes Over the Years

In 1962, the building got its new name, the Forum Theatre. A year later, the cinema chain Greater Union made some big changes. They split the huge auditorium into two smaller cinemas. The upstairs part became the Rapallo Theatre, with its own entrance. The downstairs part kept the Forum Theatre name. In 1981, they changed the names again to Forum I and Forum II.

In 1985, a Christian group bought the theatre. It wasn't kept in good shape during this time. But in 1995, David Marriner's company bought it. They fixed it up to be a place for films and concerts. It became part of the Marriner Group, which owns other famous Melbourne theatres like the Princess Theatre and Regent Theatre.

Protecting the Historic Building

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

In 2013, the Marriner Group wanted to build a tall apartment building next door. This building would have been much taller than allowed in that area. Many people and the City of Melbourne did not agree with this plan. They went to court, and the plan was stopped. This helped protect the Forum Theatre's look and feel.

In early 2024, some parts of the outside decorations were getting old and could fall off. The Marriner Group asked for permission to fix these parts quickly to keep everyone safe.

What Happens at the Forum Today?

The Forum Theatre has two main areas for events. Forum I, or Forum Downstairs, is on the ground floor. It's used for big concerts and shows. Forum II is upstairs and is a smaller theatre with 550 seats.

Famous Performers and Events

Today, many famous artists perform at the Forum. Bands and singers like One Ok Rock, Oasis, Madonna, Ozzy Osbourne, Katy Perry, Harry Styles, and Tame Impala have played there.

It's also a popular spot for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Funny comedians like Akmal Saleh, Mark Watson, and Arj Barker have made people laugh there.

From 2009 to 2012, the Forum was a main venue for the Melbourne Festival. It hosted many international and local music artists. It's also used for the yearly Melbourne International Film Festival.

Recent Renovations

In 2016, the Forum had a big makeover inside. Workers carefully restored many of its original features. They uncovered and fixed the beautiful mosaic tiles at the entrance. They also repaired statues and moved walls back to how they were in 1929. The Forum officially reopened on September 5, 2017, looking amazing!

Awards and Nominations

The Forum Theatre has won some cool awards! The Music Victoria Awards celebrate music in Victoria every year. The award for Best Venue started in 2016.