Newcastle Civic Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newcastle Civic Theatre |
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Newcastle Civic Theatre at Wheeler Place, in 2007.
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| Alternative names | The Civic |
| General information | |
| Type | Cinema |
| Architectural style |
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| Location | 373 Hunter Street, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 32°55′38″S 151°46′20″E / 32.9273°S 151.7721°E |
| Groundbreaking | 1927 |
| Opened | 1929 |
| Owner | City of Newcastle |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Steel, concrete, Sydney sandstone |
| Floor count | Two |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Henry Eli White |
| Developer | W Stronach |
| Official name: Civic Theatre | |
| Designated: | 27 September 2012 |
| Reference #: | 01883 |
The Newcastle Civic Theatre, often called The Civic, is a special old building in Hunter Street, Newcastle, Australia. It opened in 1929 and has 1520 seats. Today, it hosts many musicals, plays, concerts, and dance shows every year. It is the oldest theatre still standing in Newcastle.
The Civic Theatre and the Newcastle City Hall are both very important historical sites. They are listed together on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means they are protected because of their history and special design.
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History of the Civic Theatre
The Council of the City of Newcastle built the Civic Theatre. It quickly became one of Newcastle's most popular places for events. The Premier of New South Wales, Thomas Bavin, officially opened the building in 1929. Even though it was built as a theatre, it was mostly used as a cinema for many years.
The Civic Theatre and the Newcastle Town Hall were finished at the same time. They cost a lot of money back then, about £300,000. A famous theatre architect named Henry Eli White designed the building. The outside of the theatre looks like the Georgian Revival style. The inside is decorated in the Spanish Baroque style. It has a beautiful marble staircase, a shiny terrazzo balcony, and fancy chandeliers. Before the Civic Theatre opened, the Victoria Theatre was the main entertainment spot in the city.
What the Civic Theatre Looks Like
The Civic Theatre is a two-storey building made of brick, covered in a smooth finish. Its front shows off the Georgian Revival style. You can see elegant, round-topped windows that repeat along the building. The shop front at No 14 Wheeler is the only part that still looks like it did originally. The entrances have wooden frames with glass, and special coloured glass (called leadlight) above them. The awning outside is painted in old-fashioned colours with round patterns. It has a pressed metal underside (called a soffit).
The inside of the theatre is very detailed and fancy, showing Henry Eli White's "Spanish Baroque" style. It has a traditional stage arch (called a proscenium arch) with a classic design above it. There's a large, decorative dome in the ceiling. Smaller domes are above the back seats. Huge, curved arches are over the special "Royal boxes" next to the stage. Inside these arches are wall sections (called parapets) that look like the Alamo, holding statues. Lights hidden in the domes make them glow. A "blue sky" effect surrounds the stage. The walls of the main seating area were made to look like stone castle walls. In the early 1970s, the stage and orchestra pit were made bigger.
How the Theatre is Used Today
The Civic Theatre was first designed for live shows. However, it was rented out as a cinema to companies like Greater Union (from 1929 to 1940) and then Hoyts (from 1941 to 1973). In 1974, the Newcastle City Council decided to bring more live performances back. By 1976, they stopped showing movies completely.
Over the years, the building didn't get much care. So, from June 1992 to November 1993, the Civic Theatre was fully renovated. This big project cost about A$10.4 million.
Why the Civic Theatre is Special
The Civic Theatre is very important to the history of New South Wales for many reasons. It is considered one of the best theatre buildings in the state. This is because it was designed by the famous theatre architect Henry Eli White, who also designed Sydney's State and Capitol Theatres. It is also one of the few "atmospheric theatres" from the late 1920s that still exists in Australia. These theatres were designed to make you feel like you were in a different place, like an outdoor courtyard.
The building is a beautiful example of the Georgian Revival style, used on a large scale. Its inside is mostly unchanged and is an amazing example of the Spanish/Moroccan style. The theatre is also a key part of the city's cultural area. It's right next to the City Hall, which Henry Eli White also designed at the same time. This shows how important Newcastle was as the state's second capital when the theatre was built.
The Civic Theatre has been an entertainment spot almost continuously since 1929. It is still a central place for social and cultural events. The people of Newcastle really value it for its amazing history, beauty, and importance to the community.
The Civic Theatre, along with the Newcastle City Hall, was officially added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on September 27, 2012.
