St James' Hall, Sydney facts for kids

St James' Hall, also known as St James's Hall, was an important building in Sydney, Australia. It was located at 171 Phillip Street, Sydney, very close to St James' Church of England. The hall was easy to reach by tram, bus, and the St James railway station.

This building played a big part in the history of small theatres in Australia. It was a popular place for concerts, plays, and other performances. It's important not to confuse it with the larger St James' Theatre, which was built later in Elizabeth Street.

History of St James' Hall

St James' Hall was a great choice for many performers because of its location, size, and affordable rent. Famous artists like James Brunton Gibb, Ethel Lang, and Lindley Evans held concerts and recitals there.

In 1950, the Workers' Educational Association (WEA) was offered the chance to rent the hall. The WEA is an organization that provides education for adults. The hall needed a lot of repairs, costing about £A7000 (around $12,000 AUD today). The WEA worked hard to raise money from its members and the public to fix up the theatre, add offices, and a bookshop.

After some delays, the first big play by the Sydney University Dramatic Society opened on July 15. The WEA then moved its main office into the hall in September.

Hall Features and Early Uses

The hall could seat 300 people and had a small balcony around three of its walls. Before 1940, it was mainly used by amateur theatre groups. However, it also hosted many other events. These included public meetings, discussions, parties, competitions, exams, and public lectures.

The Sydney Players Club, also called "Players Club," used the hall a lot between 1931 and 1948. This group was one of Sydney's oldest "little theatres." It was started by members of Gregan McMahon's Sydney Repertory Theatre after that group closed down.

The John Alden Company also performed plays by Shakespeare and other dramas at the hall in 1950 and 1951.

Mercury Theatre Takes Over

In February 1952, a theatre manager named Sydney John Kay took over the lease of St James' Hall. He renamed it the Mercury Theatre. This was the home for his professional acting group, Mercury Theatres Pty Ltd. Kay had started this group with actor Peter Finch in 1946. They named it after the famous Mercury Theatre in America, created by Orson Welles.

Many well-known actors performed at the Mercury Theatre, including Alexander Archdale, Rod Taylor, and Lyndall Barbour. Sydney John Kay wanted to show three different plays each week, six nights a week. Even though his actors agreed to be paid less, the theatre lost too much money. After three years, he could no longer afford to keep it open.

Phillip Street Theatre Era

The last group to rent the hall was William Orr's Phillip Street Theatre. They moved in during May 1954. This theatre group was very popular for its topical revues. These were funny shows that made fun of current events.

The Phillip Street Theatre helped many actors and writers become famous, especially on television. Some of the well-known names from this time include Bud Tingwell, Margo Lee, and Gordon Chater. Even famous international stars like Joyce Grenfell performed there.

In 1961, St James' Church, which still owned the building, decided to tear it down. They wanted to build a new 13-story office building in its place. The new building included a small, modern theatre with better facilities. However, the rent for this new theatre was much higher. The Phillip Street Theatre company then moved to a different location at 150 Elizabeth Street and renamed itself the "Phillip Theatre."