Theatre Royal, Hobart facts for kids
The Theatre Royal exterior in 2015
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| Address | 29 Campbell Street, Hobart 7000 Hobart, Tasmania Australia |
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| Coordinates | 42°52′47″S 147°19′52″E / 42.8796°S 147.3311°E |
| Owner | Theatre Royal Management Board |
| Designation | Listed building |
| Capacity | 698 |
| Production | Ballet, opera, drama, repertory |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1837 |
| Rebuilt | 1837, 1850s, 1890s, 1986 |
| Years active | 1834–1984 1986 – present |
| Architect | John Lee Archer |
| Place ID: | 2,191 |
| Status: | Permanently Registered |
The Theatre Royal is a very old and important performing arts building in Hobart, Tasmania. It is the oldest theatre in Australia that has been open continuously. Famous people like Noël Coward called it "a dream of a theatre." Also, Laurence Olivier helped raise money to fix it up in the 1940s.
Contents
History of the Theatre Royal
Building the Theatre: 1834-1856
In 1834, Peter Degraves, who started the Cascade Brewery, and some other people in Hobart bought land to build a public theatre. The architect John Lee Archer designed the building. The first stone was laid that same year.
The theatre was built using some convict labor. It was finished by the end of 1836. The first shows happened in March 1837. In June, the theatre was officially named the "Royal Victoria Theatre" to honor Queen Victoria. But soon, everyone just called it "The Theatre Royal."
From 1840 to 1847, a woman named Anne Clarke managed the theatre. She made it famous for its high-quality shows. People said she brought in better performers and improved how the theatre was run. This helped theatre become more respected.
Changes and Upgrades: 1856-1911
Because of where it was located, the theatre first hosted many different events. These included boxing matches and religious meetings. The audiences in the early days were sometimes very lively.
Peter Degraves made big changes to the theatre in 1856. After he passed away in 1883, Richard Lewis bought the theatre. For the next 40 years, Lewis kept trying to make the theatre more modern and stylish.
In 1911, the inside of the theatre was completely rebuilt. It was designed by William Pitt, an architect from Melbourne who specialized in theatres. The new design featured red velvet seats, gold decorations, and a beautiful crystal chandelier.
Decline and a Famous Rescue: 1911-1952
Even with the improvements, the theatre became run-down over the next 30 years. By the 1940s, the stage had holes, the wiring was unsafe, and the heating didn't work well. Because of these problems, there were plans to tear the theatre down.
But in 1948, a famous actor named Sir Laurence Olivier visited Hobart. He was part of a touring theatre group. He spoke passionately about the Theatre Royal, saying it was a beautiful and historic place. He asked people to help save it.
His speech worked! The government bought the theatre. They promised to restore it if enough money was raised by the public. People donated a lot of money, and by 1952, the renovations were finished. The theatre reopened and became very popular again.
Fire and Rebuilding: 1952-1986
The theatre had many good years with regular updates. In the early 1980s, a big renovation project started to celebrate the theatre's 150th birthday. They restored the old decorations and updated the backstage areas. A smaller theatre space called the Backspace Theatre was also created.
However, on June 18, 1984, a fire started backstage and spread. The roof was damaged, and there was a lot of smoke and water damage. Luckily, a fire curtain fell across the stage, which helped stop some of the damage. Most of the furniture and equipment were ruined.
People quickly started raising money to rebuild "Australia's grand old lady of the theatre world." With help from public donations, insurance, and the government, the theatre began its reconstruction. It took several years for it to reopen.
Modern Theatre: 1986-Today
The theatre finished its major rebuilding and reopened in March 1986. It quickly became a lively part of Hobart's social scene again. This was partly because the government encouraged national tours of popular shows.
Today, the Theatre Royal offers a yearly program of live theatre, music, dance, and other entertainment. Since 1994, more and more people have come to see shows there. The theatre has also added modern technology, like computer systems for lighting and ticketing.
Fred the Ghost
The Theatre Royal has a friendly ghost named Fred! People say Fred is the ghost of an actor who was killed in a fight in the basement a long time ago. The theatre even used Fred the ghost to help raise money for the repairs after the 1984 fire.
See also
List of theatres in Hobart
