Thebarton Theatre Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Thebarton Theatre
Thebarton Theatre
General information
Address	112 Henley Beach Road Torrensville, South Australia
Current tenants	Weslo Holdings Pty. Ltd
Opened	11 June 1928
Renovated	1981
Cost	£30,000 (A$2.31 million in 2016 dollars)
Renovation cost	over A$1.0 million (A$3.78 million in 2016 dollars)
Owner	City of West Torrens
Design and construction
Architecture firm	Karberry & Chard
Other information
Seating capacity	2,000

The Thebarton Theatre, often called the Thebbie Theatre or just Thebbie, is a popular place for shows and concerts. It is located in Torrensville, a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia.

This building was first built in 1926. It was designed to be both a town hall and a picture theatre (a cinema). It was officially named Thebarton Town Hall and Municipal Offices and opened in June 1928. The theatre is a special historical building. It was added to the South Australian Heritage Register on 23 September 1982.

The Thebarton Theatre can hold about 2,000 people. Its seating can be changed for different events. You can have seats all around the stage, or remove some seats for a dance floor. It is famous for hosting big international music stars and new artists. Many other types of performances also happen here. The theatre works with Holden Street Theatres and their offices are in the building.

History of The Thebarton Theatre
What The Thebarton Theatre Offers
Famous Performers at The Thebbie
See also

History of The Thebarton Theatre

The Thebarton Municipal Offices in 1928, facing South Road.

The original Town Hall, built in 1885, became too small. So, the local council bought new land in 1926. This land was at the corner of Henley Beach Road and Taylor's Road (now South Road).

A man named Dan Clifford helped a lot with the theatre's design. He was a cinema owner. He wanted the building to work well as a cinema too. Dan Clifford often worked with local councils. He helped them build places that could be both town halls and cinemas. The Thebarton Theatre was one of his first projects like this.

Building Design and Opening

The theatre was designed by architects Kaberry and Chard from Sydney. They also designed other cinemas across Australia. The front of the building looks similar to Theberton House in England. The theatre was built in 1926 and cost £30,000.

The Thebarton Town Hall and Municipal Offices officially opened on Monday, 11 June 1928. The mayor, H. S. Hatwell, led the opening ceremony. People thought the theatre was very modern and fancy. It had seats for 2,000 people. There was a large stage and a beautiful arch around it. The lighting was special, with many hidden lights for different effects. There was also space for a full orchestra. People could sit in the main floor, the balcony, and the dress circle.

Cinema Years and Beyond

The Thebarton Theatre showed movies as part of Dan Clifford's cinema company. After Clifford passed away in 1942, Greater Union took over his cinemas in 1947. Greater Union continued to show movies at Thebby until 3 July 1965.

From its early days, the theatre has also hosted school concerts. Many schools from Adelaide have held their performances there.

Revival and Renovations

The theatre became popular again from the 1960s. It started hosting events for the Adelaide Festival of the Arts. Many international performers came to the theatre. From 1966 to 1972, it was the place for the state championships of Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds. This was a competition where many famous Australian bands started their careers. In the 1980s and 1990s, the theatre also put on several musicals.

In 1979, a company called Weslo Holdings took over the theatre. They renamed it Thebarton Theatre. They spent over $1 million to make the theatre look new. This included new lobbies, restrooms, carpets, seats, and bars.

The theatre was officially listed on the South Australian Heritage Register on 23 September 1982. Around the year 2000, the Australian Institute of Architects named it one of 120 important 20th-century buildings in South Australia.

In 2018, outdoor bars were added to the theatre.

Recent Upgrades

In May 2023, big plans for upgrading the building were announced. These plans included taking down some old parts of the building. A new two-story entrance was planned for the theatre. The eastern car park and plaza were also set to be expanded and improved. There were also plans for smaller repairs and updates to the existing building. The state government provided A$4 million for the project. The West Torrens Council also added another A$4 million.

What The Thebarton Theatre Offers

The Thebarton Theatre works closely with Holden Street Theatres. Their main offices are located inside the theatre building.

The theatre can hold up to 1,990 people with all seats reserved. It can hold 2,000 people if some areas are standing room. The space is very flexible. It can be set up for a dance floor, a kickboxing event, or a small, intimate performance.

Famous Performers at The Thebbie

The Thebarton Theatre has hosted many famous artists and bands over the years. Some of them include:

Thebarton Theatre facts for kids

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