Thebarton Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thebarton Theatre |
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Thebarton Theatre
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| 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 Thebbie, is a famous place for shows and concerts in Torrensville, South Australia. It was built in 1926 and officially opened in June 1928. This building was first used as both a town hall and a movie theatre. Its first name was Thebarton Town Hall and Municipal Offices.
The theatre can hold about 2,000 people. It's special because the seating can be changed for different events. You can have seats all around the stage, or remove them to create a dance floor. The Thebarton Theatre is well-known for hosting big international music stars and new artists. It also hosts many other kinds of performances. The theatre works closely with Holden Street Theatres and their offices are located there.
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Discover Thebarton Theatre's Past
The story of the Thebarton Theatre began because the old town hall, built in 1885, was too small. So, the local council bought new land for a bigger building.
A smart cinema owner named Dan Clifford helped design the new building. He wanted it to be used as a movie theatre too. In the early days, he worked with many local councils to create buildings that could be both town halls and cinemas. Thebarton was one of the first places to have such a building.
The theatre was designed by architects Kaberry and Chard from Sydney. They made the front of the building look like Theberton House in England. The building cost £30,000 to build in 1926. It officially opened on June 11, 1928. People thought it was very modern and fancy. It had seats for 2,000 people and a large stage. The lighting was special, with many hidden lights for different effects. There was even space for a full orchestra.
The Thebarton Theatre showed movies as part of Dan Clifford's cinema chain. After Clifford passed away in 1942, Greater Union took over the theatre in 1947. Greater Union continued to show movies until July 3, 1965.
Since it first opened, the theatre has also been a place for school concerts. Many schools from Adelaide have held their shows there.
The Theatre's Revival and Upgrades
From the 1960s, the Thebarton Theatre became popular again. It started hosting events for the Adelaide Festival of the Arts, including many international performers. From 1966 to 1972, it held the state championships for a music competition called Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds. Many famous Australian bands started their careers there. In the 1980s and 1990s, it was also used for musicals, like a show called Hair.
In 1979, a company called Weslo Holdings took over the theatre. They renamed it Thebarton Theatre and spent over $1 million to make it new again. They added new lobbies, restrooms, carpets, seats, and bars.
The theatre was added to the South Australian Heritage Register on September 23, 1982. This means it is an important historical building. Around 2000, the Australian Institute of Architects also listed it as one of Australia's important 20th-century buildings.
In 2018, outdoor bars were added to the theatre. In May 2023, big plans for upgrading the building were announced. These plans include new entrances and expanding the car park. The state government and West Torrens Council are providing money for these improvements.
Famous Performers at Thebbie
The Thebarton Theatre has hosted many famous artists and bands over the years. Here are just a few of the amazing acts that have performed there:
- Alice Cooper
- Arctic Monkeys
- Barry Manilow
- Beastie Boys
- Black Sabbath
- Blink-182
- Blondie
- Bruno Mars
- Cold Chisel
- Coldplay
- Crowded House
- Depeche Mode
- Ed Sheeran
- Foo Fighters
- Green Day
- INXS
- Iron Maiden
- Joe Cocker
- John Butler Trio
- Kylie Minogue
- Metallica
- Midnight Oil
- Miles Davis
- Nirvana
- Paul Weller
- The Pixies
- Powderfinger
- R.E.M.
- The Ramones
- Sex Pistols
- Simple Minds
- Slayer
- Slipknot
- Stevie Ray Vaughan
- The Stone Roses
- Tool
- Van Morrison
- "Weird Al" Yankovic
See also
- Adelaide Entertainment Centre
- Adelaide Festival Centre
- Adelaide Oval
- Memorial Drive Park
