Hobart’s Playhouse Theatre has had a varied history. Originally built as an Italian-style chapel in 1863 to cater for the spiritual needs of Tasmania’s working class, it was briefly used as a cinema before being acquired in 1938 for the Hobart Repertory Theatre Society. This amateur dramatics society has been a constant in Tasmania for nearly a hundred years, and has enabled new talent to blossom and develop, both on stage and behind the scenes.
Today, the theatre is used by a wide range of performers, although the Society still puts on regular productions, and there is something to suit all tastes – whether you are looking for a Shakespearean classic, like the theatre’s first production of The Taming of the Shrew, a musical like Fiddler on the Roof or intrigue in Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. Annual pantomimes are staged and, if you’re lucky enough to visit in August, original one-act plays are performed as part of the theatre’s oneFest festival. Visit the Playhouse Theatre website for information about performances and booking tickets. All proceeds from tickets are reinvested in the theatre for future productions and to maintain the fabric of the building.
The Playhouse Theatre is located in Hobart’s central business district, and is surrounded by pubs, bars and restaurants with a lively atmosphere. Enjoy a meal before a show, then stay for a drink afterwards – the locally brewed beer from nearby Cascade Brewery is a particular favourite.
