Australia’s oldest continually operating theatre has played host to some of the biggest names of stage and screen.
The Theatre Royal has been a feature of Hobart for almost two hundred years. In that time it has been subject to social changes and a devastating fire, but its support has grown over the years and it has played host to some of theatre and cinema’s biggest international stars. Noel Coward once described it as “a dream of a theatre”, and a visit here is certainly recommended.
Hobart’s Theatre Royal opened in 1837 in a seedy area on the city’s dockside that was mainly inhabited by the convict workers who built the Georgian-style theatre. Surrounded by brothels, abattoirs and factories, in its early days, it was used to stage cockfights and some music hall entertainment. Over the years, the area known locally as the Shades has been redeveloped and is now a trendy spot, filled with restaurants and pubs. As for the theatre, it now hosts a rather different sort of entertainment – opera, plays, comedy shows and acrobatic displays. There’s something for everyone.
In the past 200 years, some major stars have visited Hobart, from classic actors like Laurence Olivier (who launched an appeal in 1948 for funds to restore the then-crumbling theatre) and Vivien Leigh, to the mime artist Marcel Marceau, comedian Ronnie Corbett and Hollywood star Hugo Weaving (made famous for his roles in The Matrix and the Lord of the Rings trilogies).
Visit the theatre’s website for information about what’s on during your stay in Hobart. Don’t forget to check out the schedule for Backstage, where more intimate, cabaret-style performances are held.
If you can’t make a show (or if you want to see more of the theatre), join one of the tours that are run on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, dependent on rehearsal schedules. These tours provide plenty of information about the building itself, as well as allowing you to stand on the stage and explore a dressing room. Watch out for Fred – the theatre’s ghost is said to be a 19th-century actor who died in a fight in the pub that used to operate below the main theatre.
The Theatre Royal is located near Sullivan’s Cove in central Hobart. Parking is available nearby.
