Capitol Theatre, Sydney

Capitol Theatre
Address 13 Campbell Street Haymarket
Sydney
Australia
Capacity 2094
Current use Musicals, opera, comedy, ballet
Production Les Misérables
Opened 1916
Website
www.capitoltheatre.com.au

The Capitol Theatre is a historic theatre building located at 13 Campbell Street, Haymarket, Sydney, Australia.

History

The Capitol Theatre is at the former site of the Belmore Markets. The latter were built in 1891 by George McRae, City Architect, and the structural engineer Norman Selfe, but were commercially unsuccessful because they were located too far from Darling Harbour.[1] The old site was divided up between the Manning Building (1895–1924), facing Pitt Street, and the western half, which was rebuilt as a theatre in 1928.

The current theatre is a brick building designed by R.H.Broderick. It was intended as a hippodrome for arena theatre and featured stone cornices, terra-cotta capitals, rosettes and tiled panels. The architect Henry White turned the interior into a movie palace in 1927, creating the effect of an internal Italian garden or piazza. It also featured an internal imitation courtyard which is the only one surviving in Sydney. The building is listed on the Register of the National Estate.[2]

The red carpet outside the theatre entrance

The site of the Capitol Theatre has provided entertainment to the people of Sydney since the early 19th century when this piece of land was used by early settlers as a market place for produce and hay, giving this area its name “Haymarket”. The building initially functioned as a fruit and vegetable market called "Belmore Markets" which in 1912 were moved to another location. After the markets were relocated, Wirth Bros took over the lease and opened their new Wirth Bros Hippodrome in 1916, attractions included elaborate circus acts with animals such as elephants and seals, theatre and vaudeville shows. Although performing with some success for a decade, the Hippodrome failed financially and The Capitol Theatre was opened in 1928. The Capitol Theatre was an "atmospheric" picture palace for many years, but went through a dark period in the 1970s and 1980s.

Use

In 1995, Capitol Theatre underwent a massive 2 year reconstruction costing over $30 million.[3] Since 1995, the theatre has been host to many productions:

Wicked played in the 2009/2010 season.
A musical version of The Addams Family was performed in 2013.

Transport

The closest train station is Central Station, it is approximately five minutes walk from the theatre. The closest light rail stop is Capitol Square, and is directly behind the Capitol Theatre.

References

  1. ↑ Sydney Architecture, John Haskell (UNSW Press) 1997, p.52
  2. ↑ The Heritage of Australia, Macmillan Company, 1981, p.2/94
  3. ↑ "History of the Capitol Theatre". Capitol Theatre. Capitol Theatre. Retrieved 18 October 2011.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Capitol Theatre (Sydney).

Coordinates: 33°52′47″S 151°12′24″E / 33.879675°S 151.206744°E