Best Theatres Melbourne
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There's nothing quite like a night at the theatre, and Melbourne is home to an arts scene rich in history and diversity.
From comedy, to live theatre, movies, musicals, and bands, there are many options for a night of entertainment, and many beautiful buildings to host you.
Check out these theatres next time you're catching up with friends or treating that special someone to a night out:
The Arts Centre
You really can't miss
The Arts Centre , with its 162 metre spire flagging the complex on St Kilda Road. It is well recognised as a cultural, creative hub in Melbourne, and has set the standard very high with its calibre of entertainment.
Its many spaces have, and continue to house live theatre, dance, music, opera and ballet. The Centre's State Theatre boasts one of the largest stages in the world, and its ceiling is decorated by 75, 000 tiny brass domes, for incredible acoustics.
Sidney Myer Music Bowl in the
Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne St Kilda Road, Victoria&aq=1&sll=-37.825531,144.975972&sspn=0.007712,0.01929&gl=au&ie=UTF8&hq=Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne St Kilda Road, Victoria&hnear=Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne St Kilda Rd Victoria 3004&ll=-37.82243,144.973612&spn=0.003856,0.009645&z=17&iwloc=A Kings Domain , also part of
The Arts Centre , regularly hosts major concerts and festivals, including
Carols by Candlelight.
The centre is also home to an impressive
Performing Arts Collection , comprised of over 400, 000 items including costumes, accessories, props and posters relating to the history of the performing arts. Artworks by renowned artists
Arthur Boyd ,
Sidney Nolan ,
John Olsen and
Jeffrey Smart are also showcased in and around the centre, all inspired by the performing arts in its many forms.
Click
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CUB Malthouse
Located in the bustling Southbank arts precinct, the
CUB Malthouse is a leading venue for Australian contemporary theatre.
Once a brewing and malting facility, the site was donated in 1986 by Carlton and United Breweries, and is now home to the
Malthouse Theatre company.
Committed to educating, developing, and showcasing Australian artists, you can expect a diverse collection of performances from
Malthouse Theatre . Numerous events by prestigious organisations like
Bell Shakespeare and the
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra are also staged here. Expect an equally diverse culture and class of audience.
With a bar, cafe and bookshop also on site, making a day of your trip to the theatre is easy.
Click
malthouse&client=safari&ie=UTF8&ll=-37.823819,144.966338&spn=0.008136,0.01929&z=16&iwloc=A here to view a map.
Princess Theatre
The Princess Theatre is without a doubt one of Melbourne's most popular theatres, both for its icon of class and grandeur, and history of staging grand box office hits.
Some of the world's most successful musicals have been housed here, including
The Phantom of the Opera ,
Cats ,
Les Miserables ,
Muma Mia! ,
The Producers , and
Hairspray .
Although renovated and updated, the theatre, built in 1886, has maintained its impressive early detail; Its electric lightbulb canopy has been the welcoming arc of the theatre for over a century.
And what would a grand old theatre be without a resident ghost? Frederick Baker (Federici), suffered a major heart attack and died at the theatre after a performance of the opera
Faust . Many staff have reported sightings of the friendly ghost over the years.
Click
theatre&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=-37.809801,144.971402&spn=0.007713,0.01929&z=16&iwloc=A here to view a map.
Regent Theatre
Opened in 1929 during the depression, the
Regent Theatre offered Melburnians an escape to the glamour and fantasy of Hollywood for the price of a movie ticket; Its intricate interior inspired by
The New York Capitol Theatre , considered to the most lavish in the world at the time.
The theatre was known as the 'Palace of the People', staging live theatre and entertainment upstairs in the 3500 seat auditorium, and screening films in the
Plaza Ballroom downstairs.
Closed for a significant period due to the popularity of television in the 1960s, the
The Regent Theatre reopened in 1996 with as much grandeur as its early days. More recently it has staged major productions
Disney's The Lion King ,
Singin' in the Rain , and
We Will Rock You .
Shine your shoes for this gem. You'll feel out of place in anything less than dressy.
Click
regent theatre melbourne&fb=1&gl=au&hq=the regent theatre&hnear=0x6ad646b5d2ba4df7:0x4045675218ccd90,Melbourne VIC&cid=0,0,5792741672971296678&ll=-37.814208,144.967496&spn=0.007713,0.01929&z=16&iwloc=A here to view a map.
Her Majesty's Theatre
Her Majesty's is certainly one of Melbourne's oldest and most loved theatres. And at 125 years, the old girl has certainly undergone a few facelifts, from 19th century glam, to modern Art Deco.
Originally named the Alexandra, after the then Princess of Wales, the theatre showcased melodramas, popular with the late 19th century audiences. She was later renamed
Her Majesty's Theatre , after Queen Victoria.
Dame Nellie Melba famously commented that the acoustics of the auditorium sounded 'dead', prompting a reworking of the auditorium. She later made her Australian grand opera debut as Violetta in
La Traviata at
Her Majesty's in 1911.
Other world class performers such as Anna Pavlova and Dame Margot Fonteyn have graced
Her Majesty's stage, as well as popular shows
Cabaret , and
Billy Elliot The Musical .
Click
majesty's theatre&fb=1=au&hq=her majesty's theatre&hnear=0x6ad646b5d2ba4df7:0x4045675218ccd90,Melbourne VIC&cid=0,0,12586554381035082534&sqi=2&ll=-37.809835,144.969857&spn=0.007713,0.01929&z=16&iwloc=A here to view a map.
More Theatres in the CBD
For a night of laughs, check out the
Comedy Theatre on Exhibition street, or the
Athenaeum Theatre on Collins Street, playing host to the Comedy Club. Both stage well known, and up and coming comedians who will have you in stitches.
Get in on more film and comedy festival action at
Capitol Theatre on Swanston Street.
Or sip a drink under the clear blue sky-like ceiling as you rock out to your favourite music at
Forum Theatre . Its interior is set up like an outdoor amphitheatre, and adds a balmy summer night, festival feel to any performance.
Theatres in the Suburbs
Clocktower Centre in Moonee Ponds is a community based theatre, guaranteed to have something for the family to enjoy, while
La Mama in Carlton is an intimate scene, seating only 50. Showcasing Australian productions weekly, grab a coffee and chat with the cast and crew after the show.
In the summer months, spread out a rug at the
Royal Botanical Gardens for the
Moonlight Cinema .
Or if you're under 25 and wanting to get a little more hands on,
St Martins in South Yarra is a performing arts centre for youth, with training programs available, and regular performances showing.
St Kilda is home to a couple of great venues, including
Palais Theatre, renowned for its high calibre musical acts,
Theatre Works , focusing on independent theatre, and
National Theatre , with a strong history in ballet and drama.
And a little further around the Bay,
Brighton Theatre Company stages four shows a year, by both Australian and international authors. The
Frankston Arts Centre is also a constant hub of activity, with performances from high end touring groups and local companies, as well as workshops in the performing arts, such as dance and circus.
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133807 - 2023-06-13 10:05:55