Pilbeam Theatre

The Pilbeam Theatre is an indoor performance venue in Rockhampton, Queensland.[1]

Pilbeam Theatre
The Pilbeam
Location64B Victoria Parade, Rockhampton, Qld, 4700
Coordinates23°22′22.8″S 150°30′33.119″E
OwnerRockhampton Regional Council
OperatorRockhampton Regional Council
Capacity979
Opened6 June 1979

History

The Pilbeam Theatre was officially opened by Australian Governor-General Sir Zelman Cowen on 6 June 1979 and was named after the city's mayor at the time, Rex Pilbeam.[2]

Located on the corner of Cambridge Street and Victoria Parade in the city directly opposite the Fitzroy River, the theatre was designed by local architect, Neil McKendry.[3][4]

The venue has a maximum capacity of just under 1000 people.[5]

A life-sized sculpture of explorer Charles Archer on his horse Sleipner, designed by Australian artist Arthur Murch, was installed in front of the theatre and unveiled in 1980.[6][7]

A special seven-night program was held in the theatre's opening week with the opening night concert broadcast live on ABC Radio along with the ceremonial speeches. Anthony Doheny, a Rockhampton-born violinist featured on opening night as a soloist with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.[2]

Notable performances

Early in his career, Australian film director Baz Luhrmann directed a community musical called Crocodile Creek at the Pilbeam Theatre in 1986, vision of which was unearthed by a film historian in 2014.[8]

Among the many popular Australian musical artists that have used the Pilbeam Theatre over recent years have been Tina Arena, Guy Sebastian, Boy & Bear, Angus & Julia Stone, Kasey Chambers, Jimmy Barnes, Xavier Rudd, Lee Kernaghan, Melinda Schneider, Beccy Cole, Paul Kelly, Adam Harvey, Troy Cassar-Daley, Graeme Connors, Marina Prior and David Hobson.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

Comedians who have performed at the theatre over recent years include Kitty Flanagan, Jimeoin, Carl Barron, Dave Hughes, Kevin Bloody Wilson, Arj Barker and Akmal Saleh.[20][21][22][23][24][25]

It was reported in 2015 that Carl Barron holds the record for the fastest selling adult show in the Pilbeam Theatre's history.[21]

Akmal Saleh was scheduled to perform at the Pilbeam Theatre again in 2011, with proceeds from the show destined for the victims of the 2010-11 Queensland floods.[26] However, he cancelled the show after claiming he had received threats from local residents, following his controversial comments about Rockhampton on Network Ten's Good News Week in 2009 when he said the city should be removed from Australia and relocated to Afghanistan.[27] Saleh claimed he was angry after being assaulted and racially abused by a woman who had accused of being a paedophile after allegedly observing Saleh film children on an amusement ride at the 2009 Rockhampton Show while Saleh and two friends, including Joel Ozborn, were filming a "Borat-esque" skit dressed in traditional Arabian outfits.[28][29][30]

Rockhampton Regional Council also uses the Pilbeam Theatre to host their Morning Melodies concerts for senior citizens which has attracted notable Australian performers including Lucky Starr, Kamahl, Rhonda Burchmore, Ian Stenlake, Little Pattie, James Blundell, Rachael Beck and Karen Knowles.[31][32][33][34][35]

Flamboyant Australian entertainer Peter Allen infamously damaged the Pilbeam Theatre's Steinway piano by dancing atop of it during a concert in 1980.[36]

Special events

Along with numerous musical, cultural and comedic performances, the Pilbeam Theatre has also hosted a number of special events.

This includes a three-day sitting of Queensland Parliament in 2005, prompting strict security measures to be employed around the venue.[37] The cost of holding the parliamentary sitting at the Pilbeam Theatre in Rockhampton also attracted criticism.[38]

ABC Television's Q&A program hosted by Tony Jones was broadcast live from the Pilbeam Theatre in 2014, featuring a panel of guests which included Patrick McGorry, Josh Thomas and Bob Katter.[39]

The Pilbeam Theatre has also hosted auditions for reality talent programs, Australian Idol and The X Factor.[40][41]

References
  1. Facilities & Recreation: Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton Regional Council website. Accessed 10 April 2018.
  2. McDonald, Lorna (1995) Rockhampton: A History of City & District (second edition), published by Rockhampton City Council, 1995. ISBN 0-9599897-3-0 Accessed 10 April 2018.
  3. Haydock, Amy (29 July 2016) Ballet dancer's story sounds like pages of a fairy tale, The Morning Bulletin, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  4. History of Bauhinia Architects, Bauhinia Architects website. Accessed 10 April 2018.
  5. Venues and Park for hire: Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton Regional Council website. Accessed 10 April 2018.
  6. Arthur Murch's portfolio, Arthur Murch website. Accessed 10 April 2018.
  7. Charles Archer & Sleipner, Monument Australia website. Accessed 10 April 2018.
  8. Vyer, James (12 August 2014) Lost Baz Luhrmann musical Crocodile Creek to show at National Film and Sound Archive, ABC Radio Canberra, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  9. (30 May 2013) Rocky will be liking it like that as Guy rocks up a storm, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 10 April 2018
  10. Fleming, Millicent (26 November 2016) Boy & bear hugs, The Morning Bulletin, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  11. Bulloch, Shayla (22 November 2017) Angus and Julia Stone announce Rockhampton show date, The Morning Bulletin, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  12. Fox, Sean (16 October 2017) Aussie rock icon returns to Rocky, The Morning Bulletin, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  13. Fox, Sean (24 May 2016) Country music musician will bring Doris Day's story to stage, The Morning Bulletin, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  14. McKee, Laura (8 May 2014) Pair of legends deliver country music's finest to CQ, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  15. Lewis, Tammy (13 June 2013) Paul Kelly visits CQ during Australian tour with new album, The Observer, APN News & Media. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  16. Roberts, Alice; Stevens, Aaron (30 June 2010) Graeme Connors on tour, ABC Capricornia, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  17. McKee, Laura (2 July 2015) Xavier Rudd embraces new territory on foot to happiness, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  18. Tina Arena setlist: 10 December 2004, setlist.fm website. Accessed 10 April 2018.
  19. What's On: Marina Prior and David Hobson – The 'Two of Us' Up Close and Personal, See It Live website. Accessed 10 April 2018.
  20. (14 July 2016) Seriously funny antics on the way with Kitty Flanagan, The Morning Bulletin, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  21. (17 December 2015) Carl Barron's Rockhampton show a quick sellout, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  22. Haydock, Amy (6 July 2014) Nasal joke-cracking larrikin swaps radio for stage, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  23. Take a trip into Arj Barker's mind with new live show, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  24. What's On: Jimeoin, See It Live website. Accessed 10 April 2018.
  25. What's On: Kevin Bloody Wilson, See It Live website. Accessed 10 April 2018.
  26. McBryde, Emma (5 February 2011) Akmal "sucks" up to Rocky, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  27. McBryde, Emma (16 February 2011) No laughing matter for Akmal, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  28. Campbell, Kieran (5 November 2009) Akmal sorry for Rocky attack on TV, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  29. Campbell, Kieran (11 November 2009) Why I punched Akmal: Jane's story, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  30. Box, Bianca (16 February 2011) Akmal snubs Rockhampton, The Observer, APN News & Media. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  31. (31 July 2015) Seniors see stars with special discount at Pilbeam Theatre, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  32. (10 January 2014) All star line-up for Rockhampton Morning Melodies, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  33. What's On: Morning Melodies – James Blundell, See It Live website. Accessed 10 April 2018.
  34. What's On: Morning Melodies – Rachael Beck, See It Live website. Accessed 10 April 2018.
  35. What's On: Morning Melodies – Karen Knowles, See It Live website. Accessed 10 April 2018.
  36. (14 March 2011) No piano dancing this time, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  37. (28 September 2005) Strict security planned for Rocky parliamentary sitting, ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  38. (4 October 2005) Beattie stands by Rocky parliamentary sitting, ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  39. Robert, Alice (30 September 2014) Rockhampton provides snapshot of regional mental health, ABC Capricornia, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  40. (20 April 2007) Rocky draws 400 to Australian Idol auditions, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  41. (14 February 2015) Singer steps out of shower and onto stage for X Factor, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
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