Theatre Royal, Melbourne

The Theatre Royal was one of the premier theatres in the city of Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, Australia, throughout the 19th century and early 20th century. First built in 1855, it was located at what is now 236 Bourke Street, Melbourne, in the heart of what was once the city's theatre and entertainment district.[1]

First Theatre Royal built 1855

History

The Theatre Royal was constructed as Melbourne's first theater on Bourke Street just east of Swanston on the site occupied by Target Stores today. It was financed by publican James Jamieson, and erected as a utilitarian weatherboard barn-like structure on land adjoining his Eagle Tavrern around 1840. It measured 65 ft. by 35 ft. and cost £1000.[2] It was originally known as The Pavilion and later as the Theatre Royal. The last performance was held 1845 and it was demolished shortly thereafter, facing competition from a newly opened Queen Street Theatre from April of that year. An early William Liardet watercolour shows the original buildings on site.[3]

Melbourne's second Theatre Royal was built on approximately the same site in 1855 by John Melton Black. It was capable of holding 3300 people and was comparable in size to London's Drury Lane and Covent Garden theatres. The opening production was Richard Sheridan's The School for Scandal. Described as a "magnificent theatre", the £60,000 cost of the theatre's construction ultimately bankrupted Black.[1][4][5]

A religious service held at the Theatre Royal on a Sunday, when the theatres were closed, c1873

In April 1872 the theatre burned down, but was immediately rebuilt bigger and better by George Coppin, the well known actor, theatre manager, entrepreneur, philanthropist and politician. The new theatre could seat 4,000 people over four tiers, and opened in November the same year.[6]

It was remodelled in 1904, seating fewer people more comfortably on three tiers, but the growing popularity of the moving pictures in the 1920s affected theatre attendance, and the effects of the Great Depression led to the closure of the theatre in 1932. In 1933 it was finally demolished, and replaced by Manton's department store, later becoming a Coles store, itself redeveloped into a Target store in the 1970s.[1][7]

References
  1. Melbourne, School of Historical Studies, Department of History, The University of. "Theatre Royal – Entry – eMelbourne – The Encyclopedia of Melbourne Online". www.emelbourne.net.au. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  2. Cole, R. K. (June 1950). "Early Melbourne Hotels". Victorian Historical Magazine. 23 (2): 53. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  3. "[The Eagle Tavern and Theatre Royal] [picture]". State Library of Viictoria. State Library of Viictoria. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  4. "John Melton Black". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Qld.: National Library of Australia. 10 July 1934. p. 7. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  5. "The Theatre Royal". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 10 July 1855. p. 5. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  6. "The Stage". The Weekly Times (166). Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 9 November 1872. p. 9. Retrieved 15 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Theatre Royal". www.ausstage.edu.au. Retrieved 17 January 2016.

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