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Coordinates: 37°48′37″S 144°58′13″E / 37.81028°S 144.97028°E / -37.81028; 144.97028
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== History ==
== History ==
The site at the corner of Lonsdale and Stephen streets was from June 1842 to October 1854 an entertainment venue, "[[Joseph Andrew Rowe|Rowe's American Circus]]", where [[G. B. W. Lewis]] gained his foothold in Australia. In December 1854 it was licensed as the "Royal Victoria Theatre",<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154848950 |title=New Theatre |newspaper=[[The Age]] |volume=I |issue=39 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=1 December 1854 |accessdate=22 August 2021 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> then demolished, to be replaced by a prefabricated iron building imported from [[Manchester]], England for [[George Coppin]]. Tentatively named "New Theatre",<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154894389 |title=New Theatre in Lonsdale Street |newspaper=[[The Age]] |volume=I |issue=156 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=19 April 1855 |accessdate=22 August 2021 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> it was christened on 11 June 1855 as "Coppin's Olympic Theatre",<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4809363 |title=Advertising |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)]] |issue=2522 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=9 June 1855 |accessdate=22 August 2021 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and held its first theatrical performance on 30 July.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4813350 |title=Coppin's Olympic Theatre |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)|The Argus]] |location=Melbourne |date=27 July 1855 |accessdate=4 December 2012 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> It came to be known as the old "Iron Pot"<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29150834 |title=Melbourne's Oldest Theatres |newspaper=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |location=Hobart, Tasmania |date=21 January 1930 |accessdate=4 December 2012 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
The site at the corner of Lonsdale and Stephen streets was from June 1842 to October 1854 an entertainment venue, "[[Joseph Andrew Rowe|Rowe's American Circus]]", where [[G. B. W. Lewis]] gained his foothold in Australia. In December 1854 it was licensed as the "Royal Victoria Theatre",<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154848950 |title=New Theatre |newspaper=[[The Age]] |volume=I |issue=39 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=1 December 1854 |accessdate=22 August 2021 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> then demolished, to be replaced by a prefabricated iron building imported from [[Manchester]], England for [[George Coppin]]. Tentatively named "New Theatre",<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154894389 |title=New Theatre in Lonsdale Street |newspaper=[[The Age]] |volume=I |issue=156 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=19 April 1855 |accessdate=22 August 2021 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> it was christened on 11 June 1855 as "Coppin's Olympic Theatre",<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4809363 |title=Advertising |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)]] |issue=2522 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=9 June 1855 |accessdate=22 August 2021 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and held its first theatrical performance on 30 July.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4813350 |title=Coppin's Olympic Theatre |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)|The Argus]] |location=Melbourne |date=27 July 1855 |accessdate=4 December 2012 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
One of Melbourne's earliest play-houses, it was the venue of some of [[G. V. Brooke]]'s greatest triumphs, but it was hot in summer and cold in winter<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article142436146 |title=Byone Days |newspaper=[[The Australasian]] |volume=XLI |issue=1063 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=14 August 1886 |accessdate=22 August 2021 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and was soon displaced by architecturally superior playhouses, and was abandoned in 1894.
One of Melbourne's earliest play-houses, it was the venue of some of [[G. V. Brooke]]'s greatest triumphs, but the "Iron Pot", as it came to be known,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29150834 |title=Melbourne's Oldest Theatres |newspaper=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |location=Hobart, Tasmania |date=21 January 1930 |accessdate=4 December 2012 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> was hot in summer and cold in winter<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article142436146 |title=Byone Days |newspaper=[[The Australasian]] |volume=XLI |issue=1063 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=14 August 1886 |accessdate=22 August 2021 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and was soon displaced by architecturally superior theatres, and was abandoned in 1894.


Opened on 28 April 1928,<ref name=opening /> the Comedy Theatre was built and operated for fifty years by [[J.&nbsp;C. Williamson's]]. Paul Dainty purchased the theatre in 1978 for $800,000.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131854537 |title=Theatre bought |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=52 |issue=15,584 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=23 May 1978 |accessdate=28 April 2019 |page=18 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Since 1996 the theatre has been owned and operated by Marriner Group.
Opened on 28 April 1928,<ref name=opening /> the Comedy Theatre was built and operated for fifty years by [[J.&nbsp;C. Williamson's]]. Paul Dainty purchased the theatre in 1978 for $800,000.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131854537 |title=Theatre bought |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=52 |issue=15,584 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=23 May 1978 |accessdate=28 April 2019 |page=18 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Since 1996 the theatre has been owned and operated by Marriner Group.

Revision as of 00:34, 22 August 2021

Comedy Theatre
Map
Address240 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
Melbourne
Australia
Coordinates37°48′37″S 144°58′13″E / 37.81028°S 144.97028°E / -37.81028; 144.97028
OwnerMarriner Group
Capacity1003
Opened28 April 1928[1][2]
Website
www.marrinergroup.com.au

The Comedy Theatre is a 1003-seat theatre in Melbourne's East End Theatre District. It was built in 1928, and was designed in the Spanish style, with a Florentine-style exterior and wrought-iron balconies. It is located at 240 Exhibition Street, and diagonally opposite Her Majesty's Theatre.

It typically hosts commercial seasons of plays and smaller-scale musicals, as well as comedy and other entertainment events.

History

The site at the corner of Lonsdale and Stephen streets was from June 1842 to October 1854 an entertainment venue, "Rowe's American Circus", where G. B. W. Lewis gained his foothold in Australia. In December 1854 it was licensed as the "Royal Victoria Theatre",[3] then demolished, to be replaced by a prefabricated iron building imported from Manchester, England for George Coppin. Tentatively named "New Theatre",[4] it was christened on 11 June 1855 as "Coppin's Olympic Theatre",[5] and held its first theatrical performance on 30 July.[6] One of Melbourne's earliest play-houses, it was the venue of some of G. V. Brooke's greatest triumphs, but the "Iron Pot", as it came to be known,[7] was hot in summer and cold in winter[8] and was soon displaced by architecturally superior theatres, and was abandoned in 1894.

Opened on 28 April 1928,[1] the Comedy Theatre was built and operated for fifty years by J. C. Williamson's. Paul Dainty purchased the theatre in 1978 for $800,000.[9] Since 1996 the theatre has been owned and operated by Marriner Group.

Previous productions

Previous notable productions and performers at the Comedy Theatre include:[10]

  • Fresco
    Fresco
  • Fresco detail
    Fresco detail
  • Fresco detail
    Fresco detail
  • Windows
    Windows
  • Theatre in December 2012
    Theatre in December 2012

References

  1. ^ a b "Comedy Theatre Opening". The Argus. Melbourne. 28 April 1928. p. 26. Retrieved 4 December 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "NEW MELBOURNE THEATRE". The Argus. Melbourne. 27 April 1928. p. 11. Retrieved 4 December 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "New Theatre". The Age. Vol. I, no. 39. Victoria, Australia. 1 December 1854. p. 5. Retrieved 22 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "New Theatre in Lonsdale Street". The Age. Vol. I, no. 156. Victoria, Australia. 19 April 1855. p. 5. Retrieved 22 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Advertising". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 2522. Victoria, Australia. 9 June 1855. p. 8. Retrieved 22 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Coppin's Olympic Theatre". The Argus. Melbourne. 27 July 1855. p. 4. Retrieved 4 December 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Melbourne's Oldest Theatres". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 21 January 1930. p. 2. Retrieved 4 December 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Byone Days". The Australasian. Vol. XLI, no. 1063. Victoria, Australia. 14 August 1886. p. 8. Retrieved 22 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Theatre bought". The Canberra Times. Vol. 52, no. 15, 584. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 23 May 1978. p. 18. Retrieved 28 April 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "AusStage - Comedy Theatre". www.ausstage.edu.au. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  11. ^ "AusStage".
  12. ^ "AusStage".
  13. ^ "AusStage".
  14. ^ "AusStage".
  15. ^ "AusStage".
  16. ^ https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/venue/98
  17. ^ "Yes, Prime Minister Cast Announced | Stage Whispers".
  18. ^ "Madiba the Musical | Stage Whispers".
  19. ^ "33 Variations (Comedy Theatre)".
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