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List of theatres in Hobart

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This is a list of theatres in Hobart in Tasmania, Australia. The Hobart City Centre has several theatres in continuous operation, including live theatre venues, picture theatres, a single multiplex operated by Village Cinemas, as well as several former theatres that are currently inoperable or demolished.

Name Address Opened Seats Use Notes Image
7D Cinema Hobart 8 Montpelier Retreat, Battery Point 2015 9[1] films Virtual reality cinema named for the seven dimensions of sensory experience: the three dimensions of sight, touch, audio, tactility and movement. It screened 10 short five-minute films designed to make use of the 7D Cinema setup. It closed in 2020.
Avalon Theatre 52 - 54 Melville Street, Hobart 1890 927 films, theatre Originally built as a Temperance Hall in 1890, it was used for religious gatherings, tea drinking, live entertainment and family-focused activities. Notably, the Temperance Hall was used for meetings surrounding Women's suffrage in Australia[2] and visited by Jessie Ackermann, who spoke at the hall in 1892.[3] Known as the Bijou Theatre throughout the 1920’s the venue showcased pantomimes, boxing, travelling theatre productions and live music productions. It became Hobart’s first talkie theatre when it reopened as the Avalon Theatre on 11 March 1932. In 1966, the Avalon became home to Hobart's only 70mm film projector. The venue closed in 1976 and operated as an electronics store until 2009. It was purchased by the Hillsong Church in 2020.[4]
Cinema One 86 Murray Street, Hobart 1955 256[5] films Located in the basement of an office tower. Opened as the Tatler Theatrette on 28 July 1955 and renamed Cinema One in 1972.[6] Was home of the Hobart Film Society throughout the 70s and 80s. In 2018, it screened Terror Nullius by the remix filmmaking collective Soda_Jerk as part of Dark Mofo festivities.[7]
His Majesty's Theatre 168 Liverpool Street, Hobart 1911 1,393 films, theatre His Majesty’s Theatre was opened on 23 January 1911 with the comic opera The Runaway Girl. Seating was provided in orchestra stalls and dress circle levels and the proscenium was 24 ft wide. There were eight dressing rooms. It also presented vaudeville, and by 1912 it went into cinema use as part of Spencer’s Pictures chain. They were taken over by Union Theatres in 1919. It closed in 1961. By 1970 it was converted into a clothing store. The exterior has been covered in metal cladding, but interior decorations remain.[8]
Hoyts Mid City 117 Collins Street, Hobart 1982 400 films, theatre Single-screen cinema redeveloped by architect Ron Monborough in the basement of the T&G Building, Hobart. Opened in October 1982 with The Man from Snowy River. Hoyts Mid City was originally decorated in bold blue and red colours with extensive use of mirrors and chrome, and able to seat over 400 patrons. It was closed in the 1990s and converted into a basement carpark.[9]
Lyric Theatre Glenorchy, Tasmania 1924 450[10] films Short lived single-screen cinema opened in December, 1924 by renown local contractor and builder Mr V. Barker, who operated the venue with his two sons and two daughters.[11]
Moonah Theatre 113-115 Main Road, Moonah 1924 1,050 films Upon opening in 1924, the Moonah Picture Theatre proudly announced it was "all Australia made", including the projection equipment. It was officially opened by future-Prime Minister Joseph Lyons (then-Premier of Tasmania).[12] It closed in 1962 and was developed into the Moonah Centre.[13]
Odeon Theatre 167 Liverpool Street, Hobart 1916 1,690 live music Once described as "the finest building in Tasmania",[14] the Odeon has undergone a series of alterations leaving it near unrecognisable from its original design. Built as The Strand, it was Tasmania's largest single screen cinema, then served as the home of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra for nearly three decades. It has been rejuvenated in recent years and currently operates as a live entertainment venue.[14]
Palace Theatre 28-32 Elizabeth Street, Hobart 1914 600 films The Palace Theatre was an Art Nouveau cinema opposite the Hobart GPO designed by architect George Stanley Crisp.[15] It opened on 2 June 1914 accompanied by an orchestra conducted by Eva Creese.[16] The theatre suffered several bio box fires and eventually closed ten year later when the owners were unable to expand the premises.[17] All outwards signs of its former exterior were removed in 1934.[16] The building became a restaurant and grocery store and was demolished in the early '70s. It is now the site of the Mövenpick Hotel.
Peacock Theatre 77 Salamanca Place 1970s 133 films, live music, comedy Carved into the foot of a historic quarry at Salamanca Place.[18]
Playhouse Theatre 106 Bathurst Street, Hobart 1864 230 theatre, comedy Originally built as a chapel in 1864. Operated by the Hobart Repertory Theatre Society since 1936, it was called the Amuzu Cinema before being renamed the Playhouse Theatre in 1938. The live performance space hosts a mixture of classic dramas, comedies and musicals. There are two tiers of seating with wheelchair access to the stalls.[19]
Prince of Wales Theatre 85 Macquarie Street, Hobart 1911 1010 films, theatre Designed by architect Douglas Salier, it opened as the Grand Empire Theatre on January 2, 1911. Then-owner Edwin Herbert Webster had the auditorium rebuilt by architect firm Walker & Johnston and renamed the building the Prince of Wales Theatre in 1925. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s it was operated by Louise Lovely and her husband Bertie Cowan. In 1983, it had a seating capacity of 843.[5] The theatre fell into decline and was demolished in 1987 for a carpark and office tower.[20]
Regent Theatre 31 Cambridge Road, Bellerive 1931 300 films, community activities Opened 5 November 1931 as the Regent Talkies.[21] The building doubled as the Bellerive town hall and hosted community activities and events. The theatre closed in the 1960s. Reopening as the Civic Cinema in 1975, the opening film was Petersen with actor Wendy Hughes in attendance.[22] The Civic was closed in 1977 and subsequently demolished.[23]
Rewind Cinema 12 St Johns Avenue, New Town 2022 150 films Boutique single-screen revival movie theatre screening blockbusters, cult classics and childhood favourites from the 80s and 90s.[24]
State Cinema 375 Elizabeth Street, North Hobart 1913 700 films Tasmania's largest arthouse cinema. The grand re-opening of the State Cinema was attended by Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam after it was purchased by the government-funded Australian Film Institute in 1976. It was purchased by North Hobart businessman John Kelly in 2002, who revitalised the theatre, expanding the building to include 11 screens, a rooftop cinema, cafe, bar and bookstore. The State Cinema was acquired by the US-owned Reading Cinemas chain in November 2019.[25]
Theatre Royal 27-29 Campbell Street, Hobart 1837 698 theatre, comedy The Theatre Royal opened in 1837, with major additions in 1850 and 1890. It has walls constructed of convict-carved stone, and remains Australia's oldest continually operating theatre.[26] It presents live theatre, contemporary music, dance and entertainment. It was bridged with The Hedberg in 2021, a world-class performing arts campus building operated by the University of Tasmania.[27]
Village Cinemas Eastlands Bligh Street, Rosny Park 2003 213 films Includes 4 screens for 139 – 213 patrons and a sectioned off function area.[28]
Village Cinemas Glenorchy Eady Street & Cooper Street, Glenorchy 2000 727 films Includes 4 screens for 126 – 291 patrons and a sectioned off function area.[28]
Village Cinemas Hobart 181 Collins Street, Hobart 1976 432 films Opened in 1976 as the West End Twin. In 1983, Cinema 1 is cited as having 609 seating capacity and Cinema 2 seating 401.[5] In 1988 it was expanded to 7 screens and renamed Village Cinemas. Includes 4 traditional screens and 3 Gold Class screens for 186 – 432 patrons, Intencity arcade and a sectioned off function area.[28] In 2017, developer Emmanuel Kalis sold the venue for $33 million to a private investor from Sydney.[29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Exhilarating 7D Cinema Experience - Hobart CBD". bookme.com.au. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  2. ^ "WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MEETING". The Mercury. Vol. LXIII, no. 7533. Tasmania, Australia. 20 April 1894. p. 3. Retrieved 24 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Woman's Christian Temperance Union". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. LIX, no. 6, 900. Tasmania, Australia. 5 April 1892. p. 2. Retrieved 24 August 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ Howard, Jessica (1 December 2020). "Hillsong Church puts forward plans for conversion of former Avalon Theatre in central Hobart". The Mercury (Hobart). Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Peter, Beilby (1983). Australian Motion Picture Yearbook 1983. North Melbourne, Victoria: Thomas Nelson Australia, Roscope Publishers. p. 10 (Directory). ISSN 0158-698X.
  6. ^ "Cinema One, Hobart". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Dark Mofo program: what's on where and when". The Mercury (Hobart). 24 June 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  8. ^ "His Majesty's Theatre, Hobart". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  9. ^ CATHS - Hoyts Mid City. Retrieved 15 May 2022
  10. ^ "Everyones". Vol. 4, no. 274 (3 June 1925). Sydney: Everyones Ltd. 1920. nla.obj-547534049. Retrieved 7 October 2022 – via Trove.
  11. ^ "Everyones". Vol. 4, no. 208 (27 February 1924). Sydney: Everyones Ltd. 1920. nla.obj-549717947. Retrieved 7 October 2022 – via Trove.
  12. ^ "Moonah Picture Theatre. Opened on Saturday. Speech by Premier". The Mercury. Hobart. 2 June 1924. p. 5. Retrieved 15 May 2022 – via Trove.
  13. ^ CATHS - Moonah Theatre. Retrieved 15 May 2022
  14. ^ a b McIntyre, Paul (9 November 2015). "The history of Hobart's Odeon Theatre, the 'finest building in Tasmania'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Tasmanian Notes. Moving Picture Theatre, Hobart". Journal of the Institute of Architects of New South Wales. Vol. 3, No. 4. New South Wales. 1 November 1914. p. 174. Retrieved 15 May 2022 – via Trove.
  16. ^ a b "Day By Day. Finale". Hobart. 23 October 1934. p. 6. Retrieved 15 May 2022 – via Trove.
  17. ^ "Notes of the Day. Palace Theatre to close". Hobart. 5 January 1924. p. 8. Retrieved 15 May 2022 – via Trove.
  18. ^ Salamanca Arts Centre - Peacock Theatre. Retrieved 19 April 2022
  19. ^ "HISTORY OF THE PLAYHOUSE THEATRE". Playhouse Theatre. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  20. ^ McIntyre, Paul (19 October 2016). "Remembering the rich history of Hobart's Prince of Wales Theatre". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  21. ^ "Tasmania Brighter Than Mainland: Webb's Impressions (9 December 1931)", Everyones, 12 (615), Everyones Ltd, 9 December 1931, retrieved 29 August 2022
  22. ^ "Entertainment spot ushered in". The Mercury (Hobart). 20 March 1975.
  23. ^ Eastern Shore Sun. Retrieved 29 Aug 2022
  24. ^ Rewind Cinema New Town. Retrieved 19 April 2022
  25. ^ Shannon, Lucy (20 November 2019). "Hobart's State Cinema, once saved by Gough Whitlam, enters new era after sale to Reading". abc.net.au. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  26. ^ The Theatre Royal – Australia's oldest continually operating live theatre. Retrieved 19 April 2022
  27. ^ The Hedberg. Retrieved 19 April 2022
  28. ^ a b c Village Cinemas - Presentations and Product Launches. Retrieved 19 April 2022
  29. ^ Clark, Nick (15 November 2017). "Hobart cinema sells for $33m". The Mercury (Hobart). Retrieved 19 July 2022.
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