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house the ballet and drama schools only, as the former opera school there was transferred to the later built
Victorian College Of The Arts in 1985. 50

The official opening of the National Theatre was on September 7, 1974, by the Premier of Victoria, R.J. Hamer.
The Governor, Sir Henry Winneke was also in attendance. The overture was entitled "Waltzing St. Kilda",
composed by John Lanchberry and presented by the Elizabethan Trust. "Raymonda" was performed by Ballet
Victoria and Mozart's "The Impresario" was sung by the Victorian Opera Company. 51 John Cargher has said
that "Only the schools, which occupy the ground floor of the huge building remain as a lasting memorial to
Gertrude Johnston .... it was the teaching of the arts which was her primary aim and it is the teaching of the arts
which was her monument." 52 He makes reference to the fact that the official opening performances were not
by students from the National Theatre's schools, but by the outside institutions of Ballet Victoria, the Eliza-
bethan Trust Orchestra and the Victoria Opera Company. 53 On closer inspection however, perhaps Gertrude
Johnston was posthumously honoured, for before the official opening there was a short season of "The Mar-
riage Of Figaro". This was on Friday and Saturday the 30th and 31st of August and Monday and Tuesday the
2nd and 3rd of September 197 4. This was presented by the National Theatre Opera School, with the National
Theatre Ballet School providing the choreography for the dancing in the third act. 54 Of the three original
pianists of the Ballet School, one was the former orchestra leader of the Palais Pictures - Harry Jacobs- and
his wife- Madam Saranove- assisted in the teaching of dance. ss Since this opening in 197 4 there have been
presentations of many productions of incredible variety in all media.

The National Theatre, as Ross Thome as written, is unusual in the fact that "it has been converted from a
cinema to a live theatre, the reverse of the traditional situation." 56 However, in addition to its live shows, the
National still continues to show films intermittently. These films often compliment the cultural and educational
use of the building, as a consideration of some of the first ones shown in the renovated theatre illustrate. They
included "The Mastersingers Of Nuremburg", 57 Polanski's "Macbeth", 58 "Dance Poem" and "A Walk In The
Spring Rain", sg "Bethoven", oo "Hamlet", s1 "King Lear", 62 "Pride And Projudice" and "The Big Store". 63
Both these early films and current live productions are often of texts on the V.C.E. lists for a particular year and
students are often brought in by 'bus for these productions' making the National Theatre a valuable educational
resource. Some of the live productions since 197 4 have included the Australian premier of Donizetti's "Maria
Stuarda" by the Victorian State Opera in 1975, ss the Gilbert and Sullivan Society's centenary production of
"Ruddigore· in 1987, oo "Living In The Seventies" in 1989 a1 and • Judith Durham In Concert" in 1990. 68 In 1993
it was announced that the Savoy Opera Company was to become resident in the theatre in 1994. 69

The St. Kilda Film Festival, now in its 11th year, also makes use of the theatre. By 1992 this had become so
well-known that the organisers had to choose from a "short list" of 240 films, described in the local newspaper
as consisting of "Video, 16mm, Polaroid animation (Zeldafilm), conventional animation, colour, black and
white film, $800.00 films and $200,000.00 films." 10

In addition to those subsequently chosen there were cameos from the National Film and Sound Archive start-
ing with 1912 footage of Luna Park. 11
A recent festival was between March 24 and 29, 1993, which included a retrospective collection of some of the
films shown there over the previous ten years, fea1uring early works of Paul Cox and Jan Campolin. n There
were exhibitions of films made by the "St. Kilda Film and Video Makers Association", and the "Modem Image
Makers Association - based in St. Kilda also - had its "Experimental Showcase" opened by Kenneth Anger
(author of "Hollywood Babylon I and II") as part of his Australian tour. 73 Of the prizes awarded at the 1993
festival, three went to local residents" Liz Hughes, Andrew Goodone and Emma-Kate Crogan. 74
The National Theatre is also one of the venues for the Melbourne International Film Festival which, as its name
suggests, offers films from around the world in addition to local films and entries in the international short film
competition. As well as its use for performances, the educational facilities located in the former stalls area
continue to function for the training of drama and ballet, and there is a small theatre in this section for the use
of students. The director of the National Theatre Drama School, Joan Harris, was awarded the Order of
Australia in 1991 for services to the performing arts, and said that, "it is every child's birthright to be part of the
creative arts." 1s
In conclusion, the metamorphosis of the former Victory into the National Theatre has resulted in a diversifica-
tion of the uses of a structure which began as a picture-theatre accompanied by live entertainment and which
now encompasses such things as film, drama, opera, ballet, various festivals and public information meetings
(such as the September 14, 1993 A.I.D.S. and Hepatitis information night held by the St. Kilda Council), 76 as
well as being a school for the performing arts. It not only attracts artists and audiences from elsewhere, but
also provides a venue for the talents of local performers, organisations and film-makers, and continues the
tradition - established in 1921 - of being a vibrant focus of entertainment in the St. Kilda area.

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