Page 13 - CR

Final
curtain for

the
Playhouse

By Peter Jackson
Over the years the theatre has been
used by various theatre and dance
companies (including the Perth Theatre
Company), festivals, amateur drama
clubs, music societies, cultural
associations, corporate hirers and
schools.
The theatre was constructed for the
he curtain has come down for the National Theatre Company on the
Tlast time at one of Perth’s most site of a Church of England Deanery
popular theatres, the Playhouse tennis court. The architects were Harold
Theatre in Pier Street. Over the years, the theatre has Krantz (also Governor of the National
It has been a long period of featured ground-breaking Australian Theatre Company) and Robert Sheldon.
performance for the Playhouse, which plays such as Ray Lawler’s Summer of The building’s somewhat cramped
staged its first production on the 22nd the 17th Doll, Dorothy Hewett’s The basement housed a full-time production
of August 1956. It will be a case of the Man from Mukinupin, Jack Davis’s The staff working on sets, costumes and
old giving way to the new, with the Dreamers and David Williamson’s props.
new State Theatre Centre on the Don’s Party.
corner of Roe and William Streets, Other notable productions were
Northbridge, due to open in early Cabaret, Hello Dolly, Death of a
January 2011. Salesman, Equus, Guys and Dolls and
Over the past half century, the numerous Shakespearean classics.
Playhouse has been the venue for Many famous actors have graced
countless productions. the stage, including Dame Sybil
The opening play was The Teahouse Thorndike, Zoe Caldwell, Googie
of the August Moon, described in the Withers, Pamela Stephenson, Frank
official program as “an hilarious and Thring and even an Academy Award
enchanting comedy” set in Okinawa in winner, Lila Kedrova (Zorba the
the immediate post-war period. It was Greek), who starred in The Guardsman
directed by Nita Pannell and starred in 1970.
James Condon, Michael Cole and West Australian-born actress Judy
Garry Meadows. A full house of 700 Davis, fresh from her triumphant film
was there to enjoy what was to become role in My Brilliant Career, returned in
a Perth theatre ‘hit’. 1980 to give a mesmerising The property’s owner, the Perth
performance in Piaf at the Playhouse. Diocesan Trustees (Anglican Church)
plans to demolish the building next
year and redevelop the site.
However, the theatre closed on a
happy note with a family pantomime of
Puss in Boots from the 16th-23rd of
December 2010.

(Thanks to Ivan King from the Performing
Arts Museum at His Majesty’s Theatre for
his contribution to this item.)

CINEMARECORD 2010 13