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suppers could be taken there, with free
teacup reading. (!)
It was reputedly also used for film
screenings, but there is no record of a
bio box being erected. If films were
shown there, they were probably in
the 16 mm format which, in those
days, did not require a bio box.
After closure for the winter months, it
was in late 1933 again being used by
Humphrey Bishop, one of the shows
being Stanley McKay’s Gaieties of
1933. It was advertised as “the most Mosman having three, two of them being
beautiful open air theatre in the world”. architecturally outstanding, with Cremorne
also not far away.
It was still in use for theatricals in
1935, when The Follies of 1935 were In 1937, it was sold to the Roman Catholic
presented there in January of that year. Church to be used as a convent, but in 1950 it
However, by 1936 it was advertised was again put up for sale. This time it was
for sale, along with the spacious tea purchased as the site for a large block of
room on beach level. apartments. Demolition soon followed and
today the Amphitheatre is all but forgotten.
Why did theatricals fail at the What a world class venue it would have been
Amphitheatre? Probably a number of if it still sat on the cliffs at Balmoral with its
The Amphitheatre under construction c. 1932. factors contributed, for in the early stunning views of The Heads and the ocean
1930s the Sydney Harbour Bridge had beyond. Shakespeare and contemporary
two years time, and that in the meantime the not been completed, and if one lived on the drama would all have been perfect in its
theatre would be used for mini golf. southern side of the harbour, a journey to Grecian environment.
Circular Quay by tram would be followed by
But the mini golf failed, and in 1931 it was a ferry to Bradley’s Head and then another While the Minack Theatre at Porthcurno is an
given a new lease of life when it was sold to tram to Balmoral. Then one would have to do outstanding theatre in a unique environment,
Humphrey Bishop, a theatrical entrepreneur, it all in reverse. Not a lot of people owned cars it is a little painful to look at its beauty and its
who planned to use it for vaudeville and in those days, and the Great Depression was site and wonder what could have been for
concerts. And what a venue it must have been still keeping thousands out of employment. Sydney.ê
to watch a performance on a warm summer
night. Initially, the attractions were quite The controversies involving Charles Images:
popular, The Dandies of 1932, produced by Leadbeater and the Star of the East probably Les Tod
Bishop himself, being a long running “stained’ the minds of many against the venue National Library of Australia
attraction. The café was also advertised, with itself as well. By then the local suburbs were CATHS Archive
beautiful lounges, and that lunches, teas and well serviced by picture theatres, nearby Minack Theatre Management

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