Victoria Theatre (Newcastle)

The Victoria Theatre in Newcastle, New South Wales, opened 1876 and rebuilt during 1890-91 is the oldest theatre still standing in New South Wales.The Victoria is only one of several large stage and screen theatres built across the city from the 1870s until the early twentieth-century that have since been closed down. Others of importance were the Central Mission Theatre on King Street, the Theatre Royal on Hunter Street West, as well as the Strand (demolished) and Lyric cinemas.Building historyThe first Victoria Theatre was built on the site in 1876 by the Victoria Theatre Company. This was altered in 1885 and demolished in 1890. The second theatre was built in 1890-1891 and closed in 1966.The architect in charge of the 1890 rebuilding was Mr. James Henderson, who elaborately furnished the three level auditorium in neo-Grecian theme. A large stage house and a small first class hotel were also incorporated in the second theatre that could seat 1,700 people. The stalls were steeply sloped and the dress circle could accommodate 500 people. It was fitted with American-style folding seats. The stage was 45ft wide, 38ft deep and 55ft high.Subsequent changes to the liquor laws meant that the theatre could no longer contain a hotel, so 1921 there were extensive renovations to convert the theatre into dual stage and screen use.By early 1922, the Victoria was taken over by Sir Benjamin and John Fuller of Melbourne's Princess Theatre fame and they built the large St. James Theatre (now demolished) in Sydney, and added Newcastle's Victoria to their national live theatre chain.In 1942 Hoyts took control of the theatre. CinemaScope was installed around 1955, with no widening of the decorated proscenium. Despite its use as a picture theatre, live theatre continued at the Victoria until the 1960s, when the Sydney Symphony Orchestra was still performing concerts there.