Theatre

Australian theatre has thrived since the colonisation of the country, and today there are a number of notable playwrights, theatre troupes and fringe theatre communities working here.

The 1990s saw John Bell form, his own Shakespeare company, Australia’s only national touring company. Instead of using traditional, historic sets, the Bell Shakespeare Company offers a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s works.

Australia’s oldest theatre is the Victoria Theatre in Newcastle, New South Wales, which was opened in 1876 and still stands to this day. La Mama Theatre in Carlton, Victoria, is one of the country’s finest fringe theatres and plays host to a range of alternative stage plays.

However, the most famous theatre is the Sydney Opera House, an UNESCO World Heritage Site and the focal point of Sydney harbour. As well as providing a venue for touring theatre, ballet, and musical productions, the Opera House is the home of Opera Australia, the Sydney Theatre Company and the Sydney Symphony, and was designed by architect Jorn Utzon and completed in 1973. Visit www.sydneyoperahouse.com for more details.

For more information, and a complete list of Australian theatres, visit Wikipedia: Theatres in Australia or Wikipedia: Theatre in Australia.

The Australian Government website offers an intersting history of Australian theatre, a list of theatres and famous playwrights, and also links to numerous useful sites.