In a side street in Newcastle’s CBD sits Australia’s oldest surviving theatre, the grand old Victoria Theatre. It also still contains the first fly tower in Australia. It’s in a sorry state now, full of junk and detritus from years of being used as a shop until it fell into complete disuse a few decades ago. I remember buying a pair of brown jeans there in 1978 when it housed a jeans store. Pigeons have had a lovely time as well although they have now gone since the roof has been replaced.

In its time it rivaled the biggest and best theatres in the country. Originally opened in 1876, it was a cutting edge prestigious venue during the era of vaudeville, theatre and cinema, rivaling Sydney theatres with its gold leaf terracottas, 12 dressing rooms, 66 by 40 foot stage, a labyrinth of property and storage rooms and most significantly, a three level fly tower.

The best vaudeville acts came to The Victoria. There are even rumours of some nude dancing girls; that must have been burlesque.

This theatre was built before electricity, so for the first 50 years the performances would have been lit by limelight. Theatre technicians with very long poles with a wick on the end would come to the edge of the gallery with their lighting cue, put it into the lamp, and ignite the chemical compound in the lamp. The lamp would then glow onto the performance below. Different chemicals in the lamps would create slightly different colours. This lighting technique is the basis for the phrase “take the limelight”.

The building was constructed with large blocks of sandstone, so the foundation system is very structurally robust and there’s still evidence of the beautiful auditorium features, with shop fittings potentially concealing many more.

It once had it’s own hotel so people were able to experience some fine dining and a drink before a show, but during the 1920’s, a change in liquor laws meant that it was illegal for a hotel and a theatre to be on the same property. This marked a significant change in the building’s usage. The hotel was ripped out and the Theatre remained until the 1940’s when the Hoyts Corporation bought the property and turned it into a cinema. The windows were blinded and it ceased to be a functioning performance space and it went to just being movies.

The building now sits unoccupied but the fact that it still stands at all is quite positive. It hasn’t been wrecked. It is capable of being restored.

Revive the Victoria Theatre Newcastle – A working group of Performing Arts Newcastle (PAN), is seeking to gain ownership of the theatre by persuading the current owner, Mr Arthur Laundy, to donate the building to their cause so that they  can commence a massive restoration project. It is their aim to re-open the theatre as a performing arts space for both local and touring productions.

Arthur Laundy has listed the building for auction at the reserve price of $1 and it is possible that he has genuine philanthropic intentions. To ensure that the theatre truly becomes a community asset, the group are asking interested people to compose a letter of support for their cause and/or make a short video message using their phone that can be used in their campaign.

For anyone interested in supporting the campaign the key points to mention are:
• Re-opening the theatre would be preserving an important part of our history.
• The theatre has the first (and oldest) fly tower in Australia.
• Newcastle has 39 theatre companies and desperately needs a medium-sized performance venue.
• Re-opening the venue will contribute to the culture of Newcastle as a liveable city and attract tourism.
• The creative industries are currently one of the fastest growing industries.
• Supporting the arts is in our national interest as it facilitates cultural development.

Unfortunately, the group needs support urgently. The auction is to take place on November 19 and they are arranging a meeting with the owner one week prior to present their proposal.

Videos of support can be created on a phone and uploaded to:- https://oots.wetransfer.com/
Letters of support can be emailed to -> revivethevic@gmail.com
Revive The Victoria Theatre Newcastle- A working group of Performing Arts Newcastle (PAN)
www.revivethevic.com.au