Darlinghurst Theatre

Australian theatre company

Darlinghurst Theatre

Location| Burton Street Tabernacle
39 Burton Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney, New South Wales
Coordinates| 33°52′43″S 151°12′58″E﻿ / ﻿33.878659°S 151.216067°E﻿ / -33.878659; 151.216067

Darlinghurst Theatre was an independent theatre company based at the Eternity Playhouse in Darlinghurst, New South Wales. Founded in 1993, it went into voluntary administration in 2024.

## History

[edit]

Glenn Terry established the company in 1993 initially as an inner-city drama school. Darlinghurst Theatre productions were originally based at the Wayside Theatre in the heart of Kings Cross.[1] A devastating hailstorm in 1999 destroyed its roof and the company looked for a new home. South Sydney Council assisted by providing a venue with affordable rent in what was known as the Reginald Murphy Hall on Greenknowe Ave in Elizabeth Bay.[2]

In 2001, with financial support from the New South Wales Ministry of the Arts, The Grosvenor Club and numerous individuals, A$500,000 worth of internal renovations was largely completed by Glenn Terry and friends, many of whom were jobbing actors, writers and directors.[when?] At the time of the renovations, Sydney's Her Majesty's Theatre was closed and some of that theatre's equipment found a new home at the new Darlinghurst Theatre, including 80 red leather seats, dressing room mirrors, lighting, and bar equipment.[3]

The Darlinghust Theatre operated in Elizabeth Bay from 2001 till 2013, when it expanded by moving to the newly refurbished 200-seat Eternity Playhouse on Burton St, Darlinghurst, with the assistance of the City of Sydney and Arts NSW, in November 2013. Terry remained artistic director, bringing a dedicated team over with him to The Eternity. The old Darlinghurst Theatre venue was renamed the Hayes Theatre in 2014.[4]

From 2016 until 2018, the theatre partnered with Women in Theatre and Screen (WITS) to present an annual all-female theatre festival called Festival Fatale.[5] It launched in 2016 as part of WITS' larger work advocating for gender representation on stage and includes readings and staged plays.[6][7][8]

Terry retired as executive director in 2022, after leading the company for 30 years. His long-term co-artistic director of six years, Amylia Harris, took over, until stepping away in 2023 for family reasons.

In June 2024, Darlinghurst Theatre was placed into voluntary administration.[9]

## Productions

[edit]

* 1993: Waiting For Godot, the inaugural production by DTC in the Wayside Chapel; however, the all-female cast upset Samuel Beckett's estate, so was forced to close after one week
* 1996: Landscape of the Body by John Guare (directed by Glenn Terry)[10]
* 1996: Underwear, Perfume and Crash Helmet by Michael Gurr[10]
* 1996: When You Comin' Back Red Ryder? by Mark Medoff (directed by Chrissy Ynfante)[10]
* 1997: The Ugly Man by Brad Fraser (directed by Michael Darragh)[10]
* 1998: Frozen (directed by Chrissy Ynfante)[10]
* 1999: The Next Big Thing (directed by Matthew John Stewart)[10]
* 2001: The Woolgatherer by William Mastosimone;[10] inaugural production in the new theatre space on Greenknowe Ave
* 2005: Terminus by Daniel Keane[11]
* 2005: Onna No Honour[12]
* 2005: The Young Tycoons by Christopher Johnson[13]
* 2006: Blue Eyes and Heels by Toby Whithouse[14]
* 2007: The Bee by Hideki Noda and Colin Teevan (directed by Sarah Enright)[15]
* 2009: The Kursk by Sasha Janowicz (directed by Michael Futcher)[16]
* 2011: 10,000 beersby Alex Broun (directed by Lee Lewis)[17]
* 2012: Ordinary Days by Adam Gwon (directed by Grace Barnes) in conjunction with Squabbalogic[18]
* 2013: All My Sons by Arthur Miller; the inaugural production for the Eternity Playhouse
* 2022: Let the Right One In, directed by Alexander Berlage and presented by arrangement with Marla Rubin Productions. Will McDonald played Oskar, while Ell was played by Sebrina Thornton-Walker.[19][20]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ The Wayside Chapel, 27 Hughes Street Potts Point, chronological history of the Wayside Chapel, City of Sydney Archives, 2010, retrieved 19 October 2024
2. ^ Protest meeting at the Reginald Murphy Community Hall, Kings X. Pat Hills, Reg Murphy, February 1969, 1969, retrieved 19 October 2024
3. ^ N.S.W. Teachers' Federation (29 March 2004), "Darlinghurst Theatre offer (29 March 2004)", Education: Journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation, 85 (3), The Federation: 21, ISSN 0013-1156
4. ^ [Hayes Theatre Co: programs and related material collected by the National Library of Australia], 1900, retrieved 19 October 2024
5. ^ Blake, Elissa (19 October 2016). "All-female Festival Fatale fights back". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
6. ^ Neutze, Ben (30 October 2016). "Slut review: Festival Fatale, Sydney". Retrieved 25 May 2022.
7. ^ Paparella, Brodie (2 November 2016). "BWW Review: FESTIVAL FATALE was Femme-tastic! at Eternity Playhouse". Retrieved 25 May 2022.
8. ^ "Festival Fatale of theatre". 26 October 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
9. ^ Burton, David (18 June 2024). "Darlinghurst Theatre Company placed into voluntary administration". ArtsHub AU. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
10. ^ a b c d e f g "Darlinghurst Theatre".
11. ^ "Terminus". Retrieved 21 January 2013.
12. ^ Ethan Switch. "Onna No Honour - Thought Uncontrol - Darlinghurst Theatre Company - 10/08/05". The Wax Conspiracy. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
13. ^ "The Young Tycoons". Theatre Australia. Archived from the original on 5 August 2008. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
14. ^ Diana Simmonds. "Blue Eyes". Stage Noise. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
15. ^ Anna Klauzner. "Sydney: The Bee". VibeWire. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
16. ^ Sasha Janowicz. "The Kursk". Critical Stages. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
17. ^ Troy Dodds (30 September 2011). "10, 000 Beers — Darlinghurst Theatre Company". AussieTheatre.com. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
18. ^ "Ordinary Days - an Extraordinary Show | Reviews". 25 January 2012.
19. ^ "Let The Right One In". Darlinghurst Theatre Company. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
20. ^ Phillips, Issy; Kim, Lia (10 November 2022). "INTERVIEW: Heartbreak High's Will Mcdonald Talks Acting And Shrek". Junkee. Retrieved 19 October 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

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Theatre in Sydney

Central Sydney|

* Belvoir Street Theatre
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* Capitol Theatre
* Genesian Theatre
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* Seymour Centre
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Inner West|

* Carriageworks
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Western Suburbs|

* Riverside Theatres Parramatta
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North Shore|

* Ensemble Theatre
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Northern Beaches|

* Glen Street Theatre

Eastern Suburbs|

* Darlinghurst Theatre
* Hayes Theatre
* Old Fitz Theatre
* Parade Theatre
* Stables Theatre (Griffin Theatre Company)

Former theatres|

* Criterion Theatre
* Garrick Theatre
* Her Majesty's Theatre
* Minerva Theatre
* Palace Theatre
* Paris Theatre
* Phillip Street Theatre
* Plaza Theatre
* Regent Theatre
* Tivoli Theatre

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