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 from 1993 - 2024, based at the Eternity Playhouse in Darlinghurst, New South Wales.[1]

## 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. A devastating hail storm in 1999 destroyed its roof and the company was sent in search of 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.

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.

The Darlinghust Theatre successfully operated in Elizabeth Bay from 2001 till 2013, when it expanded by moving to the newly refurbished 200 seat Eternity Playhouse on Burton St, in the heart of Darlinghurt, with the assistance of the City of Sydney and Arts NSW in November 2013. Glenn 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, and currently specialises in independent caberet and music theatre.

From 2016–2018, the theatre partnered with Women in Theatre and Screen (WITS) to present an annual all-female theatre festival called Festival Fatale.[2] It launched in 2016 as part of WITS' larger work advocating for gender representation on stage and includes readings and staged plays.[3][4][5]

Glenn Terry retired as Executive Director in 2022 after leading the DTC for 30years. His long-term co-artistic director of 6years, Amylia Harris took over the reins, having proven herself to be a strongly ethical and creative leader, as the company navigated through the covid pandemic and funding shifts. She stepped away in 2023 for family reasons.

In June 2024, Darlinghurst Theatre was placed into voluntary administration.[6]

## Productions

[edit]

* 1993: 'Waiting For Godot' was the inaugural production by DTC in the Wayside Chapel, [but being an all-female cast, it upset Samuel Beckett's estate, forcing it to close after just one week!]
* 1996: Landscape of the Body by John Guare (directed by Glenn Terry)[1]
* 1996: Underwear, Perfume and Crash Helmet by Michael Gurr[1]
* 1996: When You Comin' Back Red Ryder? by Mark Medoff (directed by Chrissy Ynfante)[1]
* 1997: The Ugly Man by Brad Fraser (directed by Michael Darragh)[1]
* 1998: Frozen (directed by Chrissy Ynfante)[1]
* 1999: The Next Big Thing (directed by Matthew John Stewart)[1]
* 2001: The Woolgatherer by William Mastosimone[1] Directed by Cristabel Sved and designed by Imogen Ross with actors Marta Dusseldorp and Alan Flower.

This ẁas the inaugural production in the new theatre space on Greenknowe Ave.

* 2005: Terminus by Daniel Keane[7]
* 2005: Onna No Honour[8]
* 2005: The Young Tycoons by Christopher Johnson[9]
* 2006: Blue Eyes and Heels by Toby Whithouse[10]
* 2007: The Bee by Hideki Noda and Colin Teevan (directed by Sarah Enright)[11]
* 2009: The Kursk by Sasha Janowicz (directed by Michael Futcher)[12]
* 2011: 10,000 beers by Alex Broun (directed by Lee Lewis)[13]
* 2012: Ordinary Days by Adam Gwon (directed by Grace Barnes) in conjunction with Squabbalogic [14]
* 2013: 'All My Sons' by Arthur Miller. Directed by Iain Sinclair and designed by Luke Ede, with Marshall Napier, Toni Scanlon and more.

All My Sons was the inaugural production for the Eternity Playhouse.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Darlinghurst Theatre". Retrieved 21 January 2013.
2. ^ Blake, Elissa (19 October 2016). "All-female Festival Fatale fights back". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
3. ^ Neutze, Ben (30 October 2016). "Slut review: Festival Fatale, Sydney". Retrieved 25 May 2022.
4. ^ Paparella, Brodie (2 November 2016). "BWW Review: FESTIVAL FATALE was Femme-tastic! at Eternity Playhouse". Retrieved 25 May 2022.
5. ^ "Festival Fatale of theatre". 26 October 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
6. ^ Burton, David (18 June 2024). "Darlinghurst Theatre Company placed into voluntary administration". ArtsHub AU. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
7. ^ "Terminus". Retrieved 21 January 2013.
8. ^ Ethan Switch. "Onna No Honour - Thought Uncontrol - Darlinghurst Theatre Company - 10/08/05". The Wax Conspiracy. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
9. ^ "The Young Tycoons". Theatre Australia. Archived from the original on 5 August 2008. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
10. ^ Diana Simmonds. "Blue Eyes". Stage Noise. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
11. ^ Anna Klauzner. "Sydney: The Bee". VibeWire. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
12. ^ Sasha Janowicz. "The Kursk". Critical Stages. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
13. ^ Troy Dodds (30 September 2011). "10, 000 Beers — Darlinghurst Theatre Company". AussieTheatre.com. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
14. ^ "Ordinary Days - an Extraordinary Show | Reviews". 25 January 2012.

## External links

[edit]

* Darlinghurst Theatre's website

* v
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Theatre in Sydney

Central Sydney|

* Belvoir Street Theatre (Belvoir)
* Capitol Theatre
* Genesian Theatre
* Roslyn Packer Theatre
* Seymour Centre
* State Theatre
* Sydney Lyric
* Sydney Opera House
* Theatre Royal
* Wharf Theatre

Inner West|

* Carriageworks
* New Theatre
* PACT Theatre

Western Suburbs|

* Riverside Theatres Parramatta
* Sydney Coliseum Theatre

North Shore|

* Ensemble Theatre
* Glen Street Theatre
* Independent Theatre
* Marian Street Theatre
* The Concourse, Chatswood

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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