Close

Not in Melbourne?


Capitol Theatre

places|nsw|haymarket|capitol%20theatre
A '90s facelift for the historic hall lets the show go on in comfort.

Editorial


Five minutes after colonisation, this site has been providing the settlers of Sydney with diversion. Once a lively market site, it shifted gears during the First World War and became an arena for large scale entertainment. In the era before animal rights, the Wirth Bros Hippodrome trotted out elephants and seals between bawdy vaudevillians.

As cinema hotted up the twentieth century, the Capitol was born as a picture palace. Called an “atmospheric”, its interior design evoked a Florentine garden. Tens of thousands of Sydneysiders flocked to gape in awe at a simulacrum that included starry heavens that shone as session time approached.

What follows is an undulating history of great success and tawdry failure in equal parts. And then, in 1995, the Capitol was not so much restored as re-interpreted to its original stature.

While the venue does not look quite so much like a Florentine courtyard, it certainly conveys a beautiful excess. More importantly for the theatre-goers of Sydney, it provides a lyric theatre for large scale productions. To date, West Side Story, Miss Saigon, The Lion King and Wicked have all enjoyed long runs on its accommodating stage. The 2000 seat venue makes stand-up comedy and acoustic musical performance a far more comfortable affair.

That is, unless, you're looking for great wheelchair access. The limited spots for chairs are at the back of the stalls.

Bang in the middle of China town, the Capitol is arguably the city best dinner-and-and-show prospect.

Helen Razer, Citysearch

Event Listing

Mary Poppins

Capitol Theatre 13 Campbell Street, Haymarket 2011-05-01

Start:01-May-2011

End:17-Dec-2011

2011-12-17

The Nutcracker on Ice

Capitol Theatre 13 Campbell Street, Haymarket 2012-06-06

Start:06-Jun-2012

End:10-Jun-2012

2012-06-10

Do something with this page

0 User review (add yours)

User Feedback

Your Feedback

*Your rating

* required

*Your review (1000 characters max)




 

What's Nearby