Athenaeum Theatre
Editorial
This tattered old dear, now heritage-listed, has been home to serious theatre in her day. Back in the 1980s, the Melbourne Theatre Company selected her as their home. And today she still plays hostess to the higher-arts with compact and impressive local company Melbourne Opera singing up a sweet storm on her reputedly haunted stage.
Like any haunted old lady, she has a complex past. She began life in 1839 as one of the city's Mechanic's Institute. Since that time, she's welcomed all-comers. From louche Music Hall to very proper art, she's seen it all. It was here that the world's first feature film, The History of the Kelly Gang, was premiered.
These days, the Ath theatre is best known as a comedy venue. Her threadbare charm is enjoyed by tens of thousands at every Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
But, far above this hubbub is one of the loveliest, fustiest libraries an eccentric reader can ever hope to find. An annual subscription to this private library is $70 and for that, you can access a fine crime fiction collection, but you earn the right to membership of one of the state's oldest clubs.
Access for the mobility impaired may prove a bit of a hurdle. Call first for details.
Helen Razer, Citysearch
Event Listing
The John Denver Story - Take Me Home Country Roads
Athenaeum Theatre 188 Collins Street, All Areas 2011-06-28Start:28-Jun-2011
End:10-Jul-2011
2011-07-10Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be - The Story of Bon Scott
Athenaeum Theatre 188 Collins Street, All Areas 2011-07-12Start:12-Jul-2011
End:30-Jul-2011
2011-07-30Louis C.K.
Athenaeum Theatre 188 Collins Street, All Areas 2011-09-0202 - September 2011
2011-09-02Kathy Griffin
Athenaeum Theatre 188 Collins Street, All Areas 2011-12-0303 - December 2011
2011-12-03Charles Dickens performs A Christmas Carol
Athenaeum Theatre 188 Collins Street, All Areas 2011-12-08Start:08-Dec-2011
End:11-Dec-2011
2011-12-11User Feedback
Jill
April 26, 2011
The library is absolutely fantastic - do yourself a favour, become a member and be part of Melbourne's cultural history...
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