Monday 9 January 2012

PRINCESS' THEATRE MELBOURNE

Melbourne’s iconic Princess' Theatre is regarded by many as the City's most spectacular landmark. Dating back as far as 1854, the theatre was purchased by Marriner Theatres in 1986 and plans were put in place for its total refurbishment and to ensure its future viability as a live theatre venue. The Princess' Theatre reopened in 1989 with the musical ‘Les Miserables’ followed by ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ which established a new record for the longest-running show ever staged in Victoria. Other world-class stage productions to have played at this theatre include Cats, Mama Mia!, The Producers, Dirty Dancing, Jersey Boys and Hairspray.

The Princess' Theatre has 1488-seats and it is listed by the National Trust of Australia and is on the Victorian Heritage Register. It was first erected in 1854 by actor-manager George Coppin, who would create Melbourne's theatre land. He already owned the Olympic (known as the 'Iron Pot') on the corner of Exhibition and Lonsdale Streets, installed gas lights in November 1855 into Astley's, and then he would go on to take over the Theatre Royal in Bourke Street. The Princess' Theatre is the second building on the present site - the first being Astley's Amphitheatre which opened in 1854 containing a central ring for equestrian entertainment and a stage at one end for dramatic performances. It was named in honour of the Astley Royal Amphitheatre, also known as Astley's Amphitheatre, near Westminster Bridge, London. In 1857, the amphitheatre was renovated and the facade extended, then re-opening as the Princess' Theatre and Opera House.

The Princess' Theatre is haunted by the friendly ghost of ‘Federici’. Federici died of a massive heart attack on March 3rd 1888 after a performance of the Opera, ‘Faust’. Every opening night, a seat in the Dress Circle is left empty for him and it is a sign of good luck if there is a sighting of Federici on that night. Many staff over the years have reported sightings of the friendly ghost.

This post is part of the Mellow Yellow Monday meme.








17 comments:

  1. A very grand theatre Nick and one I've visited many times - but never noted the beauty of the external architecture - too busy thinking about the show I'm about to see
    A worthy "mellow yellow" contribution - by the time this meme opens its almost our Tuesday!

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  2. What a gorgeous theater, Nick, and your captures are fantastic! Interesting history, too! Always love the ghost stories! Hope you have a great week ahead!

    Sylvia

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  3. Such impressive photos of this grand lady of the theatre! I have wandered round the outside before and never realised just how yellow are the lions and trumpeting angel! Perhaps the blue sky helps here because it was very grey when I was there!

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  4. It's spectacular and I like your detail shots!

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  5. Those golden statues seem to be blazing with glory!

    Simple Brilliance

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  6. Beautiful captures.

    Mellow Yellow, have a nice week ahead!

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  7. Beautiful architecture of the heritage building.

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  8. It's a beautiful theatre. I'm glad it has survived. We lost some beautiful theatres such as this in Sydney in the name of progress.

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  9. Beautiful shots. Have a fabulous week.

    Liz @ MLC
    Liz @ MCN

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  10. I have always been stumped by how to say the name if this theatre. I have attended many shows over the last twenty years, and it stumps me every tine. I am figuring that it is the possessive off one princess: Princess'. If it were the possessive of more than one princess would it be princesses'. But, is the pronounciation of princess' at all different from princesses'?

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  11. what gorgeous shots!!
    just beautiful!!
    Loui♥

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  12. The Princess Theatre is Melbourn's finest theatr by far. It was in 1888 and it is today. Signed .... Frederick Federici

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  13. Beautiful pictures, I love those golden, made with great delicacy. Greetings.

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  14. Very beautiful, a great stuff to enlighten anyone's day!

    Colorful puzzle is my entry, please come and see. Have a great week.

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  15. How on earth did I miss this one Nick, what a fabulous old building and so beautifully shown to us, and who doesn't love a good ghost tale, love Joe's comment haha!

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