costume

The heritage-listed Princess Theatre is the only remaining 19th-century theatre in Brisbane. It was built during the economic and building boom of the 1880s at a time when live entertainment was popular and ornate theatres were the norm. The theatre was designed by Brisbane architect John Beauchamp Nicholson who also designed other heritage-listed buildings including the Taylor-Heaslop Building and Norman Hotel in Woolloongabba. In 1892 it was renamed the Boggo Road Theatre. In 1893 John Hardgrave bought it from his son and called it the Princess Theatre. In 1899 it was bought by draper John Finney who turned it into a clothing factory. From 1912 to the 1920s it was a silent movie theatre, with Charlie Chaplin films drawing big crowds. From 1942 to 1945 the theatre was used as the administrative and rehearsal centre for the United States Entertainment Unit. It continued to be used by other public theatre and dance groups as well as for boxing matches and public meetings. Due to declining attendances, the theatre was closed to the public from 1949 – 1985 and was rented to a variety of small business enterprises including a secondhand dealer, paper wholesaler, and an engineering firm. From 1948-to 1979 the stage and backstage area were leased to a printing firm. In 1985 the REMM group purchased the building and carried out extensive external restoration. The Twelfth Night Theatre Group accepted a ten-year lease and carried out internal refurbishments. Unfortunately, due to financial difficulties, their last performance was in 1991. In 2001 it was leased by the Metro Central Community Church (now Lifecity Church) and bought by them in 2003. Church services and other events are held in the former theatre and the venue is hired out theatre performances, events and weddings. Original interior features such as the plaster ceilings and architraves, plush velvet curtains, polished floors are intact. Source: kangaroopointhistory.com.au/places/theatres/

Theatre Royal, Brisbane From 1949 to 1959 at Brisbane’s Theatre Royal, comedian George Wallace Junior hosted a weekly variety show with a weekly change of title, such as Grin and Bare It (1951), Nudes and Blushes (1952), New Year Nudes (1953), Eves without Leaves (1953), Couldn’t Wear Less (1953), Teasy on the Eyes (1954), Peep Show (1956), Watch the Curves (1957), Don’t Give Up the Strip (1957), Hips Hooray (1958), Bareway to the Stars (1958) and Don’t Point, It’s Nude (1959). Source: jonathanbollen.net/2011/04/03/theatre-royal-brisbane/

In early April 1913, the citizens of Marburg, 60km west of Brisbane, were eagerly anticipating the upcoming amateur performance of operetta Beauty and the Beast, with a cast of locals (pictured). Staged to raise funds for the All Saints Anglican Church, the event was arranged by the Reverend T. Hely-Wilson, who oversaw the entire production from stage management and coaching of the amateur performers to costuming and scenery. On April 16, the wait was over as a 400-plus audience crammed into the School of Arts building. Within minutes of the doors being opened all the seats had been taken, with latecomers relegated to standing at the back. Local newspaper the Rosewood Register and Marburg Mail captured the mood - "the huge audience was on the tip-toe of pleased anticipation" - and went on to praise the performance: "The choruses were strong, tuneful, well-balanced and of fine tempo, whilst the ballets were enchantingly appealing." The two leads were Mr Arthur Dance (playing the Beast/Prince), who "spoke his lines with praiseworthy enunciation and distinctness", and Miss Grace Collins (as Beauty), who, "although considerably nervous ... acted well and sang charmingly". 0The remaining cast members were all lauded for their performances, while the children portraying the Prince's "frog court" were audience favourites for their dance. Another tireless performer was Miss McLoughlin, the pianist who accompanied the performance. Her contribution to the success of the operetta was publicly acknowledged at the All Saints church annual picnic a few weeks later, where she was presented with a gold bangle. Myles Sinnamon - Project Coordinator, State Library of Queensland Source: www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/beauty-and-beast-marburg-style