Phillip Street Theatre (1954-1961)

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Phillip Street Theatre (1954-1961)

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Venue	Phillip Street Theatre (1954-1961)
Address	169-171 Phillip Street Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
First Date	1954
Last Date	14 January 1961
Notes	Duckworth and Orr took a sub-leas from WEA in 1954 and renamed St James' Hall as Phillip Street Theatre. In 1961 the Parish redeveloped the property. Orr moved to 150 Elizabeth St, which they renamed Phillip Theatre. The new building has also been St James' Hall, St James Playhouse.
Related Venues	Also known as St James' Hall (1887-1961) Is on the site of Phillip Street Theatre (1979-1989) Is on the site of St James Playhouse (1964-1978) Is on the site of St James' Hall (1963-1989) Moved to Phillip Theatre (1961-1971)
Map
Latitude \| Longitude	-33.868808 \| 151.210882
Events	Date Contributor Organisation
	VENUE CLOSED, 14 January 1961 Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Mistress Money, 27 May 1960 Phillip Street Revue, 27 April 1960 A Ride on a Broomstick, 26 December 1959 Hey Diddle Diddle, 21 October 1959 Meet Joyce Grenfell, 15 July 1959 The Birthday Show, 1959 Bats, 1959 Alice in Wonderland, 1959 Alice in Wonderland, 26 December 1958 Bats, 1 October 1958 Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 12 August 1957 Around the Loop, 1 August 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Gordon Chater, 1957 Alice in Wonderland, 14 December 1956 Mr. and Mrs., 11 April 1956 Around the Loop, 1956 Happy Returns, 1956 Two to One, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 The Duenna, 22 June 1955 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Hat Trick, 19 January 1955 Hamlet, 1955 Hit and Run, 1955 Top of the Bill, 1955 Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Top of the Bill, 7 May 1954
	Playgoers' Co-operative Theatres Limited Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Mistress Money, 27 May 1960 Phillip Street Revue, 27 April 1960 A Ride on a Broomstick, 26 December 1959 Hey Diddle Diddle, 21 October 1959 Bats, 1959 The Birthday Show, 1959 Bats, 1 October 1958 Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 12 August 1957 Around the Loop, 1 August 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Gordon Chater, 1957 Mr. and Mrs., 11 April 1956 Around the Loop, 1956 Happy Returns, 1956 Two to One, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 The Duenna, 22 June 1955 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Hat Trick, 19 January 1955 Hamlet, 1955 Hit and Run, 1955 Top of the Bill, 1955 Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Top of the Bill, 7 May 1954 Phillip Street Theatre Company VENUE CLOSED, 14 January 1961 Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Bats, 1 October 1958 Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 12 August 1957 Around the Loop, 1 August 1957 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Top of the Bill, 7 May 1954 William Orr Productions Alice in Wonderland, 26 December 1958 Alice in Wonderland, 14 December 1956
	William Orr - Adaptor, Lyricist, Producer Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Mistress Money, 27 May 1960 Phillip Street Revue, 27 April 1960 A Ride on a Broomstick, 26 December 1959 Hey Diddle Diddle, 21 October 1959 The Birthday Show, 1959 Bats, 1959 Alice in Wonderland, 26 December 1958 Bats, 1 October 1958 Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 12 August 1957 Around the Loop, 1 August 1957 Gordon Chater, 1957 Alice in Wonderland, 14 December 1956 Mr. and Mrs., 11 April 1956 Two to One, 1956 Happy Returns, 1956 Around the Loop, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Hat Trick, 19 January 1955 Hamlet, 1955 Hit and Run, 1955 Top of the Bill, 1955 Top of the Bill, 7 May 1954 Dorothy Mendoza - Composer, Musical Director Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Mistress Money, 27 May 1960 Phillip Street Revue, 27 April 1960 A Ride on a Broomstick, 26 December 1959 Hey Diddle Diddle, 21 October 1959 The Birthday Show, 1959 Bats, 1959 Alice in Wonderland, 26 December 1958 Bats, 1 October 1958 Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 12 August 1957 Around the Loop, 1 August 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Gordon Chater, 1957 Alice in Wonderland, 14 December 1956 Around the Loop, 1956 John McKellar - Actor, Book and Lyrics Librettist, Lyricist, Writer Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Mistress Money, 27 May 1960 A Ride on a Broomstick, 26 December 1959 Hey Diddle Diddle, 21 October 1959 The Birthday Show, 1959 Bats, 1 October 1958 Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 12 August 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Two to One, 1956 Happy Returns, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Hat Trick, 19 January 1955 Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Top of the Bill, 7 May 1954 Joseph Shearer - Designer, Set Designer Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Phillip Street Revue, 27 April 1960 The Birthday Show, 1959 Bats, 1959 Alice in Wonderland, 26 December 1958 Bats, 1 October 1958 Around the Loop, 1 August 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Alice in Wonderland, 14 December 1956 Mr. and Mrs., 11 April 1956 Two to One, 1956 Happy Returns, 1956 Around the Loop, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Gordon Chater - Actor Mistress Money, 27 May 1960 A Ride on a Broomstick, 26 December 1959 Hey Diddle Diddle, 21 October 1959 Around the Loop, 1 August 1957 Gordon Chater, 1957 Happy Returns, 1956 Around the Loop, 1956 The Duenna, 22 June 1955 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Top of the Bill, 1955 Hit and Run, 1955 Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Top of the Bill, 7 May 1954 Lyle O'Hara - Actor Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Phillip Street Revue, 27 April 1960 Hey Diddle Diddle, 21 October 1959 The Birthday Show, 1959 Bats, 1959 Bats, 1 October 1958 Happy Returns, 1956 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Hat Trick, 19 January 1955 Top of the Bill, 1955 Hit and Run, 1955 Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Top of the Bill, 7 May 1954 Ronald Hay - Choreographer Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Mistress Money, 27 May 1960 Bats, 1959 Bats, 1 October 1958 Around the Loop, 1 August 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Happy Returns, 1956 Around the Loop, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 The Duenna, 22 June 1955 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Lance Mulcahy - Composer, Writer Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 The Birthday Show, 1959 Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 Two to One, 1956 Happy Returns, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Hat Trick, 19 January 1955 Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Top of the Bill, 7 May 1954 Gerry Donovan - Lyricist, Writer Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 Two to One, 1956 Happy Returns, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Hat Trick, 19 January 1955 Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Top of the Bill, 7 May 1954 John Parker - Actor Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 12 August 1957 Around the Loop, 1 August 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Alice in Wonderland, 14 December 1956 Happy Returns, 1956 Around the Loop, 1956 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 June Salter - Actor Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 Around the Loop, 1 August 1957 Happy Returns, 1956 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Hat Trick, 19 January 1955 Hit and Run, 1955 Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Eric Rasdall - Actor, Composer, Lyricist, Music and Lyrics Librettist, Writer The Birthday Show, 1959 Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 12 August 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Mr. and Mrs., 11 April 1956 Around the Loop, 1956 Wendy Blacklock - Actor Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Mistress Money, 27 May 1960 Phillip Street Revue, 27 April 1960 Around the Loop, 1 August 1957 Two to One, 1956 Around the Loop, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Ronald Frazer - Actor, Lyricist Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Phillip Street Revue, 27 April 1960 The Birthday Show, 1959 Bats, 1959 Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 Rhonny Gabriel - Actor Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 12 August 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Gordon Chater, 1957 The Duenna, 22 June 1955 Alton Harvey - Actor Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Mistress Money, 27 May 1960 Phillip Street Revue, 27 April 1960 The Birthday Show, 1959 Bats, 1959 Alice in Wonderland, 26 December 1958 Bats, 1 October 1958 Reg Livermore - Actor Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 12 August 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Gordon Chater, 1957 Around the Loop, 1956 John Bluthal - Actor The Birthday Show, 1959 Bats, 1959 Alice in Wonderland, 26 December 1958 Bats, 1 October 1958 The Willow Pattern Plate, 12 August 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Dudley Goldman - Lyricist, Writer Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 The Birthday Show, 1959 Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 Mr. and Mrs., 11 April 1956 Peter Hurst - Costume Designer Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Hey Diddle Diddle, 21 October 1959 Around the Loop, 1 August 1957 Mr. and Mrs., 11 April 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 John Meillon - Actor Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 Happy Returns, 1956 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Hamlet, 1955 Top of the Bill, 1955 Max Oldaker - Actor Around the Loop, 1 August 1957 Alice in Wonderland, 14 December 1956 Two to One, 1956 Around the Loop, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Hat Trick, 19 January 1955 Dolore Whiteman - Actor Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 Around the Loop, 1 August 1957 Gordon Chater, 1957 Around the Loop, 1956 Peter Kenna - Actor, Lyricist, Songwriter Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Phillip Street Revue, 27 April 1960 Alice in Wonderland, 26 December 1958 Two to One, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Robert Lloyd - Designer, Set Designer Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Mistress Money, 27 May 1960 Phillip Street Revue, 27 April 1960 A Ride on a Broomstick, 26 December 1959 Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Barbara Wyndon - Actor Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Phillip Street Revue, 27 April 1960 A Ride on a Broomstick, 26 December 1959 Two to One, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Ray Barrett - Actor Happy Returns, 1956 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Hit and Run, 1955 Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Peter Batey - Actor Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 Gordon Chater, 1957 Robina Beard - Actor Mistress Money, 27 May 1960 A Ride on a Broomstick, 26 December 1959 Hey Diddle Diddle, 21 October 1959 Alice in Wonderland, 26 December 1958 Lola Brooks - Actor Top of the Bill, 1955 Hit and Run, 1955 Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Top of the Bill, 7 May 1954 Noel Brophy - Actor Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 Gordon Chater, 1957 Barry Humphries - Actor Around the Loop, 1 August 1957 Alice in Wonderland, 14 December 1956 Mr. and Mrs., 11 April 1956 Around the Loop, 1956 Kevan Johnston - Actor Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Phillip Street Revue, 27 April 1960 A Ride on a Broomstick, 26 December 1959 Hey Diddle Diddle, 21 October 1959 Jill Perryman - Actor, Circus Style Performer Hey Diddle Diddle, 21 October 1959 The Birthday Show, 1959 Bats, 1959 Bats, 1 October 1958 Owen Weingott - Actor The Willow Pattern Plate, 12 August 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 The Duenna, 22 June 1955 Hamlet, 1955 Diana Davidson - Actor Happy Returns, 1956 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Hat Trick, 19 January 1955 Joan Halliday - Ballet Master/Mistress, Choreographer Top of the Bill, 1955 Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Top of the Bill, 7 May 1954 Margo Lee - Actor Happy Returns, 1956 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Top of the Bill, 7 May 1954 Antonio Rodrigues - Dancer Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 Yolanda Rodrigues - Dancer Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 Madge Ryan - Actor Happy Returns, 1956 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Hamlet, 1955 Peter Sculthorpe - Composer Cross Section, August 1958 Cross Section, November 1957 Cross Section, 12 September 1957 Shirley Sunners - Actor Happy Returns, 1956 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Hat Trick, 19 January 1955 Leon Thau - Actor The Willow Pattern Plate, 12 August 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Alice in Wonderland, 14 December 1956 Charles Bud Tingwell - Actor Top of the Bill, 1955 Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Top of the Bill, 7 May 1954 John Unicomb - Actor Mistress Money, 27 May 1960 A Ride on a Broomstick, 26 December 1959 Alice in Wonderland, 26 December 1958 Richard Addinsell - Composer Happy Returns, 1956 Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Maree Austin - Actor The Willow Pattern Plate, 12 August 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Anthony Bazell - Actor A Ride on a Broomstick, 26 December 1959 Alice in Wonderland, 26 December 1958 Diana Bell - Actor, Lyricist Two to One, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Betty Benfield - Actor The Willow Pattern Plate, 12 August 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Betty Best - Lyricist Two to One, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Sheila Bradley - Actor Mistress Money, 27 May 1960 A Ride on a Broomstick, 26 December 1959 Kevin Brennan - Actor The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Alice in Wonderland, 14 December 1956 Norman Coburn - Actor Happy Returns, 1956 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Ruth Cracknell - Actor Cross Section, November 1957 The Duenna, 22 June 1955 John Crane - Lyricist Two to One, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Gina Curtis - Actor Two to One, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Judi Farr - Actor Mistress Money, 27 May 1960 Hey Diddle Diddle, 21 October 1959 Helene Ffrance - Actor The Willow Pattern Plate, 12 August 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Diana Field - Actor Two to One, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 John Fleming - Actor Alice in Wonderland, 14 December 1956 Top of the Bill, 7 May 1954 Ben Gabriel - Actor The Willow Pattern Plate, 12 August 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Robert Gordon - Composer Two to One, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Deidre Green - Actor Phillip Street Revue, 22 July 1960 Phillip Street Revue, 27 April 1960 Ken Hannam - Actor Top of the Bill, 1955 Top of the Bill, 7 May 1954 Brenda Humphries - Actor Alice in Wonderland, 14 December 1956 Mr. and Mrs., 11 April 1956 David Jones - Lyricist Two to One, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 John Jowett - Lyricist Two to One, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Michael Laurence - Actor Alice in Wonderland, 14 December 1956 Mr. and Mrs., 11 April 1956 Jill Lyons - Book and Lyrics Librettist The Willow Pattern Plate, 12 August 1957 The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Arthur MacRae - Lyricist Happy Returns, 1956 Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Terry McDermott - Actor Happy Returns, 1956 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Alick McKenzie - Set Designer Top of the Bill, 1955 Top of the Bill, 7 May 1954 Tommy Merrifield - Dancer Two to One, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Paul Miskell - Actor, Singer Two to One, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Frank Mitchell - Costume Designer Bats, 1959 Bats, 1 October 1958 Garth Nettheim - Lyricist Two to One, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Pat Pearson - Actor Mr. and Mrs., 11 April 1956 Around the Loop, 1956 Joyce Quealy - Dancer Two to One, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Shirley Regan - Actor Around the Loop, 1 August 1957 Around the Loop, 1956 Paul H Riomfalvy - Lyricist Two to One, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Gordon Walls - Actor Happy Returns, 1956 Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Bettina Welch - Actor Hit and Run, 1955 Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Bruce Wishart - Lyricist Two to One, 1956 Two to One, 5 November 1955 Eleanor Witcombe - Adaptor, Book and Lyrics Librettist Mistress Money, 27 May 1960 A Ride on a Broomstick, 26 December 1959 Bob Ainslie - Actor Hey Diddle Diddle, 21 October 1959 Allan Babbage - Actor Alice in Wonderland, 26 December 1958 Reg Bartram - Lighting Designer Two to One, 5 November 1955 John Bonney - Actor Hamlet, 1955 Aileen Britton - Actor Hat Trick, 19 January 1955 David Butler - Actor Hamlet, 1955 Lewis Carroll - Author Alice in Wonderland, 26 December 1958 Ronald Cass - Composer Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Geoffrey Chard - Actor The Duenna, 22 June 1955 David Climie - Lyricist Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 William Cole - Actor Mistress Money, 27 May 1960 Peter Collins - Actor Top of the Bill, 7 May 1954 Ray Cook - Composer Cross Section, November 1957 John Cranko - Lyricist The Birthday Show, 1959 Robert Cunningham - Lighting Designer Happy Returns, 1 May 1955 Elsie Dane - Choreographer Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Alan Dearth - Actor Alice in Wonderland, 14 December 1956 Bill Donaldson - Actor Mr. and Mrs., 11 April 1956 Faye Donaldson - Actor Mr. and Mrs., 11 April 1956 Eric Duckworth - Adminstrator: Business Manager Top of the Bill, 7 May 1954 John Ewart - Actor Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Brian Ford - Set Designer Hamlet, 1955 Ron Fraser - Actor Bats, 1 October 1958 Kenneth Gonin - Writer Mr. and Mrs., 11 April 1956 Kathleen Gorham - Actor Alice in Wonderland, 14 December 1956 Alec Grahame - Lyricist Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Brothers Grimm - Writer A Ride on a Broomstick, 26 December 1959 Lionel Harris - Producer The Duenna, 22 June 1955 Robert Healey - Actor Mistress Money, 27 May 1960 Sheila Helpmann - Actor Hat Trick, 19 January 1955 Schelto Jonker - Actor The Duenna, 22 June 1955 Sonny Jose - Actor The Willow Pattern Plate, 29 June 1957 Carolyn Keely - Actor A Ride on a Broomstick, 26 December 1959 Paula Langlands - Actor Hat Trick, 19 January 1955 Edward Lansdowne - Actor Hey Diddle Diddle, 21 October 1959 Tom Lingwood - Set Designer The Duenna, 22 June 1955 Robert Lloyd - Set Designer Hey Diddle Diddle, 21 October 1959 Dawne Macfarlane - Actor Alice in Wonderland, 26 December 1958 Charles McKervey - Costume Designer Hamlet, 1955 Max Meldrum - Actor Alice in Wonderland, 26 December 1958 Alan Melville - Composer Hat Trick, 19 January 1955 Suzanne Musitz - Actor Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Peter Myres - Lyricist Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 David Nettheim - Actor Top of the Bill, 1955 Coralie Neville - Actor Hamlet, 1955 Johnny O'Connor - Actor Mr. and Mrs., 11 April 1956 Nola O'Connor - Actor Mr. and Mrs., 11 April 1956 Patricia Ottey - Actor The Duenna, 22 June 1955 John Pritchett - Composer Hit and Run, 1 September 1954 Moira Redmond - Actor The Duenna, 22 June 1955 Betty Rogers - Actor Mistress Money, 27 May 1960 Henry Salter - Actor Around the Loop, 1956 William Shakespeare - Playwright Hamlet, 1955 Richard Brinsley Sheridan - Playwright The Duenna, 22 June 1955 Joyce Simmons - Actor A Ride on a Broomstick, 26 December 1959 Julian Slade - Composer The Duenna, 22 June 1955 John Taylor - Lyricist Two to One, 1956 Allan Trevor - Actor Hamlet, 1955 Kenneth Warren - Actor Hamlet, 1955 James White - Music and Lyrics Librettist Around the Loop, 1956 James Workman - Actor Hamlet, 1955 Charles Zwar - Composer Hat Trick, 19 January 1955
Resources	Article: Dance Hall Remodelled for Phillip Street Theatre, Sydney Morning Herald, 7 March 1961, 17 Ross Thorne, Phillip Street Theatre, Companion To Theatre In Australia, 1995, 441 Theatre in Phillip Street, Sydney, opened as St James Hall seating 650, 17 December 1903. Architect: Burcham Clamp. Seating reduced to 447 by new stage and proscenium 1916. Called Mercury Theatre 28 February 1952 to 19 December 1953. Redecorated and reopened 7 May 1954 as Phillip Street Theatre, seating 368. Closed 14 January 1961. Demolished and replaced in late 1963 by 15-storey building, including new 300-seat St James Hall, sometimes known as Phillip Street Theatre. Architects: Peddle Thorp and Walker. Closed for renovation of building, 7 October 1989. The theatre where William Orr presented the acclaimed Phillip Street Revues for nearly seven years was originally the St James Hall, built by Church of England on a site it has owned since the nearby St James Church was built in 1820-24. The three-storey brick building was erected in 1903. Above a semi-basement for church offices were a concert hall and, on the third level, a school. The church hoped to repay large borrowings for the building by frequent letting of the hall, which was praised for good acoustics, harmonious proportion, central location and lack of noise from trams. The gallery, which had an intricate cast-iron balustrade, extended along the side walls. The original bare platform was replaced with a miniature stage in 1912, when the Sydney Stage Society produced Prunella. In 1916 the stage was rebuilt and enlarged, though a new proscenium reduced the seating capacity. The hall then became a popular venue for amateur, semiprofessional and professional theatrical groups, including the Modern Theatre Players and the New Sydney Repertory Society. On 25 August 1950 the John Alden Company began a professional season of The Merchant of Venice and Measure for Measure. Mercury Theatre opened its first repertory season of plays in early 1952 and despite financial difficulties continued to the end of 1953. Then the hall was redecorated, reseated and renamed for the Phillip Street Theatre Company. Its fast, saucy, topical intimate revues won a great reputation and 14 were presented in the theatre until the building was closed in 1961. The new building contained a one-level raked hall which lacked the atmosphere of the old St James Hall, with its deep horseshoe balcony crowding the audience around the stage. It seated only 300, yet for seven years during the 1980s Peter Williams conducted a commercial enterprise there, including performances for schoolchildren and an acting school. Article: Ross Thorne, Phillip Street Theatre, Companion To Theatre In Australia, 1995, 441 Chapter: H A Standish, Amateurs and All That, Australian theatre year book, F. W. Cheshire, 1958, 24-33 Interview: Bill Stephens, Eric Duckworth, Eric Duckworth interviewed by Bill Stephens [sound recording]., National Library of Australia, 23 January 2000
Venue Identifier	105
Dataset	AusStage