• Is on the site of Mason's Concert Hall 25 January 1865 - 1865
• Is on the site of Queensland Theatre 22 April 1874 - April 1881
• Is on the site of Royal Victoria Hall 1865 - 1874

• Date
• Contributor
• Organisation

• Make It a Party, 22 April 1950
• Peter Pan, 22 December 1945
• Back Again, 26 December 1939
• Flying Colours, 20 October 1939
• Carry On, 13 October 1939
• Business as Usual, 6 October 1939
• Mary's Other Husband, 11 September 1939
• Why Men Leave Home, 4 September 1939
• Extra Special, 1 September 1939
• The Laughter Express, 25 August 1939
• Let's Go Hunting, August 1939
• Vaudeville in Excelsis, 8 June 1939
• A Bill of Divorcement, 18 June 1926
• Alice Sit-by-the-Fire, 25 September 1925
• The Dover Road, 31 July 1925
• The Orphan Heiress, 1 September 1917
• The Girl Who Lost her Character, 1 September 1917
• Sons of the Empire, 21 October 1916
• In the Shadow of the Night, 2 May 1914
• Tommy Atkins, 25 April 1914
• The Gayest of the Gay, 18 April 1914
• The Midnight Mail, 11 April 1914
• Camille; or, The Fate of a Coquette, 4 April 1914
• Robbery Under Arms, 28 March 1914
• The World Against Her, 21 March 1914
• Conn, The Shaughraun, 14 March 1914
• Man's Enemy;or, The Downward Path, 7 March 1914
• Her Second Time on Earth, 28 February 1914
• The Price of Sin, 21 February 1914
• A Thief in the Night, 14 February 1914
• East Lynne, 7 February 1914
• The Luck of Roaring Camp, 31 January 1914
• When London Sleeps, 24 January 1914
• For a Child's Sake, 17 January 1914
• The Christian, 10 January 1914
• Between Two Women, 3 January 1914
• The Great World of London, 27 December 1913
• The Greatest Scoundrel, July 1913
• The Irish Detective, July 1913
• The Girl Without a Home, 24 May 1913
• The Prince of Swindlers, May 1913
• Benefit Performance, 24 October 1903
• A Doll's House, 13 November 1891
• Written in Sand/A Ladies' Battle, 12 November 1891
• Still Waters Run Deep, 11 November 1891
• The New Magdelan, 10 November 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 9 November 1891
• Camille, 7 November 1891
• Hedda Gabler, 6 November 1891
• Camille, 5 November 1891
• Written in Sand/A Ladies' Battle, 4 November 1891
• The New Magdelan, 3 November 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 2 November 1891
• Adrienne Lecouvreur, 31 October 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 23 February 1891
• The New Magdelan, 21 February 1891
• Camille, 20 February 1891
• Devil Caresfoot, 18 February 1891
• Masks and Faces, 14 February 1891
• A Doll's House, 11 February 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 7 February 1891
• The Christmas Pantomime, 26 December 1881

King's Royal Dramatic Company

• In the Shadow of the Night, 2 May 1914
• Tommy Atkins, 25 April 1914
• The Gayest of the Gay, 18 April 1914
• The Midnight Mail, 11 April 1914
• Camille; or, The Fate of a Coquette, 4 April 1914
• Robbery Under Arms, 28 March 1914
• The World Against Her, 21 March 1914
• Conn, The Shaughraun, 14 March 1914
• Man's Enemy;or, The Downward Path, 7 March 1914
• Her Second Time on Earth, 28 February 1914
• The Price of Sin, 21 February 1914
• A Thief in the Night, 14 February 1914
• The Luck of Roaring Camp, 31 January 1914
• For a Child's Sake, 17 January 1914
• The Christian, 10 January 1914
• Between Two Women, 3 January 1914
• The Great World of London, 27 December 1913
• The Irish Detective, July 1913
• The Greatest Scoundrel, July 1913
• The Girl Without a Home, 24 May 1913
• The Prince of Swindlers, May 1913

Brisbane Repertory Theatre Society

• A Bill of Divorcement, 18 June 1926
• Alice Sit-by-the-Fire, 25 September 1925
• The Dover Road, 31 July 1925

Novelty Theatre

• A Doll's House, 13 November 1891
• Hedda Gabler, 6 November 1891
• A Doll's House, 11 February 1891

Stanley McKay

• Extra Special, 1 September 1939
• The Laughter Express, 25 August 1939
• Let's Go Hunting, August 1939

Williamson, Garner and Musgrove

• A Doll's House, 13 November 1891
• Hedda Gabler, 6 November 1891
• A Doll's House, 11 February 1891

4BH Community

• Vaudeville in Excelsis, 8 June 1939

Madge Cloherty

• Why Men Leave Home, 4 September 1939

Mahoney and Geraghty

• Peter Pan, 22 December 1945

Modern Productions Pty. Ltd.

• Business as Usual, 6 October 1939

The Lindstrom Twins

• Vaudeville in Excelsis, 8 June 1939

Victor Roberts Production

• Flying Colours, 20 October 1939

Janet Achurch - Actor

• A Doll's House, 13 November 1891
• Written in Sand/A Ladies' Battle, 12 November 1891
• Still Waters Run Deep, 11 November 1891
• The New Magdelan, 10 November 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 9 November 1891
• Camille, 7 November 1891
• Hedda Gabler, 6 November 1891
• Camille, 5 November 1891
• Written in Sand/A Ladies' Battle, 4 November 1891
• The New Magdelan, 3 November 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 2 November 1891
• Adrienne Lecouvreur, 31 October 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 23 February 1891
• The New Magdelan, 21 February 1891
• Camille, 20 February 1891
• Devil Caresfoot, 18 February 1891
• Masks and Faces, 14 February 1891
• A Doll's House, 11 February 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 7 February 1891

Augustus Neville - Actor

• In the Shadow of the Night, 2 May 1914
• Tommy Atkins, 25 April 1914
• The Gayest of the Gay, 18 April 1914
• The Midnight Mail, 11 April 1914
• Camille; or, The Fate of a Coquette, 4 April 1914
• Robbery Under Arms, 28 March 1914
• The World Against Her, 21 March 1914
• Conn, The Shaughraun, 14 March 1914
• Man's Enemy;or, The Downward Path, 7 March 1914
• Her Second Time on Earth, 28 February 1914
• The Price of Sin, 21 February 1914
• A Thief in the Night, 14 February 1914
• East Lynne, 7 February 1914
• When London Sleeps, 24 January 1914
• For a Child's Sake, 17 January 1914
• The Christian, 10 January 1914
• Between Two Women, 3 January 1914
• The Great World of London, 27 December 1913

Florence Richter - Actor

• In the Shadow of the Night, 2 May 1914
• Tommy Atkins, 25 April 1914
• The Gayest of the Gay, 18 April 1914
• The Midnight Mail, 11 April 1914
• Camille; or, The Fate of a Coquette, 4 April 1914
• Robbery Under Arms, 28 March 1914
• The World Against Her, 21 March 1914
• Conn, The Shaughraun, 14 March 1914
• Man's Enemy;or, The Downward Path, 7 March 1914
• Her Second Time on Earth, 28 February 1914
• The Price of Sin, 21 February 1914
• A Thief in the Night, 14 February 1914
• East Lynne, 7 February 1914
• The Luck of Roaring Camp, 31 January 1914
• When London Sleeps, 24 January 1914
• For a Child's Sake, 17 January 1914
• The Christian, 10 January 1914
• The Great World of London, 27 December 1913

Charles Charrington - Actor, Director

• A Doll's House, 13 November 1891
• Still Waters Run Deep, 11 November 1891
• The New Magdelan, 10 November 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 9 November 1891
• Camille, 7 November 1891
• Camille, 5 November 1891
• Written in Sand/A Ladies' Battle, 4 November 1891
• The New Magdelan, 3 November 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 2 November 1891
• Adrienne Lecouvreur, 31 October 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 23 February 1891
• The New Magdelan, 21 February 1891
• Camille, 20 February 1891
• Devil Caresfoot, 18 February 1891
• Masks and Faces, 14 February 1891
• A Doll's House, 11 February 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 7 February 1891

Victor Fitzherbert - Actor

• In the Shadow of the Night, 2 May 1914
• Tommy Atkins, 25 April 1914
• The Midnight Mail, 11 April 1914
• Camille; or, The Fate of a Coquette, 4 April 1914
• Robbery Under Arms, 28 March 1914
• The World Against Her, 21 March 1914
• Conn, The Shaughraun, 14 March 1914
• Man's Enemy;or, The Downward Path, 7 March 1914
• Her Second Time on Earth, 28 February 1914
• The Price of Sin, 21 February 1914
• East Lynne, 7 February 1914
• The Luck of Roaring Camp, 31 January 1914
• When London Sleeps, 24 January 1914
• For a Child's Sake, 17 January 1914
• The Christian, 10 January 1914
• Between Two Women, 3 January 1914
• The Great World of London, 27 December 1913

Tal Ordell - Actor

• In the Shadow of the Night, 2 May 1914
• Tommy Atkins, 25 April 1914
• The Gayest of the Gay, 18 April 1914
• Camille; or, The Fate of a Coquette, 4 April 1914
• Robbery Under Arms, 28 March 1914
• The World Against Her, 21 March 1914
• Conn, The Shaughraun, 14 March 1914
• Man's Enemy;or, The Downward Path, 7 March 1914
• Her Second Time on Earth, 28 February 1914
• The Price of Sin, 21 February 1914
• A Thief in the Night, 14 February 1914
• East Lynne, 7 February 1914
• The Luck of Roaring Camp, 31 January 1914
• When London Sleeps, 24 January 1914
• For a Child's Sake, 17 January 1914
• The Christian, 10 January 1914
• Between Two Women, 3 January 1914

Lillian Wiseman - Actor

• Tommy Atkins, 25 April 1914
• The Gayest of the Gay, 18 April 1914
• The Midnight Mail, 11 April 1914
• Camille; or, The Fate of a Coquette, 4 April 1914
• Robbery Under Arms, 28 March 1914
• The World Against Her, 21 March 1914
• Conn, The Shaughraun, 14 March 1914
• Man's Enemy;or, The Downward Path, 7 March 1914
• Her Second Time on Earth, 28 February 1914
• The Price of Sin, 21 February 1914
• A Thief in the Night, 14 February 1914
• East Lynne, 7 February 1914
• When London Sleeps, 24 January 1914
• For a Child's Sake, 17 January 1914
• The Christian, 10 January 1914
• The Great World of London, 27 December 1913

Rosie Knight Phillips - Actor

• In the Shadow of the Night, 2 May 1914
• Tommy Atkins, 25 April 1914
• The Gayest of the Gay, 18 April 1914
• The Midnight Mail, 11 April 1914
• Camille; or, The Fate of a Coquette, 4 April 1914
• Robbery Under Arms, 28 March 1914
• The World Against Her, 21 March 1914
• A Thief in the Night, 14 February 1914
• East Lynne, 7 February 1914
• The Luck of Roaring Camp, 31 January 1914
• When London Sleeps, 24 January 1914
• For a Child's Sake, 17 January 1914
• The Christian, 10 January 1914
• Between Two Women, 3 January 1914
• The Great World of London, 27 December 1913

C B Dobson - Actor

• In the Shadow of the Night, 2 May 1914
• Tommy Atkins, 25 April 1914
• The Gayest of the Gay, 18 April 1914
• The Midnight Mail, 11 April 1914
• Camille; or, The Fate of a Coquette, 4 April 1914
• Robbery Under Arms, 28 March 1914
• The World Against Her, 21 March 1914
• Conn, The Shaughraun, 14 March 1914
• Man's Enemy;or, The Downward Path, 7 March 1914
• The Price of Sin, 21 February 1914
• East Lynne, 7 February 1914
• For a Child's Sake, 17 January 1914
• The Christian, 10 January 1914
• Between Two Women, 3 January 1914

Herbert Flemming - Actor

• A Doll's House, 13 November 1891
• Still Waters Run Deep, 11 November 1891
• The New Magdelan, 10 November 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 9 November 1891
• Camille, 7 November 1891
• Camille, 5 November 1891
• Written in Sand/A Ladies' Battle, 4 November 1891
• The New Magdelan, 3 November 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 2 November 1891
• Adrienne Lecouvreur, 31 October 1891
• Camille, 20 February 1891
• Devil Caresfoot, 18 February 1891
• Masks and Faces, 14 February 1891
• A Doll's House, 11 February 1891

George Harpur - Actor

• In the Shadow of the Night, 2 May 1914
• Camille; or, The Fate of a Coquette, 4 April 1914
• Robbery Under Arms, 28 March 1914
• The World Against Her, 21 March 1914
• Conn, The Shaughraun, 14 March 1914
• Man's Enemy;or, The Downward Path, 7 March 1914
• The Price of Sin, 21 February 1914
• A Thief in the Night, 14 February 1914
• East Lynne, 7 February 1914
• The Luck of Roaring Camp, 31 January 1914
• When London Sleeps, 24 January 1914
• The Christian, 10 January 1914
• Between Two Women, 3 January 1914
• The Great World of London, 27 December 1913

Crosbie Ward - Actor

• In the Shadow of the Night, 2 May 1914
• The Gayest of the Gay, 18 April 1914
• The Midnight Mail, 11 April 1914
• Camille; or, The Fate of a Coquette, 4 April 1914
• Robbery Under Arms, 28 March 1914
• The World Against Her, 21 March 1914
• The Price of Sin, 21 February 1914
• A Thief in the Night, 14 February 1914
• The Luck of Roaring Camp, 31 January 1914
• The Christian, 10 January 1914
• Between Two Women, 3 January 1914
• The Great World of London, 27 December 1913

Alice May - Actor

• A Doll's House, 13 November 1891
• Still Waters Run Deep, 11 November 1891
• The New Magdelan, 10 November 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 9 November 1891
• Written in Sand/A Ladies' Battle, 4 November 1891
• The New Magdelan, 3 November 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 2 November 1891
• Adrienne Lecouvreur, 31 October 1891
• Camille, 20 February 1891
• A Doll's House, 11 February 1891

Harry Power - Actor

• Still Waters Run Deep, 11 November 1891
• The New Magdelan, 10 November 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 9 November 1891
• Written in Sand/A Ladies' Battle, 4 November 1891
• The New Magdelan, 3 November 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 2 November 1891
• Devil Caresfoot, 18 February 1891
• Masks and Faces, 14 February 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 7 February 1891

Barbara Sisley - Actor, Producer, Director

• A Bill of Divorcement, 18 June 1926
• The Dover Road, 31 July 1925
• The Gayest of the Gay, 18 April 1914
• Camille; or, The Fate of a Coquette, 4 April 1914
• Robbery Under Arms, 28 March 1914
• The World Against Her, 21 March 1914
• Her Second Time on Earth, 28 February 1914
• The Great World of London, 27 December 1913

Alice Bolton - Actor

• A Doll's House, 13 November 1891
• The New Magdelan, 10 November 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 9 November 1891
• The New Magdelan, 3 November 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 2 November 1891
• Adrienne Lecouvreur, 31 October 1891

Agnes Dobson - Actor

• The Girl Who Lost her Character, 1 September 1917
• The Orphan Heiress, 1 September 1917
• The Greatest Scoundrel, July 1913
• The Irish Detective, July 1913
• The Girl Without a Home, 24 May 1913
• The Prince of Swindlers, May 1913

Jefferson Tait - Actor

• In the Shadow of the Night, 2 May 1914
• Tommy Atkins, 25 April 1914
• The Gayest of the Gay, 18 April 1914
• Camille; or, The Fate of a Coquette, 4 April 1914
• The World Against Her, 21 March 1914
• The Great World of London, 27 December 1913

Helen Kinnaird - Actor

• The New Magdelan, 21 February 1891
• Camille, 20 February 1891
• Devil Caresfoot, 18 February 1891
• Masks and Faces, 14 February 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 7 February 1891

Alice Norton - Actor

• The New Magdelan, 21 February 1891
• Camille, 20 February 1891
• Devil Caresfoot, 18 February 1891
• A Doll's House, 11 February 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 7 February 1891

Harold Chichester - Actor

• Devil Caresfoot, 18 February 1891
• Masks and Faces, 14 February 1891
• A Doll's House, 11 February 1891
• Forget-Me-Not, 7 February 1891

Collet Dobson - Actor, Director

• The Orphan Heiress, 1 September 1917
• The Greatest Scoundrel, July 1913
• The Irish Detective, July 1913
• The Girl Without a Home, 24 May 1913

Harrie Collet - Actor

• For a Child's Sake, 17 January 1914
• The Girl Without a Home, 24 May 1913
• The Prince of Swindlers, May 1913

Wilkie Collins - Playwright

• The New Magdelan, 10 November 1891
• The New Magdelan, 3 November 1891
• The New Magdelan, 21 February 1891

Horrie Dargie - Performer

• Extra Special, 1 September 1939
• The Laughter Express, 25 August 1939
• Let's Go Hunting, August 1939

Alexandre Dumas fils - Playwright

• Camille, 7 November 1891
• Camille, 5 November 1891
• Camille, 20 February 1891

Stan Foley - Performer

• Extra Special, 1 September 1939
• The Laughter Express, 25 August 1939
• Let's Go Hunting, August 1939

George Hurd - Performer

• Extra Special, 1 September 1939
• The Laughter Express, 25 August 1939
• Let's Go Hunting, August 1939

Henrik Ibsen - Playwright

• A Doll's House, 13 November 1891
• Hedda Gabler, 6 November 1891
• A Doll's House, 11 February 1891

Joe Lawman - Comedian

• Flying Colours, 20 October 1939
• Carry On, 13 October 1939
• Business as Usual, 6 October 1939

William Archer - Translator

• A Doll's House, 13 November 1891
• A Doll's House, 11 February 1891

J. M. Barrie - Playwright

• Peter Pan, 22 December 1945
• Alice Sit-by-the-Fire, 25 September 1925

Walter Cornock - Actor

• In the Shadow of the Night, 2 May 1914
• Tommy Atkins, 25 April 1914

Allan Douglas - Actor

• Robbery Under Arms, 28 March 1914
• Between Two Women, 3 January 1914

Beryl Meekin - Performer

• Flying Colours, 20 October 1939
• Business as Usual, 6 October 1939

Gaston Mervale - Producer

• Mary's Other Husband, 11 September 1939
• Why Men Leave Home, 4 September 1939

Victor Roberts - Producer

• Carry On, 13 October 1939
• Business as Usual, 6 October 1939

Matt Ryan - Actor

• Conn, The Shaughraun, 14 March 1914
• The Great World of London, 27 December 1913

Kathleen Arnold - Actor

• In the Shadow of the Night, 2 May 1914

Yvonne Banvard - Actor

• Why Men Leave Home, 4 September 1939

Jean Barlow - Actor

• Alice Sit-by-the-Fire, 25 September 1925

Thomas Bolton - Actor

• Written in Sand/A Ladies' Battle, 4 November 1891

Robert Butt - Performer

• Back Again, 26 December 1939

Hall Caine - Playwright

• The Christian, 10 January 1914

Sydney Clarke - Performer

• Let's Go Hunting, August 1939

Clemence Dane - Playwright

• A Bill of Divorcement, 18 June 1926

Charles Darrell - Playwright

• When London Sleeps, 24 January 1914

Irma Dearden - Actor

• Alice Sit-by-the-Fire, 25 September 1925

Alan Devereux - Actor

• A Bill of Divorcement, 18 June 1926

Eileen Dunne - Performer

• Back Again, 26 December 1939

George Eaton - Actor

• A Bill of Divorcement, 18 June 1926

Peter French - Actor

• Peter Pan, 22 December 1945

Nell Douglas Graham - Actor

• Alice Sit-by-the-Fire, 25 September 1925

George Greig - Producer

• Back Again, 26 December 1939

Don Hanna - Performer

• Back Again, 26 December 1939

Harry Hermann - Playwright

• For a Child's Sake, 17 January 1914

Avery Hopwood - Playwright

• Why Men Leave Home, 4 September 1939

Jenny Howard - Performer

• Make It a Party, 22 April 1950

Blanche Hunter - Performer

• The Laughter Express, 25 August 1939

Sylvia Kellaway - Performer

• Make It a Party, 22 April 1950

C E King - Director

• The Orphan Heiress, 1 September 1917

Ted Lamarccia - Band Leader

• Back Again, 26 December 1939

Stella Lamond - Performer

• Let's Go Hunting, August 1939

Benjamin Landeck - Playwright

• Tommy Atkins, 25 April 1914

Shirley Lawson - Actor

• Peter Pan, 22 December 1945

Ernest Legouvé - Playwright

• Adrienne Lecouvreur, 31 October 1891

Reggie Linton - Comedian

• Back Again, 26 December 1939

Duncan Macallum - General Manager

• The Christmas Pantomime, 26 December 1881

Richard Macgregor - Actor

• Alice Sit-by-the-Fire, 25 September 1925

Stanley Mckay - Producer

• Let's Go Hunting, August 1939

Kath McMahon - Performer

• Let's Go Hunting, August 1939

A. A. Milne - Playwright

• The Dover Road, 31 July 1925

George Mocatta - Actor

• Alice Sit-by-the-Fire, 25 September 1925

Peggy Mortimer - Actor

• Peter Pan, 22 December 1945

Jack Morton - Actor

• Peter Pan, 22 December 1945

Ray Phillips - Set Designer

• Robbery Under Arms, 28 March 1914

Ted Pickering - Circus Style Performer

• Back Again, 26 December 1939

Charles Reade - Playwright

• Masks and Faces, 14 February 1891

Jack Reading - Actor

• Alice Sit-by-the-Fire, 25 September 1925

Max Reddy - Performer

• Let's Go Hunting, August 1939

Eric Reiman - Actor

• Peter Pan, 22 December 1945

Dorrie Ricketts - Performer

• Back Again, 26 December 1939

Betty Ross - Actor

• Peter Pan, 22 December 1945

Edith Rowett - Actor

• A Bill of Divorcement, 18 June 1926

Colleen Scott - Actor

• Alice Sit-by-the-Fire, 25 September 1925

Augustin Eugene Scribe - Playwright

• Adrienne Lecouvreur, 31 October 1891

Gladys Shaw - Performer

• Flying Colours, 20 October 1939

Arthur Shirley - Playwright

• Tommy Atkins, 25 April 1914

Irene Silvester - Actor

• A Bill of Divorcement, 18 June 1926

Nellie Small - Performer

• Vaudeville in Excelsis, 8 June 1939

James South - Entrepreneur

• The Christmas Pantomime, 26 December 1881

Lewis Townsend - Director

• Alice Sit-by-the-Fire, 25 September 1925

Leo Trenette - Performer

• Let's Go Hunting, August 1939

Jean Trundle - Actor

• Alice Sit-by-the-Fire, 25 September 1925

G. Carlton Wallace - Playwright

• A Thief in the Night, 14 February 1914

George Leonard Wallace - Performer

• Make It a Party, 22 April 1950

Waverley Wallace - Performer

• Business as Usual, 6 October 1939

Doris Waraker - Actor

• Alice Sit-by-the-Fire, 25 September 1925

C. E. Webber - Actor

• Robbery Under Arms, 28 March 1914

George Webster - Actor

• A Bill of Divorcement, 18 June 1926

H J Whittington - Business Manager

• The Christmas Pantomime, 26 December 1881

Billy Williams - Musician

• Vaudeville in Excelsis, 8 June 1939

Les Williams - Designer

• Alice Sit-by-the-Fire, 25 September 1925

Mrs Henry Wood - Playwright

• East Lynne, 7 February 1914

• Advertisement:  Theatre Royal, Brisbane, The Brisbane Courier, 16 December 1881, 1
• ×

  Ross Thorne, Theatre Royal Brisbane, Companion To Theatre In Australia, 1995, 583

  Theatre in Elizabeth Street, opened January 1865 as Mason's Concert Hall. Architect: W. Coote. Name later alternated between Victoria Concert Hall and Victoria Theatre. Renovated, reopened on 21 April 1874 as Queensland Theatre. Rebuilt and reopened on 18 April 1881 as Theatre Royal, seating 1350. Improved with electric lighting and redecoration 1911. Closed 19 December 1959 and converted to cabaret and orchestral rehearsal room.

  ---

  The first true theatre in Brisbane began as a one-level hall behind the Victoria Hotel. A photograph of the old hotel shows 'Theatre Royal Est'd 1863' in plasterwork above the cornice, but the publican George B. Mason did not open the simple concert hall that became the theatre until early 1865. There were dress seats, stalls and pit on the flat floor, but there was neither gallery nor boxes. The stage appeared 'to be well adapted for theatrical representation', said a correspondent in the Brisbane Courier. The theatre was first advertised as the Victoria Theatre on 30 September 1865, but patronage seems to have been mediocre. 

  After the theatre reopened as the Queensland Theatre on 21 April 1874, the Brisbane Courier said the formerly 'dingy and cellar-like' house had been considerably improved. It had a raked floor, a new proscenium, a new gas sunlight, lighter colours and generally increased comfort. The newspapers still did not consider it a good theatre, however. The whole building appears to have been rebuilt from the street backwards in 1881, parts of the hotel becoming integral with the theatre as refreshment and smoking rooms. Both hotel and theatre were named Royal. The theatre housed 350 in the dress circle, 250 in the stalls and 750 in the pit. The newspapers rated it suitable for a city of nearly 30,000 inhabitants. It was rather austere, with numerous closely spaced posts supporting the circle. From 1900 until the Second World War its uses fluctuated between vaudeville and popular light drama. It was in the Brennan Vaudeville Circuit for a period after the 1911 refurbishment. During the Second World War it was a theatre for the American armed forces. It returned to vaudeville in 1948 under the direction of George Wallace jnr, but his weekly-change shows lost popularity after television began in Brisbane and it soon closed.

  
  

  Close
  Article:  Ross Thorne, Theatre Royal Brisbane, Companion To Theatre In Australia, 1995, 583