National Amphitheatre

Theatre in Castlereagh Street, Sydney. Built as National Sporting Club 1902. Converted to theatre and opened as National Amphitheatre 26 December 1906, seating 1410 on one level. Renamed Fullers’ National Theatre 1912. Converted to two-level theatre 1919, seating 1382. Architect: Henry E. White. Renamed Roxy Theatre cinema 28 February 1930. Renamed Mayfair Theatre 1932. Demolished 1984.

The National Sporting Club, with a large hall seating 2000 persons for boxing and other athletic entertainments, was built on the western side of Castlereagh Street, a little south of King Street, in 1902. In 1906 James Brennan converted the hall to a one-level theatre for variety performances and called it the National Amphitheatre. Fullers' took control of the Brennan Vaudeville Circuit in 1912 and renamed the house Fullers' National Theatre. The licensing authorities noted it as 'antiquated and dangerous' in June 1912 but rebuilding was not approved until September 1918. 

The architect Henry E. White converted the amphitheatre into a two-level theatre with twin stage boxes at each side on both levels. It had a shallow fly-tower stage. In the 1920s it was a popular vaudeville theatre. Fred Bluett, Mike Connors and Queenie Paul, Edgley and Dawe, Stiffy and Mo, and George Wallace performed there. But on 24 February 1930 the Sydney Morning Herald announced the end of Fullers' vaudeville and closure of the 'Nash'. Quickly redecorated, it reopened four days later as the Roxy Theatre, showing a film, Hollywood Revue. In February 1932 the Roxy briefly returned to live variety under Frank Neil, who was touring Ada Reeve. But at the end of the year Fullers' Theatres Ltd decided to show British films. The theatre, its auditorium refurbished in Art Deco style, was renamed the Mayfair. Later Hoyts Theatres bought the Mayfair and from the mid-1950s it showed major widescreen films. In 1977-78 there were live shows, including a revival of the rock musical Godspell, Q Theatre's rock show St Marys Kid and Peter Williams's production of Crown Matrimonial, starring June Salter and John Hamblin. After this rediscovery of its potential there were protests when demolition threatened the theatre and the NSW government indicated that efforts would be made to retain it. As usual, the protesters were lulled into false security. In 1980 the foyers and dress-circle stairs were converted into shops and in 1984 the building was demolished.