Fullers' National Theatre

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Fullers' National Theatre

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Venue	Fullers' National Theatre
Address	73 Castlereagh Street Sydney NSW Australia
First Date	1912
Last Date	1932
Notes	In 1918 the architect Harry E White converted the amphitheatre to a two-level theatre, with stage boxes on two levels, and a shallow fly-tower stage. Brennan's association apparently ended at this time as his name slipped from sight in the newly re-named Fullers' National Theatre which opened in Ma
Related Venues	Also known as Mayfair Theatre Also known as National Sporting Club Is on the site of National Amphitheatre
Map
Latitude \| Longitude	-33.869478 \| 151.209268
Events	Date Contributor Organisation
	League of Nations Revue, 15 February 1930 House Full, 8 February 1930 August 1914, 1 February 1930 House Full, 25 January 1930 The Mouse Trap, 18 January 1930 The Police Force, 28 December 1929 Kahaki, 21 December 1929 Revue - Frank O'Brian, 9 November 1929 Revue - Jim Gerald, 20 April 1929 Revue - George Ward, 6 April 1929 The Novellettes Revue, 23 February 1929 Mo and His Merry Makers, 16 February 1929 Mo and His Merry Makers, 9 February 1929 Mo and His Merry Makers, 26 January 1929 Tonics, 19 January 1929 The Police Force, 12 January 1929 At the Races, 5 January 1929 At the Docks, 29 December 1928 The Bankers, 22 December 1928 Spanish Nights, 15 December 1928 A La Carte, 8 December 1928 Robinson Crusoe, 26 December 1925 Little Red Riding Hood, 26 December 1923 VENUE DARK - INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC, 3 April 1919 VENUE DARK - INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC, 28 January 1919
	Fullers Theatres Ltd League of Nations Revue, 15 February 1930 House Full, 8 February 1930 August 1914, 1 February 1930 House Full, 25 January 1930 The Mouse Trap, 18 January 1930 The Police Force, 28 December 1929 Kahaki, 21 December 1929 Revue - Frank O'Brian, 9 November 1929 Mo and His Merry Makers, 16 February 1929 Mo and His Merry Makers, 9 February 1929 Mo and His Merry Makers, 26 January 1929 Tonics, 19 January 1929 The Police Force, 12 January 1929 At the Races, 5 January 1929 At the Docks, 29 December 1928 The Bankers, 22 December 1928 Spanish Nights, 15 December 1928 A La Carte, 8 December 1928 Dave Meredith's Melody Boys Mo and His Merry Makers, 16 February 1929 Mo and His Merry Makers, 9 February 1929 Mo and His Merry Makers, 26 January 1929 Tonics, 19 January 1929 The Police Force, 12 January 1929 At the Races, 5 January 1929 At the Docks, 29 December 1928 The Bankers, 22 December 1928 Spanish Nights, 15 December 1928 A La Carte, 8 December 1928 Mo and His Merry-Makers Mo and His Merry Makers, 16 February 1929 Mo and His Merry Makers, 9 February 1929 Mo and His Merry Makers, 26 January 1929 Tonics, 19 January 1929 The Police Force, 12 January 1929 At the Races, 5 January 1929 At the Docks, 29 December 1928 The Bankers, 22 December 1928 Spanish Nights, 15 December 1928 A La Carte, 8 December 1928 The Beautiful Brunettes Mo and His Merry Makers, 16 February 1929 Mo and His Merry Makers, 9 February 1929 Mo and His Merry Makers, 26 January 1929 Tonics, 19 January 1929 The Police Force, 12 January 1929 At the Races, 5 January 1929 At the Docks, 29 December 1928 The Bankers, 22 December 1928 Spanish Nights, 15 December 1928 A La Carte, 8 December 1928 Ernie Lotinga Company House Full, 8 February 1930 August 1914, 1 February 1930 House Full, 25 January 1930 The Mouse Trap, 18 January 1930 The Police Force, 28 December 1929 Kahaki, 21 December 1929 Ben and John Fuller Limited The Novellettes Revue, 23 February 1929 Robinson Crusoe, 26 December 1925 Little Red Riding Hood, 26 December 1923 Bertini and Towell Musical Tramps Mo and His Merry Makers, 16 February 1929 Connors and Paul's League of Notions Revue Company League of Nations Revue, 15 February 1930
	Ernie Lotinga - Entrepreneur House Full, 8 February 1930 August 1914, 1 February 1930 House Full, 25 January 1930 The Mouse Trap, 18 January 1930 The Police Force, 28 December 1929 Kahaki, 21 December 1929 Mike Connors - Entrepreneur League of Nations Revue, 15 February 1930 Jim Gerald - Performer Revue - Jim Gerald, 20 April 1929 Frank O'Brian - Entrepreneur Revue - Frank O'Brian, 9 November 1929 Queenie Paul - Entrepreneur League of Nations Revue, 15 February 1930 George Ward - Performer Revue - George Ward, 6 April 1929
Resources	Ross Thorne, Fullers' National Theatre, Companion To Theatre In Australia, 1995, 239 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. Article: Ross Thorne, Fullers' National Theatre, Companion To Theatre In Australia, 1995, 239 Article: Ross Thorne, Mayfair Theatre, rossthorne.com, 2009 Websites / Online media: Ailsa McPherson, National Amphitheatre, Dictionary of Sydney Websites / Online media: Sydney Architecture - National Amphitheatre / Mayfair Theatre, Sydney Architecture
Data Set	AusStage
Venue Identifier	17895

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