Playbox Theatre (Phillip Street)

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Playbox Theatre (Phillip Street)

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Venue	Playbox Theatre (Phillip Street)
Other Names	Playbox Theatre
Address	136-138 Phillip Street Sydney NSW Australia
First Date	1968
Last Date	1973
Notes	Theatre in Phillip Street, Sydney which was initially fitted out by Radio 2GB as the Macquarie Auditorium.
Related Venues	Also known as Macquarie Auditorium (1941-1968)
Map
Latitude \| Longitude	-33.867165 \| 151.211289
Events	Date Contributor Organisation
	The Removalists, 10 August 1972 Gilbert and Sullivan Go Kosher, 19 October 1971 Butterflies Are Free, 2 September 1971 A Load of Olde Stuffe, 6 August 1971 Gilbert and Sullivan Go Kosher, 29 July 1971 Hamlet, 23 February 1971 Skippy Saves Christmas, 26 December 1970 Norm and Ahmed, 18 November 1970 What the Butler Saw, 30 October 1970 The Boys in the Band, February 1970 Dames at Sea, 1970 You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, 1970 You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running, 15 March 1969 The Boys in the Band, 2 October 1968 The Dragon's Holiday, 7 September 1968 The Emperor's Nightingale, 7 September 1968 The Dragon's Holiday, 23 August 1968 The Emperor's Nightingale, 23 August 1968 An Evening with Maggie and Frank, 15 August 1968 The Best of Sound and Image, 1968
	Playbox Theatres Pty Limited The Removalists, 10 August 1972 Gilbert and Sullivan Go Kosher, 19 October 1971 Gilbert and Sullivan Go Kosher, 29 July 1971 Hamlet, 23 February 1971 Skippy Saves Christmas, 26 December 1970 Norm and Ahmed, 18 November 1970 What the Butler Saw, 30 October 1970 Dames at Sea, 1970 You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, 1970 Harry M. Miller Attractions Pty Ltd The Removalists, 10 August 1972 Butterflies Are Free, 2 September 1971 The Boys in the Band, February 1970 You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, 1970 Dames at Sea, 1970 The Boys in the Band, 2 October 1968 An Evening with Maggie and Frank, 15 August 1968 Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) The Emperor's Nightingale, 7 September 1968 The Dragon's Holiday, 7 September 1968 The Emperor's Nightingale, 23 August 1968 The Dragon's Holiday, 23 August 1968 Phillip Productions Pty Limited The Boys in the Band, February 1970 The Boys in the Band, 2 October 1968 An Evening with Maggie and Frank, 15 August 1968 Aztec Services Pty Ltd The Boys in the Band, February 1970 You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running, 15 March 1969 Harry M. Miller You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running, 15 March 1969 The Best of Sound and Image, 1968 Mod Media Pty Ltd Norm and Ahmed, 18 November 1970 What the Butler Saw, 30 October 1970 Brumont Enterprises Pty. Ltd. Hamlet, 23 February 1971 Fauna Productions Pty Ltd Skippy Saves Christmas, 26 December 1970 Forestage Pty Ltd Norm and Ahmed, 18 November 1970 J C Williamson Theatres Limited (1943-1976) Gilbert and Sullivan Go Kosher, 29 July 1971 Kerroy Productions Gilbert and Sullivan Go Kosher, 19 October 1971 The Australian Council for the Arts The Removalists, 10 August 1972
	Alastair Duncan - Adaptor, Director, Playwright The Dragon's Holiday, 7 September 1968 The Emperor's Nightingale, 7 September 1968 The Dragon's Holiday, 23 August 1968 The Emperor's Nightingale, 23 August 1968 Robert Lloyd - Designer The Boys in the Band, February 1970 Dames at Sea, 1970 You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running, 15 March 1969 The Boys in the Band, 2 October 1968 Harry M Miller - Producer Gilbert and Sullivan Go Kosher, 19 October 1971 Butterflies Are Free, 2 September 1971 The Boys in the Band, February 1970 The Boys in the Band, 2 October 1968 John Tasker - Director Butterflies Are Free, 2 September 1971 The Boys in the Band, February 1970 The Boys in the Band, 2 October 1968 Roy Cowen - Lyricist, Performer Gilbert and Sullivan Go Kosher, 19 October 1971 Gilbert and Sullivan Go Kosher, 29 July 1971 Mart Crowley - Playwright The Boys in the Band, February 1970 The Boys in the Band, 2 October 1968 William Schwenck Gilbert - Librettist, Lyricist Gilbert and Sullivan Go Kosher, 19 October 1971 Gilbert and Sullivan Go Kosher, 29 July 1971 Iain Kerr - Musical Arranger, Performer Gilbert and Sullivan Go Kosher, 19 October 1971 Gilbert and Sullivan Go Kosher, 29 July 1971 Allan Lander - Actor Hamlet, 23 February 1971 The Boys in the Band, February 1970 Bruce Montague - Music and Lyrics Librettist, Playwright, Producer Skippy Saves Christmas, 26 December 1970 What the Butler Saw, 30 October 1970 Peter Reynolds - Actor What the Butler Saw, 30 October 1970 You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running, 15 March 1969 Arthur Seymour Sullivan - Composer Gilbert and Sullivan Go Kosher, 19 October 1971 Gilbert and Sullivan Go Kosher, 29 July 1971 Tony Youlden - Designer, Director, Playwright Skippy Saves Christmas, 26 December 1970 What the Butler Saw, 30 October 1970 Mark Albiston - Actor The Boys in the Band, 2 October 1968 Robert Anderson - Playwright You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running, 15 March 1969 Jeff Ashby - Actor What the Butler Saw, 30 October 1970 Tony Atherton - Actor The Boys in the Band, February 1970 John Bell - Director The Removalists, 10 August 1972 Joan Brockenshire - Actor Dames at Sea, 1970 Alexander Buzo - Playwright Norm and Ahmed, 18 November 1970 Ron Challinor - Actor You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, 1970 Gordon Chater - Actor You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running, 15 March 1969 John Clayton - Actor Norm and Ahmed, 18 November 1970 Roger Cox - Actor Skippy Saves Christmas, 26 December 1970 Max Cullen - Actor Skippy Saves Christmas, 26 December 1970 Michael Davis - Actor What the Butler Saw, 30 October 1970 Gary Day - Actor The Boys in the Band, February 1970 Gregory de Polnay - Accompanist Hamlet, 23 February 1971 Desmond Digby - Designer An Evening with Maggie and Frank, 15 August 1968 Shirley May Donald - Actor Skippy Saves Christmas, 26 December 1970 Rod Dunbar - Actor You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, 1970 Larry Eastwood - Designer The Removalists, 10 August 1972 Stewart Faichney - Actor Butterflies Are Free, 2 September 1971 Noel Ferrier - Actor What the Butler Saw, 30 October 1970 Patrick Flynn - Musical Arranger Dames at Sea, 1970 Vivienne Garrett - Actor Hamlet, 23 February 1971 Leonard Gershe - Playwright Butterflies Are Free, 2 September 1971 Clark Gesner - Book and Lyrics Librettist, Composer You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, 1970 Frederick Gibson - Executive Producer Butterflies Are Free, 2 September 1971 Gordon Glenwright - Actor The Removalists, 10 August 1972 Stefan Haag - Director You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running, 15 March 1969 George Haimsohn - Lyricist Dames at Sea, 1970 Martin Harris - Actor The Removalists, 10 August 1972 Nancye Hayes - Actor Dames at Sea, 1970 Chris Haywood - Actor The Removalists, 10 August 1972 Elaine Holland - Actor You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, 1970 Muriel Hopkins - Actor Hamlet, 23 February 1971 Wendy Hughes - Actor Butterflies Are Free, 2 September 1971 Barry Humphries - Performer, Producer A Load of Olde Stuffe, 6 August 1971 Alexandra Hynes - Actor Skippy Saves Christmas, 26 December 1970 Phil Jay - Actor Skippy Saves Christmas, 26 December 1970 Chris Johnston - Actor You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running, 15 March 1969 Kuki Kaa - Actor The Boys in the Band, 2 October 1968 Miriam Karlin - Actor Butterflies Are Free, 2 September 1971 Doug Kingsman - Actor Dames at Sea, 1970 Maggie Kirkpatrick - Actor You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running, 15 March 1969 Jacqueline Kott - Actor What the Butler Saw, 30 October 1970 John Krummel - Actor The Boys in the Band, 2 October 1968 Michael Latimer - Director Hamlet, 23 February 1971 Frank Lazarus - Music and Lyrics Librettist, Performer An Evening with Maggie and Frank, 15 August 1968 Charles Little - Actor The Boys in the Band, 2 October 1968 Sandra MacGregor - Actor The Removalists, 10 August 1972 Gerard Maguire - Actor The Boys in the Band, 2 October 1968 Lex Marinos - Actor Norm and Ahmed, 18 November 1970 Iris Mason - Musician: Pianist A Load of Olde Stuffe, 6 August 1971 Roger McDougall - Stage Director The Boys in the Band, 2 October 1968 Kerry McGuire - Actor You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running, 15 March 1969 Sandra McKenzie - Director You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, 1970 Reg Midway - Actor Skippy Saves Christmas, 26 December 1970 Robin Miller - Lyricist Dames at Sea, 1970 Helen Morse - Actor What the Butler Saw, 30 October 1970 Peter Narroway - Musical Director You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, 1970 John Norman - Actor The Boys in the Band, 2 October 1968 Joe Orton - Playwright What the Butler Saw, 30 October 1970 Ross Osterlin - Actor The Boys in the Band, 2 October 1968 Diana Perryman - Actor You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running, 15 March 1969 Max Phipps - Actor The Removalists, 10 August 1972 Terence Porter - Accompanist Dames at Sea, 1970 John Pratt - Actor The Boys in the Band, February 1970 Don Price - Choreographer, Director Dames at Sea, 1970 Ted Robinson - Director Norm and Ahmed, 18 November 1970 Lyndel Rowe - Actor You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, 1970 Charles M Schulz - Cartoonist You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, 1970 Rick Scully - Actor The Boys in the Band, February 1970 Sean Scully - Actor Butterflies Are Free, 2 September 1971 Richard Seger - Set Designer Butterflies Are Free, 2 September 1971 William Shakespeare - Playwright Hamlet, 23 February 1971 Maggie Soboil - Performer An Evening with Maggie and Frank, 15 August 1968 Michael Springfield - Actor The Boys in the Band, February 1970 Tom Stankovich - Actor The Boys in the Band, February 1970 John Stanton - Actor The Boys in the Band, February 1970 Janie Stewart - Actor The Removalists, 10 August 1972 Henri Szeps - Actor The Boys in the Band, 2 October 1968 Belinda Taubman - Actor Hamlet, 23 February 1971 Vern Todd - Actor The Boys in the Band, 2 October 1968 John Trenaman - Actor Hamlet, 23 February 1971 Brent Verdon - Actor The Boys in the Band, February 1970 Paul Weingott - Actor Hamlet, 23 February 1971 Jenee Welsh - Assistant Stage Manager Skippy Saves Christmas, 26 December 1970 Bryon Williams - Actor The Boys in the Band, February 1970 David Williamson - Playwright The Removalists, 10 August 1972 Jim Wise - Composer Dames at Sea, 1970 John Wood - Actor Hamlet, 23 February 1971 Paul Woods - Actor You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, 1970 Alan Wylie - Actor You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, 1970
Resources	Ross Thorne, Playbox Theatre Sydney, Companion To Theatre In Australia, 1995, 444 Theatre in Phillip Street, opened as Macquarie Auditorium 1941, seating 306. Became Playbox Theatre 1968. Demolished 1973. Radio 2GB in Sydney fitted out new studios, including a theatrette on the ground floor, in late 1941. The raked auditorium, with well-upholstered seats, was lined with sound-absorbing soft fibreboard, the geometrically cut edges of overlapping sheets providing late Art Deco decoration. The radio shows it housed gradually disappeared after television came to Sydney in 1956, and in 1968 Harry M. Miller began live theatrical presentations in the little theatre. For the second stage production - Mart Crowley's The Boys in the Band, produced by Miller and Phillip Productions - the small stage was converted to a fixed two-level apartment set. The Playbox proved to be popular for well-proven overseas plays not taken up by larger commercial managements and, under Miller, it remained a live theatre almost until it was demolished in 1973. Article: Ross Thorne, Playbox Theatre Sydney, Companion To Theatre In Australia, 1995, 444
Data Set	AusStage
Venue Identifier	3015

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