Theatres / Public Halls Guide

Historical Overview

In 1789 a dozen convicts presented a play in Sydney for the Governor and his officers to celebrate the King's birthday.

This play, The Recruiting Officer a comedy written by George Farquhar, was possibly the first performed in the colony. A small playhouse was built in 1796 in what is now Bligh Street, Sydney. In 1800 Robert Sidaway (who opened the Bligh Street establishment) presented Shakespeare and other contemporary English pieces.

In September 1828 An Act for Regulating Places of Public Exhibition and Entertainment allowed for copies of plays to be submitted to the Colonial Secretary for approval prior to being performed. The thirty-one plays that were retained by the Colonial Secretary are listed on page 293 of the Guide to the Colonial Secretary's Correspondence. This regulating power was extended to cover cinematographic films under the Theatres and Public Halls Act 1908.

Full-time professional theatres were gradually established in all Australian colonies between 1830-50. The discovery of gold in the 1850s, and the consequent increase in both population and wealth, proved to be the key factor in the transformation of Australian theatre from its somewhat amateurish beginnings into a mature and prosperous profession.

A select list of record series

Board of Fire Commissioners

Series	Title	Dates
NRS 479 [20/14892-14913]	Correspondence relating to inspections of Theatres and Public halls	1928-1948
NRS 490 [20/14914-14987]	Inspections of Theatres and Public Halls country towns and districts	1922-1958
NRS 491 [20/14988-15024]	Inspections of Theatre and Public Halls - Metropolitan area	1925-1953

Colonial Secretary

Series	Title	Dates
NRS 1059 [4/1710, 4/5784]; Reel 2231	Registers of licences granted  Information on the licensing of many theatres in New South Wales (which included Port Phillip to 1850) may be found in NRS 905, Colonial Secretary; Letters received, 1826+.	1829-1863
NRS 1307 [4/7779]	Index to registers - Theatres and Public Halls Act of 1908	1916
NRS 1308 [Maps 18878-18883, 19057-19066]	Maps of Sydney and Environs showing sites and proposed sites of Theatres and Drive-in Theatres	n.d,
NRS 1309 [11/3375-3376]	Theatres and Public Halls Branch: Minutes of the Committee reviewing regulation under the Theatres and Public Halls Act	1966-1975
NRS 15318	Files relating to licences for theatres and public halls This series relates to licence applications and renewals for theatres and public halls. VIEW DIGITISED FILES	1895-1982
NRS 906	Special Bundles Theatres and Public Halls Act 1908 - regulations, 1908-34 [5/5417] Licensing of the Palladium (later known as the Strand Picture Theatre), 1914-21 [2/8096.2] Review of regulations under the Theatres and Public Halls Act, 1928-67 [12/4190.1 pt] Licensing of the Globe Picture Theatre, 1920-25 [2/8096.5] Cinematographic Films Act: Theatres and Public Halls Act, 1933-70 [12/4193.1] Children's Matinees, 1943-74 [12/4191] Seating arrangements in theatres, 1953-56 [12/4190.1 pt] Panic lighting in theatres and public halls 1953-67 [12/4190.1 pt] Theatres and Film Commission files, 1968-81 [12/4144.2-4154] Amendment of Theatres and Public Halls (Censorship of Films) Regulations, 1971-78 [12/4196.3] See the item lists (by year range) in the Colonial Secretary Guide »	1826

Theatres and Films Commission

Series	Title	Dates
NRS 14082	Subject card index to license applications	1939-1977

Inquiry into the Film Industry in New South Wales

Series	Title	Dates
NRS 1547 [7/6001-6002]	Transcripts of evidence	c.29 Dec 1933-by 26 Jul 1934

Further research

Researchers conducting further research into this topic should refer to our catalogue for records of the

• Board of Fire Commissioners
• Colonial Secretary
• Department of Public Works
• Theatres and Films Commission
• Inquiry into the Film Industry of New South Wales

Researchers should also consult the Index to Colonial Secretary's Correspondence, 1788-1825.

Details of performances at theatres and public halls may be found in the National Library of Australia's Trove Newspapers and on the AusStage website.