The best theatres in Melbourne
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ArtsTheatre
28.08.2024

The best theatres in Melbourne

Melbourne independent theatres
Words by Ben Lamb and Staff Writers

With the arts swinging into the best Melbourne theatres, shows of all shapes and sizes are happening across Melbourne’s slew of stages.

There’s something for all types of arts fans – movies, musicals and lots more – at the best Melbourne theatres.

From Arts Centre Melbourne to the Regent Theatre, this is Melbourne’s most comprehensive theatre guide, including the full gamut of comedy performances and stage productions happening each month. The show must go on, so let’s dive into what’s on this month.

The best Melbourne theatres

  • This list features the most beautiful and innovative theatres in Melbourne
  • These theatres stage an incredibly varied range of productions, plays, musicals and even films
  • This list spans the length and breadth of Melbourne’s inner and outer suburbs

Explore Melbourne’s latest arts and stage news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

The best theatres in Melbourne’s East End theatre district

Regent Theatre Melbourne

Melbourne theatres -Regent Theatre

  • 191 Collins St
  • Melbourne Vic 3000

Regent Theatre originally opened in March 1929 and programmed film screenings, ballets and other art performances. The theatre’s auditorium burned down in 1945 towards the end of World World II and reopened in 1947. Closing again in 1970, the theatre was restored and reopened in 1996 with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard.

Renovations to the theatre in 2019 included brand new seating, upgraded bars and foyers, repairs of the ornate plasterwork and the restoration of the crystal chandelier. All up, the renovations cost a whopping $19.4 million and took place in partnership with the Victorian Government, the City of Melbourne and the Marriner Group. It is, and always has been, one of the most prestigious Melbourne theatres.

Her Majesty’s Theatre

Melbourne theatres - HMT

  • 219 Exhibition St
  • Melbourne VIC 3000
  • 8643 3300
  • www.hmt.com.au

Her Majesty’s Theatre was first built in 1886 and originally sat close to 3,000 people making it – at the time – the largest theatre in the southern hemisphere. It had a slightly troubled start to life: originally planned for major operas, it quickly sunk to playing low-brow comedies and its original builder – after running seriously over-budget during the theatre’s construction – went insolvent early in the Melbourne theatre’s history.

It was taken over by American producer JC Williamson, who was the largest theatre entrepreneur in the world at the time, and eventually established itself as a successful venue hosting operettas that continued to flourish after the owner’s death. The acoustics were famously remodelled after Dame Nellie Melba called them “dead” – Melba eventually made her Australian operatic debut at Her Majesty’s Theatre – and today, after renovations in the early 2000s, the storied venue seats 1,700 people and tends to show at least one long-running major international theatrical production each year.

Princess Theatre Melbourne

Melbourne theatres - Princess Theatre

  • 163 Spring St
  • Melbourne VIC 3000
  • (03) 9299 9800
  • theprincesstheatre.com.au

Melbourne’s iconic Princess Theatre is regarded by many as Melbourne’s most spectacular landmark, generally hosting the largest productions among all of the East End Melbourne theatres. Dating back as far as 1854, the theatre was purchased by Marriner Theatres in 1986 and plans were put in place for its total refurbishment and to ensure its future viability as a live theatre venue. The Princess Theatre reopened in 1989 with the musical Les Miserables followed by The Phantom of the Opera which established a new record for the longest-running show ever staged in Victoria.

Comedy Theatre

Melbourne theatres - Comedy Theatre

  • 240 Exhibition St
  • Melbourne Vic 3000

Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre retains a vital place in the vibrant live entertainment scene among Melbourne theatres. Built in 1928, the theatre is a blend of European flavours. The exterior is a replica of a Florentine palace and the interior shows a strong Spanish influence. The Comedy Theatre still maintains a lot of its original characteristics including balcony seating, a generous foyer and an elegant staircase.

It is not only comedy that you will find here. Audiences can enjoy a diverse range of theatre and live entertainment. With seating for 1000 patrons over two levels, famous shows to have played the Comedy Theatre stage include; Keating, Menopause the Musical, Waiting for Godot, The Rocky Horror Show, Avenue Q, Rock of Ages and Jagged Little Pill.

Athenaeum Theatre

Melbourne theatres - Athenaeum Theatre

The Athenaeum isn’t just one of the oldest Melbourne theatres, it’s one of the oldest public institutions in Victoria, founded in 1839. Its building in the Melbourne City Centre consists of a main theatre hosting a range of theatre, comedy and music performances, a small studio theatre, and a subscription library. The building was added to the National Trust’s Register of Historic Buildings in 1981 and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. The theatre is part of Melbourne’s East End Theatre District.

Today, the Athenaeum Theatre is used for a range of theatre, comedy and music performances, including as a principal venue for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Melbourne Opera. The Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas presents discussions and talks at the theatre.

The best theatres in Melbourne’s CBD

Arts Centre Melbourne: The State Theatre

Melbourne theatres - Arts Centre Melbourne State Theatre

  • 100 St Kilda Rd
  • Melbourne Vic 3004
  • Ticketing Enquiries: 1300 182 183

Sitting beneath one of the city’s great symbols, the magnificent spire, Arts Centre Melbourne is both a defining Melbourne landmark and Australia’s largest and busiest performing arts centre, home to arguably the most architecturally stunning Melbourne theatre…perhaps Australia’s.

Right in the heart of Melbourne’s famed cultural precinct sits Australia’s largest performing arts venue – Arts Centre Melbourne. For over three decades this has been the Victorian capital’s leading venue for world-class theatre, dance, music and more. In the Theatres Building, directly under the venue’s iconic Spire, are three separate theatres – the State Theatre, the Playhouse and the intimate Fairfax Studio.

The State Theatre has one of the largest stages in the world and regularly hosts performances by Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet. The Fairfax Studio is a versatile, intimate 376-seat theatre, offering the chance to get ‘up close and personal’ with a variety of contemporary works by presenters from Australia and around the world. The plush, 884-seat Playhouse hosts everything from The Production Company’s entertaining musicals to family shows, comedy and contemporary dance.

Arts Centre Melbourne also houses a significant visual art collection, with works by artists such as Arthur Boyd, John Olsen and Roger Kemp on display in the foyers and a self-guided tour available. Explore your love of music, revisit big music moments and discover the stories of Australian contemporary music at the Australian Music Vault. This free exhibition turns up the volume on our love affair with Australian contemporary music and includes interactive and digital experiences, learning programs, iconic objects and performances. Why not try a guided tour of the venues? These depart at 11am daily and reveal the fascinating stories and secrets of this extensive venue, including the three theatre spaces and five floors underground. Outside Arts Centre Melbourne, local artisans fill the lawn from 10am to 4pm on Sundays to showcase their locally produced arts, crafts and freshly made delicacies at the Sunday Market. Dining options are varied and cover pre-show drinks and small bites, light lunches, hearty dinners, coffee-and-cake or nightcaps.

The Capitol Theatre

Melbourne theatres - The Capitol

  • Address: 113 Swanston St, Melbourne Vic 3000
  • Website: rmit.edu.au/the-capitol
  • Dining: Highly-rated nearby options include Thai Viet Bibigo, Kim Sing and Bistrot d’Orsay

RMIT’s beloved subterranean Melbourne theatre, The Capitol, was Australia’s first picture palace, then the Capitol Theatre, which boasts a highly unusual crystal-like roof design, home to a bespoke roof lighting system, which makes it rather unique among theatres throughout the world.

It’s one of the world’s most architecturally-sublime cinemas. Located smack-bang in the middle of the CBD, the art deco theatre was designed by American architects Walter Burley and Marion Mahoney Griffin (who also designed the entire city of Canberra). The Capitol’s extravagant opulence was nearly demolished under Melbourne’s rush to modernise the inner-city around the 1956 Olympic Games, and it took a major push from a coalition of Australia’s foremost architects to save the building (and they still were unable to save the foyer and parts of the entrance, which made way for the now ‘Capitol Arcade’ shopping strip below).

It was bought by RMIT for use as a lecture theatre and underwent $18 million renovations soon after, reopening as a theatre that now plays host to a variety of speaking and performance tours. Nowadays, it’s not only treasured as an architectural gem, but one of the first examples of an organised push to save Australia’s architectural heritage – a movement that 70 years later, is forefront in the minds of many across the nation’s major cities.

Malthouse Theatre

Melbourne theatres - Malthouse Theatre

The Malthouse Theatre has undergone a number of changes over the years, but it’s on the grounds of the original beer malthouse that was first built back in 1892, making it one of the most visually impressive Melbourne theatres. They are dedicated to bringing forward different points of view to the arts and aren’t afraid to bring quirky things to their stage. They’ve got two stages too, their outdoor stage making its mark during the MICF. Check out some more info about the Malthouse here.

La Mama Theatre

Melbourne theatres - La Mama Theatre

With a rich history spanning over 50 years and a national profile, La Mama is one of the undisputed pillars of Melbourne theatres. It plays a critical role in the national arts landscape, providing a space for new responsive and risk-taking work to occur. La Mama has a distinct artist focus and provides a unique audience experience. Treasured for its continued advocacy of those seeking to explore beyond the mainstream, La Mama champions artistic individuality and freedom, prioritises accessibility and celebrates a diverse community of artists and audiences alike.

Synonymous with this cultural icon is the intimate setting in which its performance takes place. In La Mama, both artists and audiences are challenged and invigorated by the knowledge that there is nowhere to hide, no whisper that will not carry and no movement that won’t be studied for meaning.

Over half a century, La Mama has presented nearly 2,500 shows; with each year becoming more jam-packed than the last. The arts hub now averages approximately 50 primary seasons annually, as well as 30 Explorations developments, monthly music and poetica events, regular touring through its Mobile program, as well as learning productions, play readings, and special events.

Southbank Theatre

Melbourne theatres - Southbank Theatre

Designed by the award-winning Melbourne-based ARM Architecture, Southbank Theatre opened in 2009 and contains two performance spaces, function rooms, foyers and extensive backstage facilities. As the principal home of Melbourne Theatre Company, Southbank Theatre presents the majority of MTC’s annual season of up to 12 plays as well as other MTC activity such as the Cybec Electric play readings and education performances.

Meat Market

Hence the name, the Meat Market started as just that in 1880, before ceasing operation in 1974, when it became one of the premiere Melbourne theatre venues for wild arts events. The classic style inside will take you back to the early days of the theatre, with a lot of architecture still remaining from when it was a meat market. Check out some more info about the Meat Market theatre here.

The Palms At Crown

Melbourne theatres - The Palms In Crown

Hosting over 150 shows a year, the 870-seat venue’s unique cabaret-style fit-out and raised performance stage combine to create an atmosphere that’s both intimate and electric allowing you to be completely immersed in the show.

The Butterfly Club

Melbourne theatres - Butterfly Club

The Butterfly Club have hosted many acts, including Amanda Palmer, Paul Kelly, Nick Cave, and launched Tim Minchin’s career. It’s a truly unique Melbourne theatre experience, and one we highly recommend as they’re renowned for supporting niche performers.

Palace Kino

Once you’ve headed to the crown jewel of independent Melbourne theatres, the Palace Kino, you’ll never go to a commercial cinema again. There are a fair few screens, each with its own point of difference to some degree. Their premium cinemas have been lauded as some of the best, each have full seat reclining, individual tables, and even a footrest. Have a look here for everything else happening at Palace Kino.

Fortyfivedownstairs

Melbourne theatres - Fortyfivedownstairs

A unique multidisciplinary venue, fortyfivedownstairs has a strong history of presenting new and innovative art to Melbourne audiences.

Located in Melbourne’s CBD, fortyfivedownstairs has two exhibition spaces and a flexible theatre and event venue, which operate all year round. One floor below street level, the gallery exhibits a diverse range of art forms, including photography, drawing and sound art.

One floor further still, down in the building’s basement, the warehouse-style theatre space offers an extraordinary array of groundbreaking works in theatre, cabaret, music, opera and dance. One week you could be attending a classical music recital. The next, the world premiere of a new Australian play featuring award-winning actors.

It’s yet another venue dedicated to bringing you points of view, shows, and art that push the boundaries, are thought-provoking and have a long-lasting impact on you. In many ways, they epitomise what Melbourne independent theatres should be, a not-for-profit that says they are focused on “making money for artists, not from them”, so you know they’ll have your best interests at heart if you ever want to put on your show there.

Plenary Theatre

Melbourne theatres - The Plenary

  • 1 Convention Centre Pl
  • South Wharf Vic 3006

Plenary is without doubt the centrepiece of Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, and one of the largest Melbourne theatre venues. Its versatility means it can accommodate events from single-speaker presentations to full-scale stage productions, with a theatre capacity of well over 5,000 people, making it one of the largest Melbourne theatre venues in the city. It’s hosted a huge variety of acts in the past, everyone from Nick Cave to Thurston Moore to Jo Koy to Puscifer.

Arts House Melbourne

Melbourne theatres - Arts House Melbourne

Based at North Melbourne Town Hall and on the land of the Kulin Nations, Arts House is where artists and audiences gather to find new frontiers in contemporary performance. Hyperlocal and intergalactic, the development and presentation programs create new live experiences across artforms.

A key program of the City of Melbourne, Arts House presents Dance Massive, the Festival of Live Art and Refuge as well as presenting art in partnership with festivals in Melbourne and nationwide. Our development programs include CultureLAB, Time_Place_Space and from 2019, Makeshift: professional development and critical discussion by artists, for artists.

The Motley Bauhaus

Melbourne theatres - Motley Bauhaus

The Motley Bauhaus is a beautiful Melbourne theatre located in Carlton, gallery, lounge bar and performing arts venue with a ground-level Blackbox Theatre, which hosts live shows from independent producers on a weekly basis. Upstairs they have a less formal stage area for cabaret, music, burlesque, standup or any of the bits in between.

Cinema Nova

Carlton’s Cinema Nova has quickly become a staple for all types of cinemagoers in Victoria, their many screens are able to put on all types of movies. They’ve been around for almost 30 years and have quickly become one of our biggest independent cinemas and are a low-key inclusion for one of the best modern Melbourne theatres. They’ve got every movie under the sun, from all different spots and places around the world; these are things like; No Time To Die, Dune, Palazzo Di Cozzo, and even films from the current Russian film festival, the UK’s national theatre, and even a new horror film festival called Monster Fest. Check out more of what’s on here. They’re also one of Australia’s only cinemas to show cult favourite film The Room, a movie often called the worst of all time. Check out more info on Cinema Nova here.

The best theatres in Melbourne’s south suburbs

Gasworks Arts Park

Melbourne theatres - Gasworks Theatre

Gasworks Arts Park is a vibrant arts precinct producing a range of high-quality arts programs, workshops and activities for all ages. Situated in Albert Park, on the site of the former South Melbourne Gas Plant, Gasworks is just three kilometres from the CBD and the precinct houses four hectares of park, two theatres, three gallery spaces, a café, as well as function and workshop spaces.

Palais Theatre

Melbourne theatres - palais

The historic Palais Theatre is not only the largest seated Melbourne theatre, it’s the largest in Australia with a capacity of just under 3,000. The theatre also enjoys immediate proximity to transport, restaurants and accommodation – it has one of the most beautiful facades of any Melbourne theatre, and also boasts one of the city’s best locations, located right on the St Kilda foreshore.

National Theatre 

Melbourne theatres - National Theatre

A vital part of the Melbourne theatre landscape since 1920, The National Theatre are host to hundreds of performances and community events every year. They’re a not-for-profit organisation that aims to support communities through the arts by providing an accessible venue and a centre for training emerging artists for generations to come.

Alex Theatre 

Melbourne theatres - Alex Theatre

The old George Cinemas has had quite the tidy makeover, courtesy of Aleksandar Vass OAM – an actor, writer, producer and businessman, who redeveloped the building in 2014 with the intention of creating an off-Broadway esque, 500-odd capacity Melbourne theatre right in the heart of St Kilda.

The Astor Theatre

St Kilda’s Astor Theatre is one of the oldest Melbourne theatre venues, first opening back in 1936. It’s one of Australia’s only still remaining single-screen cinemas – full of that old-style cinemagoing; gold curtains lace the screen, a bevy of seating across stalls and a dress circle, and even the opportunity to see a movie in old formats.

There’s a mix of the old, new and different in terms of programming; the newest release, West Side Story, classics like Parasite, and even rare movies like Gorillaz: Song Machine Live in Concert. You can check out some more info about what’s on at The Astor here.

Red Stitch Theatre

  • Rear, 2 Chapel St
  • St Kilda East Vic 3183
  • Administration Office: (03) 9533 8082
  • redstitch.net

Established in 2002, Red Stitch performs contemporary Australian plays and award-winning new writing from around the world in one of the most intimate Melbourne theatre venues.

Red Stitch plays a vital role in the development and presentation of new Australian works through a unique INK playwriting program, and they also offer opportunities for theatre-makers at all stages of their careers to hone and develop their craft. With a national reputation for quality of work, Red Stitch remains at the forefront of contemporary Australian theatre practice.

This is one of the newest theatres on this list having only been opened in 2001. This theatre are focused on staging a mix of the best plays and the newest works that are looking for support. It’s a cool little intimate theatre that’ll make you feel like you’re involved in the shows taking place. There’s a lot to read about with the Red Stitch Theatre, one of their most notable endeavours being their INK program, which supports playwrights who want to bring their ideas to life, learn more about that here. There are a few cool shows on their way to Red Stitch that you can check out here.

Theatre Works

St Kilda’s beautiful Theatre Works includes three Melbourne theatre venues; the historic Parish Hall at 14 Acland Street, which has been a proud supporter and incubator of Australian independent theatre for more than 40 years, the newly acquired Explosives Factory and the Black Box Cafe, all of which can host performances to varying degrees.

Theatre Works has always been committed to showcasing a wide variety of theatrical performances, generally encapsulating some hilarious boundary-pushing comedies alongside artful dramas and much more. Head here to see their program and grab tickets.

Chapel Off Chapel

Melbourne theatres - Chapel Off Chapel

Audiences love Chapel Off Chapel as for many reasons – not just because it’s hands-down of the most beautiful Melbourne theatres. It boasts friendly staff, a fully licensed bar, foyer and courtyard, and the excitement of getting up close and personal with the arts. These all combine to keep locals and visitors alike returning again and again. This highly respected and renowned venue just off Chapel Street in Prahran is a veritable institution for the arts in Melbourne.

Housed in a former church, it presents a well-rounded programme of cabaret, theatre, comedy, dance and visual art. The venue has hosted artists such as Coldplay, Foo Fighters, Tripod, and musicals including The Colour Purple, Rent and Blood Brothers. Chapel Sessions, the venue’s signature live music series, launched in January 2016 with intimate performances featuring members of some of the country’s biggest bands from the last 25 years.

The best theatres in Melbourne’s west suburbs

The Substation

The Substation - Melbourne theatres

One of the outer Melbourne theatres housed inside a former industrial building steeped in the rich history of Melbourne’s inner west, The Substation is an arts destination that celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016 (with an exhibition of photographs from Berghain bouncer Sven Marquardt, in true fashion).

Established over a century ago to power Melbourne’s suburban rail system, The Substation building is a landmark in the industrial history of the inner west. After ceasing operation in the 1960s and falling into disrepair for three decades, in 1996 two local residents successfully led a campaign to restore and adapt the building for artistic use. Today, as an international destination for contemporary and experimental arts, The Substation both celebrates and transcends its original context in Newport.

The best theatres in Melbourne’s east suburbs

The Alexander Theatre

The Alexander Theatre - Melbourne theatres

  • Monash University (Clayton Campus)
  • 48 Exhibition Walk
  • Clayton VIC 3169

Originally built in the 1960s, the Alexander Theatre is a prime example of modernist architecture within Melbourne theatres. Located at the newly opened Monash University’s Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts, this handsome 561-seat performing arts venue was redeveloped by Peter Elliott Architects and features an active acoustic sound system; enabling the venue’s acoustics to be digitally modified in real-time to achieve optimal sound across a wide spectrum of performance modes.

Check out our list of the best art galleries in Melbourne here.