Princess Theatre, Launceston

{{Short description|Theatre in Launceston, Tasmania}} {{About|the historic theatre in Launceston, Tasmania||Princess Theatre (disambiguation){{!}}Princess Theatre}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2022}}{{Infobox venue |name = Princess Theatre |image = Princess Theatre at night, Launceston.JPG |caption = The Princess Theatre at night in 2013 |address = 57 Brisbane Street |city = [[Launceston, Tasmania]] |country = Australia |designation = |latitude = |longitude = | coordinates ={{Coor title dms|41|26|10.06|S|147|8|28.14|E|scale:1563|display=inline,title}} |architect = [[Marino Lucas]] (1911), Charles Neville Hollinshed (1939) |owner = [[Launceston City Council|Theatre North]] |capacity = 1,770 (1911)<ref name="PrincessOpening">{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/50760761 |title=THE PRINCESS THEATRE. |newspaper=[[The Examiner (Tasmania)]] |date=3 June 1914 |access-date=26 June 2022 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> <br> 944 (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://theatrenorth.com.au/source-assets/images/Princess-Theatre-Venue-Info-Jan-22.pdf |title=PRINCESS THEATRE Venue Information |date=2022-01-01 |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=theatrenorth.com.au |page=7}}</ref> |type = |opened = {{Start date and age|1911|07|30|df=y}}<ref name="PrincessOpening"/> |years_active = 1911–present |rebuilt = |closed = |other_names = |production = |current_use = |website = {{URL|https://theatrenorth.com.au|Official site}} | embedded = {{designation list | embed = yes | designation1 = Tasmanian Heritage Register | designation1_free1name = Place ID | designation1_free1value = 3,887<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://heritage.tas.gov.au/Documents/THROnline_Jan2021.pdf |title=Permanent and Provisional Registrations as at 22 Jan 2021 |access-date=2022-08-22 |publisher=Tasmanian Heritage Register}}</ref> | designation1_free2name = Status | designation1_free2value = Permanently Registered}} }}

The '''Princess Theatre''' is a historic theatre in [[Launceston, Tasmania]], [[Australia]].

==History== Located on the corner of Brisbane Street and Earl Street, the '''Princess Theatre''' was commissioned and designed by Greek–Australian businessman [[Marino Lucas]] at a cost of [[Australian pound|£A]]15,000 in 1911. The Princess was designed to be used exclusively as a "picture palace" and held capacity for 1,770 patrons (700 seats in the front stalls, 500 seats in the back stalls, 450 seats in the dress circle and 120 in the orchestra pit).<ref name="PrincessOpening"/> The stage was designed to accommodate first-class theatre productions, running the full width of the building, {{convert|70|x|60|ft|order=flip}}.<ref name="PrincessOpening"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/152711813 |title=LOCAL AND GENERAL. |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph (Launceston)]] |date=24 June 1914 |access-date=26 June 2022 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The orchestra pit held ten professional musicians, known as the "Princess Symphony Orchestra".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/50490775 |title=THE NEW PRINCESS. |newspaper=[[The Examiner (Tasmania)]] |date=29 August 1911 |access-date=26 June 2022 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> All the work, except the stamped metal ceilings, was completed by Messrs J & T Gunn in Launceston, including a feature [[Acacia melanoxylon|Tasmanian Blackwood]] staircase, lighting, carpets and its proscenium, described in ''[[The Examiner (Tasmania)|The Examiner]]'' as "strikingly handsome, bronze, gold wine colour, as well as delicate shades of green and blue".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/50490554 |title=THE NEW THEATRE. |newspaper=[[The Examiner (Tasmania)]] |date=28 August 1911 |access-date=26 June 2022 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> [[File:Launceston Princess Theatre 003.JPG|thumb|left|upright|The theatre was remodelled in 1939, resulting in its tubular [[streamline moderne]] appearance]]

In 1939 the National Theatres Corporation hired architect Charles Neville Hollinshed to remodel the Princess Theatre, at a cost of £A11,000.<ref name="1939Remodel">{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/52359285 |title=NEW PRINCESS THEATRE |newspaper=[[The Examiner (Tasmania)]] |date=26 October 1939 |access-date=26 June 2022 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Hollinshed had previously worked under [[Thomas W. Lamb]] in New York, contributing to the designs of the [[Capitol Theatre (New York City)|Capitol Theatre]] on Broadway and Albee Theatre in Brooklyn.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245448778 |title=LAST WORD IN THEATRE CONSTRUCTION - Australian Architect Abroad |newspaper=[[The Herald (Melbourne)|The Herald]] |issue=15,438 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=10 November 1926 |accessdate=19 August 2022 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The facade of the theatre was reconstructed, and the entrances altered and modernised. The Blackwood staircase was replaced, the central auditorium dome was removed and capacity was reduced by 150 patrons.<ref name="1939Remodel2">{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/52356063 |title=THEATRE DOME TO GO |newspaper=[[The Examiner (Tasmania)]] |date=7 October 1939 |access-date=26 June 2022 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref name="1939Remodel3">{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/25783025 |title=REBUILDING THEATRE - NEW FEATURES PLANNED |newspaper=[[The Mercury (Hobart)]] |date=7 October 1939 |access-date=26 June 2022 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

In 1953, the Princess exhibited its first [[3D film#The "golden era" (1952–1954)|3D film]], ''[[House of Wax (1953 film)|House of Wax]]'', the first 3D feature with [[stereophonic sound]].<ref name="Wax">{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/265096748 |title=3-D FILM FOR LAUNCESTON |newspaper=[[The Examiner (Tasmania)|Saturday Evening Express (Launceston)]] |date=5 Aug 1953 |access-date=26 June 2022 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> At a conversion cost of £A10,000, [[Cinemascope]] was installed at the Princess in 1954.<ref name="Robe">{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/96383069 |title=LATEST IN 3-D FOR PRINCESS THEATRE |newspaper=[[The Examiner (Tasmania)]] |date=18 Oct 1954 |access-date=26 June 2022 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref name="Robe2">{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/96378290 |title=Glamorous debut for new film technique |newspaper=[[The Examiner (Tasmania)]] |date=28 Oct 1954 |access-date=26 June 2022 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The biblical epic ''[[The Robe (film)|The Robe]]'' was exhibited simultaneously at the Princess Theatre and [[Prince of Wales Theatre, Hobart]] in October 1954, marking the first dual city film premiere in Tasmania.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27242627 |title=CINEMASCOPE IMPOSING MEDIUM |newspaper=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |volume=CLXXVI |issue=26,159 |location=Tasmania, Australia |date=28 October 1954 |accessdate=30 July 2022 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Due to the rise of television ownership, the next 14 years saw the Princess, neighbouring [[Majestic Theatre, Launceston|Majestic]] and Lyceum theatres operate with heavily reduced patronage. None of these venues would continue operations as cinemas into the 1970s. Newer cinematic experiences hindered the older venues; opening on 10 October 1957, the Village Drive-In at Mowbray Racecourse became the largest Drive-In in Tasmania with capacity for 877 cars. The Plaza Theatre on George Street was demolished in 1964.

Following the sale of the [[National Theatre, Launceston|National Theatre]] in 1969, the [[Launceston City Council]] purchased the nearby Princess Theatre for $71,000. It re-opened on 17 November 1970 as a live theatre venue with the [[The Australian Ballet|Royal Australian Ballet]].<ref name="LCC">{{cite news |url=https://www.examiner.com.au/story/3917169/iconic-princess-a-city-gem/ |first= Tamara |last=McDonald |title=The Princess Theatre's transformative history |newspaper=[[The Examiner (Tasmania)]] |date=21 May 2016 |access-date=26 June 2022}}</ref> In attendance included [[Governor of Tasmania|Tasmanian Governor General]] [[Paul Hasluck|Sir Paul Hasluck]] and British ballet dancer [[Peggy van Praagh|Dame Peggy van Praagh]]. The theatre has since hosted performances by [[AC/DC]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/acdc/1977/princess-theatre-launceston-australia-3dc8d17.html |title=AC/DC Setlist at Princess Theatre, Launceston, Australia |website=setlist.fm |access-date=7 July 2022}}</ref> [[Roy Orbison]], [[Slim Dusty]], [[Kiri Te Kanawa]], [[Harry Secombe]], [[Little River Band]], [[Bo Diddly]] and [[Leo Sayer]].<ref name="ABC">{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-17/princess-theatre-celebrates-50-years-launceston-history/12886618 |first=Damian |last=McIntyre |title='Freezing' performances and a 'ghost in the theatre': Launceston's Princess Theatre celebrates colourful history |newspaper=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=17 Nov 2020 |access-date=26 June 2022}}</ref>

The Launceston City Council formed the current operator, Theatre North, in 1998.

==Earl Arts Centre== Located on Earl Street, the Earl Arts Centre opened in 1993 directly behind the Princess Theatre. A [[black box theatre]] accommodating 184 patrons, the theatre was designed for a variety of purposes, ranging from theatre and dance in an intimate setting, to film screenings and conference sessions.<ref name="Earl">{{citation |title=EARL ARTS CENTRE - Venue Information |url=https://theatrenorth.com.au/source-assets/images/EAC-Venue-Information-Jan-22.pdf |publisher=Theatre North |page=4 |accessdate=26 June 2022}}</ref>

==Restoration plans== The Tasmanian Liberal Party announced a plan to invest $2.5 million to restore the Princess Theatre if the Federal Government was reelected in the 2022 elections.<ref name="Liberals">{{cite news |url=https://www.examiner.com.au/story/7728471/funding-commitment-for-launcestons-iconic-theatre/ |first= Nikita |last=McGuire |title=The Princess Theatre's transformative history |newspaper=[[The Examiner (Tasmania)]] |date=7 May 2022 |access-date=26 June 2022}}</ref> In January 2025 the Federal Government committed $12.7m towards the $30m redevelopment project for the theatre. The Princess Theatre and Earl Arts Centre closed late 2025 with construction beginning early 2026. These theatres are planned to reopen early 2028. These restorations are planned to refresh the space, add accessibility, improve backstage facilities, enhance performance and production facilities, renew the Earl Arts Centre, upgrade the safety and compliance of these theatres and secure the future of a cultural landmark.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Princess Theatre & Earl Arts Centre Redevelopment |url=https://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/Business-and-Development/Major-Projects/Princess-Theatre-Earl-Arts-Centre-Redevelopment |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=www.launceston.tas.gov.au |language=en-AU}}</ref>

==See also== *[[List of theatres in Hobart]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:1911 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Cinemas in Launceston]] [[Category:Former cinemas in Australia]] [[Category:City of Launceston]] [[Category:Theatres in Tasmania]] [[Category:Historic sites in Tasmania]] [[Category:Streamline Moderne cinemas]] [[Category:Art Deco architecture in Tasmania]] [[Category:Theatres completed in 1911]] [[Category:Tasmanian Heritage Register]]