The Marian Street Theatre is located in the

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

suburb of

Killara Killara is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia north-west of the Sydney Central Business District in the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council. East Killara is a separate suburb and ...

. The theatre previously played a significant role in the cultural life of the North Shore and is widely remembered by former patrons and theatre lovers across Sydney. Built in 1906 as a Soldiers Memorial Hall, it was used as a community hall up until 1966. Hosting dances, parties, lectures, drama performances,

Polio vaccine Polio vaccines are vaccines used to prevent poliomyelitis (polio). Two types are used: an inactivated poliovirus given by injection (IPV) and a weakened poliovirus given by mouth (OPV). The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends all chil ...

s and school breakups. In 1948, the actress

Vivien Leigh Vivien Leigh ( ; 5 November 1913 – 8 July 1967; born Vivian Mary Hartley), styled as Lady Olivier after 1947, was a British actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress twice, for her definitive performances as Scarlett O'Hara in ''Gon ...

opened a flower show at Marian Street. The building was transformed into a community theatre in 1966 by the English born actor,

Alexander Archdale Alexander Mervyn Archdale (26 November 190513 May 1986) was a British actor, manager and theatre producer. He had a very long career in both the theatre and in film, stretching from the 1930s to the 1980s. He spent the latter part of his life an ...

. Seating was increased from 311 to 400 in 1980. In the early 1980s, theatre programs credited the "theatre cat" known as "spunky".speech by Wendy Blaxland. 29 June 2018, on Marian Street Theatre, Facebook Page. Often beset by financial difficulties, the theatre has now evolved into the Marian Street Children's Theatre and Drama School (MSTYP - Marian Street Theatre for Young People). For safety reasons, the theatre temporarily closed in 2013 and work is scheduled to begin in mid-2021 on the renovations. Marian Street Theatre for Young People continues to operate externally from the Marian Street Theatre building, while the site is closed. Artistic directors included

Peter Collingwood Peter Trevor Collingwood (6 May 1920 – 23 September 2016) was an English-born actor who appeared in theatre roles, films, miniseries and serials from 1938 to 2003 in his native England and Australia. Collingwood was known for his portrayal ...

Aarne Neeme Aarne as a surname may refer to: *Antti Aarne (1867–1925), Finnish folklorist * Els Aarne (1917–1995), Estonian composer * Johan Victor Aarne (1863–1934), Finnish metalsmith As a given name it may refer to: *Aarne Ahi (born 1943), Estonia ...

John Krummel John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

Noel Ferrier Noel Ferrier AM (20 December 193016 October 1997) was an Australian television personality, comedian, stage and film actor, raconteur and theatrical producer. He was a regular panelist in Graham Kennedy's popular game show '' Blankety Blanks ( ...

and Alastair Duncan. Prominent actors who performed at Marian Street include

Leonard Teale Leonard George Thiele AO (26 September 192214 May 1994), professionally Leonard Teale, was a well-known Australian actor of radio, television and film and radio announcer, presenter and narrator known for his resonant baritone voice. He is be ...

, Stuart Wagstaff,

Ruth Cracknell Ruth Winifred Cracknell AM (6 July 1925 – 13 May 2002) was an Australian character and comic actress, comedienne and author, her career encompassing all genres including radio, theatre, television and film. She appeared in many dramatic as we ...

Helen Morse Helen Morse (born 24 January 1947) is an English-born Australian actress who has appeared in films, on television and on stage. She won the AFI (AACTA) Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for the 1976 film '' Caddie'', and starred in the 19 ...

Ron Haddrick Ronald Norman Haddrick (9 April 1929 – 11 February 2020) was an Australian actor, cricketer, narrator and presenter. In 2012, he received the Actors Equity Lifetime Achievement Award for his long and distinguished career in media, spanning s ...

and

Nancye Hayes Nancye Lee Bertles AM ( Hayes; born January 1943), billed under her maiden name as Nancye Hayes, is an Australian actress, dancer, singer and choreographer/director and narrator. She has been a leading figure in Australian musical theatre sin ...

External link

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marian Street Theatre Theatres in Sydney Theatre in Sydney