Capitol Theatre
Image: WEST SIDE STORY, 1995, Capitol Theatre. Image: capitoltheatre.com.au
The historic free-standing building that is home to the Capitol Theatre rises like a monolith in the middle of Haymarket at the southern end of the CBD.
Built in 1892 when the area was a thriving centre of commerce and trade, the large, block-shaped structure with arched entrances along its sides was designed to house the Belmore Markets.
In 1916 the markets moved out and the Wirth Bros Circus moved in. They remodelled the interior, fitting it out specifically for various acts; this included installing a large pool in the middle of the floor to accommodate seal and polar bear performances.
The circus fell on hard times within a decade and the building once more changed tenancy in 1927. Union Theatres moved in and commissioned a make-over; the building would become a grand picture palace in the style of American atmospheric theatres.
It opened as the Capitol Theatre in 1928 and enjoyed high society and the best celluloid offerings from Hollywood, but it ultimately succumbed to the same peak and fall as its previous iterations.
By the 1970s, the once grand theatre had lost its lustre and became a boarded-up white elephant with a wrecking ball swinging ever closer. The public rallied, the government gave some coin and the building was restored to its former glory, opening as a live theatre venue in 1995.
The Capitol Theatre is now one of Sydney’s premium theatres, hosting A-list performers in beautifully produced musicals and shows.
