Adelaide Repertory Theatre

'The Adelaide Repertory Theatre, often called Adelaide Rep or The Rep, is an amateur theatre company in Adelaide, South Australia, founded in 1908. It usually presents its productions at The Arts Theatre.

History

Adelaide Rep is the longest surviving amateur theatre company in the Southern Hemisphere,^[1][2] having been set up in 1908 by students from the Elder Conservatorium.^[3][4]

Since its inception, the company's venues have included:^[5][6]

• Unley Town Hall
• Walkerville Hall
• Queen's Hall at 102a Grenfell Street^[7] (later the Embassy Ballroom, Plaza Theatre, and Paris Cinema, before demolition^[a])
• King's Theatre (built 1911, on the corner of Carrington Street and King William Street, Adelaide^[11])
• Tivoli Theatre (now Her Majesty's)
• Victoria Hall, in Gawler Place

In 1963, the company built The Arts Theatre in Angas Street in the Adelaide city centre.^[12] The 500-seat theatre was built for £45,000, on land bought 15 years prior by the company. It has since become a major venue for other amateur companies as well as Adelaide Fringe and other performances.^[5] The first production there was the Peter Ustinov comedy, Romanoff and Juliet.^[13][5]

Description

The company has performed at many venues around Adelaide,^[4] but most are at The Arts Theatre.

The company is run by a board, as of January 2023^[update] chaired by Rose Vallen.^[14]

Awards

• 2001: Messenger Newspapers Light Year Award, for Glen Christie's performance as Norman in The Dresser
• 2001: Messenger Newspapers Theatre Awards, for Barney in Kid Stakes won Best Amateur Actor^[15]
• 2006: Adelaide Critics Circle The Coopers Group Award for School for Scandal^[16]
• 2006: Messenger Newspapers Light Year Award for best comedy: I Hate Hamlet^[17]
• 2008: Ruby Award for Sustained Contribution by an Organisation (Arts SA)^[18]

People

Notable associates of the Theatre include:

• Roxy Byrne - actress^[19]
• Frank Ford AM - Director
• Alexander Melrose - playwright^[20]
• Keith Michell - Actor^[4]
• Jean Robertson - actress
• Sydney Talbot Smith - Chairperson, Vice President and President at times between 1919 and 1948^[21]

Footnotes

1. "The Art Deco facade was created in 1935 when it became the Embassy Ballroom."^[8] It was later the Plaza Theatre, then the Paris Cinema.^[9] "...now is the site of the southern entrance to Regent Arcade".^[10]