Darlinghurst Theatre Explained

Darlinghurst Theatre was an independent theatre company based at the Eternity Playhouse in Darlinghurst, New South Wales. Founded in 1993, it went into voluntary administration in 2024.

History

Glenn Terry established the company in 1993 initially as an inner-city drama school. Darlinghurst Theatre productions were originally based at the Wayside Theatre in the heart of Kings Cross. A devastating hailstorm in 1999 destroyed its roof and the company looked for a new home. South Sydney Council assisted by providing a venue with affordable rent in what was known as the Reginald Murphy Hall on Greenknowe Ave in Elizabeth Bay.

In 2001, with financial support from the New South Wales Ministry of the Arts, The Grosvenor Club and numerous individuals, A$500,000 worth of internal renovations was largely completed by Glenn Terry and friends, many of whom were jobbing actors, writers and directors. At the time of the renovations, Sydney's Her Majesty's Theatre was closed and some of that theatre's equipment found a new home at the new Darlinghurst Theatre, including 80 red leather seats, dressing room mirrors, lighting, and bar equipment.

The Darlinghust Theatre operated in Elizabeth Bay from 2001 till 2013, when it expanded by moving to the newly refurbished 200-seat Eternity Playhouse on Burton St, Darlinghurst, with the assistance of the City of Sydney and Arts NSW, in November 2013. Terry remained artistic director, bringing a dedicated team over with him to The Eternity. The old Darlinghurst Theatre venue was renamed the Hayes Theatre in 2014.

From 2016 until 2018, the theatre partnered with Women in Theatre and Screen (WITS) to present an annual all-female theatre festival called Festival Fatale.^[1] It launched in 2016 as part of WITS' larger work advocating for gender representation on stage and includes readings and staged plays.^{[2] [3] [4]}

Terry retired as executive director in 2022, after leading the company for 30 years. His long-term co-artistic director of six years, Amylia Harris, took over, until stepping away in 2023 for family reasons.

In June 2024, Darlinghurst Theatre was placed into voluntary administration.^[5]

Productions

• 1993: Waiting For Godot, the inaugural production by DTC in the Wayside Chapel; however, the all-female cast upset Samuel Beckett's estate, so was forced to close after one week
• 1996: Landscape of the Body by John Guare (directed by Glenn Terry)^[6]
  • 1996: Underwear, Perfume and Crash Helmet by Michael Gurr 1996: When You Comin' Back Red Ryder? by Mark Medoff (directed by Chrissy Ynfante)
• 1997: The Ugly Man by Brad Fraser (directed by Michael Darragh)
• 1998: Frozen (directed by Chrissy Ynfante)
• 1999: The Next Big Thing (directed by Matthew John Stewart)
• 2001: The Woolgatherer by William Mastosimone; inaugural production in the new theatre space on Greenknowe Ave
• 2005: Terminus by Daniel Keane^[7]
• 2005: Onna No Honour^[8]
• 2005: The Young Tycoons by Christopher Johnson^[9]
• 2006: Blue Eyes and Heels by Toby Whithouse^[10]
• 2007: The Bee by Hideki Noda and Colin Teevan (directed by Sarah Enright)^[11]
• 2009: The Kursk by Sasha Janowicz (directed by Michael Futcher)^[12]
• 2011: 10,000 beersby Alex Broun (directed by Lee Lewis)^[13]
• 2012: Ordinary Days by Adam Gwon (directed by Grace Barnes) in conjunction with Squabbalogic^[14]
• 2013: All My Sons by Arthur Miller; the inaugural production for the Eternity Playhouse
• 2022: Let the Right One In, directed by Alexander Berlage and presented by arrangement with Marla Rubin Productions. Will McDonald played Oskar, while Ell was played by Sebrina Thornton-Walker.^{[15] [16]}

Notes and References

1. News: Blake . Elissa . 2016-10-19 . All-female Festival Fatale fights back . en . Sydney Morning Herald . 2022-05-25.
2. News: Neutze . Ben . 2016-10-30 . Slut review: Festival Fatale, Sydney . en-US . 2022-05-25.
3. News: Paparella . Brodie . 2016-11-02 . BWW Review: FESTIVAL FATALE was Femme-tastic! at Eternity Playhouse . en . 2022-05-25.
4. News: 2016-10-26 . Festival Fatale of theatre . en-AU . 2022-05-25.
5. Web site: Burton . David . 2024-06-18 . Darlinghurst Theatre Company placed into voluntary administration . 2024-06-19 . ArtsHub AU . en-AU.
6. Web site: Darlinghurst Theatre.
7. Web site: Terminus. 21 January 2013.
8. Web site: Onna No Honour - Thought Uncontrol - Darlinghurst Theatre Company - 10/08/05. The Wax Conspiracy. 21 January 2013. Ethan Switch.
9. Web site: The Young Tycoons . Theatre Australia . 21 January 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080805061922/http://www.theatre.asn.au/node/20188 . 5 August 2008 .
10. Web site: Blue Eyes. Stage Noise. 21 January 2013. Diana Simmonds.
11. Web site: Sydney: The Bee . https://archive.today/20130222130422/http://archive.vibewire.net/www.vibewire.net/Members/content/my-articles/sydney-the-bee.html . dead . 22 February 2013 . VibeWire . 21 January 2013 . Anna Klauzner .
12. Web site: The Kursk. Critical Stages. 21 January 2013. Sasha Janowicz. https://web.archive.org/web/20140303160631/http://www.criticalstages.com.au/page/the_kursk.html. 3 March 2014. dead.
13. Web site: 10, 000 Beers — Darlinghurst Theatre Company. AussieTheatre.com. 21 January 2013. Troy Dodds. 30 September 2011.
14. Web site: Ordinary Days - an Extraordinary Show | Reviews. 25 January 2012.
15. Web site: Let The Right One In . Darlinghurst Theatre Company . 19 October 2024.
16. Web site: Phillips . Issy . Kim . Lia . INTERVIEW: Heartbreak High's Will Mcdonald Talks Acting And Shrek . Junkee . 10 November 2022 . 19 October 2024.