The Theatre Royal was a grand gold rush-era theatre in Ballarat that was for several decades a hub of community life. The theatre attracted acclaimed international performers and hosted a royal visit by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Alfred in 1867. Ballarat Libraries is fortunate to hold a rare collection of playbills advertising performances at the Theatre Royal, and many of these are presented in this exhibition. These playbills are an important record of Australia’s theatrical history and provide fascinating insights into the tastes, interests, and indeed the prejudices, of colonial Ballarat society.
Historically, playbills were widely used to promote entertainment to the public. They were printed and distributed, mostly being fixed to the side of buildings, doors, and walls in public spaces. It was customary to layer over previous posters and playbills, creating a collage of advertisements. This practice meant the playbills were eventually lost beneath layers of paper, making this collection unique and valuable.
Ballarat’s Theatre Royal was established in 1858 as part of thriving gold rush theatre scene. Alongside its own resident actors, musicians, and crew, the theatre hosted touring ensembles from Australia and overseas. Throughout its lifetime, the Theatre Royal attracted culturally diverse performers and audiences, with outings to the theatre proving a popular form of entertainment across all social classes. The final curtain fell on the theatre in 1877, after which its building housed several different retail businesses. The Theatre Royal building, which was located on Sturt Street, between Doveton and Armstrong Streets South, was unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1899.
A Ballarat Heritage Festival exhibition presented by the Eureka Centre Ballarat in partnership with Ballarat Libraries.
Image: Ballarat Theatre Royal (publisher) W.M Brown, Ballarat (printer) ‘Playbill for the Ballarat Theatre Royal’ c1860 75 x 55cm (variable) black letterpress on green paper. Collection of Ballarat Libraries.
