About The Queens Theatre

 

Managed by GWB McFarlane Theatres, The Queens Theatre is the oldest purpose-built theatre on mainland Australia.  Situated at the corner of Gilles Arcade and Playhouse Lane in Adelaide, South Australia, the theatre is today used as a venue for performances and non-theatrical events.

History

Founded by brothers Vaiben and Emanuel Solomon in 1840, the theatre cost £10,000 to build in 1840 and had seating for 1000 people. The opening performance of Othello took place in January 1841. In 1850 the Queen’s Theatre was remodeled with a new Georgian facade and re-opened in December that year as the Royal Victoria Theatre. A year later it closed again, due to a mass exodus of South Australians to the Victorian goldfields.

 Between 1868 and 1973 the building was adapted for a variety of non-theatrical uses. It operated as the City Mission, a Horse Bazaar, as well as a warehouse, factory and showroom. 

An archaeological excavation in the late 1980s uncovered extensive sub-surface remnants of the former Queen’s Theatre. The site’s heritage significance prompted the South Australian Government to negotiate for its ownership during the 1990s and, upon acquiring the property, initiated efforts to conserve its surviving heritage architecture. Since 1996 the building has been used as a venue for performances, but also frequently hosts non-theatrical events.

Today, the shell of the original theatre still stands within the 1850s facade of the Royal Victoria Theatre.

 Read more about the history: https://losttheatres.net/queens

Animation of the original theatre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2htxt8gklI

Getting here

The Queens is located in the heart of the Adelaide CBD and is easily accessible via foot and public transportation.

If you are driving, there is a carpark directly across from the theatre (K Park, 20 Playhouse Lane, Adelaide). Parking is a flat rate of $7 at selected times.

  • Sun - Thurs (4pm - 12am)

  • Fri - Sat (4pm - 2am)

 
Thanks @glamadelaide! 🥰 "A brand new little bar is now open in the iconic Queens Theatre, & it’s in the same spot as the venue’s historic former bar, Shakespeare’s Tavern, dating back to 1841. Now open every Thursday fro
It's musical mayhem at The Queens this weekend as GWB Studios presents Ultimate Broadway, a dazzling production that showcases the best of Broadway’s iconic musicals and performances! Featuring musical theatre students from GWB Studios under t
The Queens' new bar is now up and running Thursday's from 4pm - 9pm. Situated in the same location as the theatres' original bar, The Shakespeare's Tavern, 184 years ago. The bar will also be opened during performances in the main theatre.
💥THIS SATURDAY 17 AUG! 💥 @thebasslinemarket x @talktechtomegroup presents: DEPOT 909 •NIK KASTEL [MEL] & TOUGH BREAK [MEL] Bringing you the industrial warehouse party you’ve been waiting for, located right in the heart of the CBD
Sharpen your hooks and polish your peg legs! @officialcaptainhellfire and his maniacal pirate crew are returning to The Queens Adelaide with @babyteethb4nd and @thehydes.adl. It's gonna be a hell of a voyage me hearties! Supported by babyteeth and T
It's a huge day for Australian indie rockers @quiversss, of Melbourne / Naarm, as they've just dropped their third album of cathartic jangle-damaged pop "Oyster Cuts" via @mergerecords Merge Records 🙌 You'll have the chance to catch them
We're stoked to have Scotch College Adelaide at The Queens TONIGHT for the Opening Night of School of Rock the Musical! 🤘🎸 Playing at The Queens from 8 - 11 August, the team is bringing to life the explosive energy of School of Rock in a setting t
Come by the Queens tomorrow for the Opening Night of PLEXUS by @oakey.artist as part of SALA Festival 2024! The event will run from 5:00pm - 7:00pm and we will have opening remarks from Greg Ackland at 5:40pm. A finalist in the @salafestival City o