Celebrating 50 Years
This year, Theatre Royal Sydney proudly marks the 50th anniversary of its current venue on King Street, a milestone that honours a legacy of performance, architecture, and community in the heart of the city.
Join us throughout 2026 as we celebrate our 50th anniversary and reflect on the past as we look ahead to our next act. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, or subscribe to our mailing list to stay up-to-date on our celebrations.
If you've previously worked at Theatre Royal Sydney—whether it be for the theatre itself or as a performer, musician or crew member; have an intriguing story; or own a piece of memorabilia, please contact us here as we work to preserve our history.
OUR PAST
Theatre Royal Sydney is one of Australia’s oldest theatrical institutions located in Sydney, dating back to 1833. The name Theatre Royal had originally been used by Barnett Levey for a theatre behind the Royal Hotel on George Street, which operated from October 1833 until March 1838.
The second Theatre Royal was built and opened in 1875 for producer and manager Samuel Lazar on King and Castlereagh Streets. On 17 June 1892 the auditorium was largely destroyed by fire before reopening in the new year after significant repairs. It later received an extensive refurbishment by architect Henry Eli White in 1921.
Over its near 100 year history, the theatre saw performers such as Dame Nellie Melba, Anna Pavlova, Robert Helpmann, Gladys Moncrieff, Don Nicol, Toni Lamond, Googie Withers, Bettina Welch, Nellie Stewart, Jill Perryman, Betty Pounder, Dame Judi Dench, Gwen Plumb, and many more grace its stage.
In 1971, the theatre and surrounding buildings were demolished to construct the MLC Centre. Due to public agitation and demand, the developer incorporated a new 1,180-seat theatre into the design.
L-R: King Street entrance in 1882, opening night of Hollywood Revue in 1938
OUR PRESENT
Designed by Harry Seidler in a modernist style, the current Theatre Royal opened on 23 January 1976 with A Night To Remember.
The theatre became been home to many iconic productions, including The Phantom of the Opera (1993-1995), Les Misérables (1987-1989, 1997-1998), CATS the Musical (1985-1987, 2025), The Rocky Horror Show (1981, 1984, 1987, 2023, 2024), Jersey Boys (2010-2011), and many more. With iconic productions comes stellar performers, such as Hugo Weaving, Rhonda Burchmore, John Waters, Rob Guest, Stuart Wagstaff, Noni Hazlehurst, Geraldine Turner, Todd McKenney, Nancye Hayes, Reg Livermore, Sir Ian McKellan, Dame Angela Lansbury, James Earl Jones, Henri Szeps, and more over the years.
The theatre then closed in 2016 amid development of the MLC Centre, but in 2019, the NSW Government announced it had taken on a 55-year lease of the theatre.
Trafalgar Entertainment, the company of British theatre impresarios Sir Howard Panter and Dame Rosemary Squire, were appointed operators of the theatre. The theatre received an extensive refurbishment to meet current and future expectations of patrons and modern production requirements before reopening its doors in December 2021 with a brand new façade, improved facilities, a dedicated box office, and more.
Since its reopening, productions such as Jagged Little Pill, Hadestown, SIX the Musical, The Lehman Trilogy, The Rocky Horror Show, CATS the Musical, and TINA - The Tina Turner Musical have contributed to Sydney's passion for the arts.
OUR FUTURE
2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the current Theatre Royal Sydney and with Trafalgar Entertainment operating the venue for the next 50 years, we look forward to reflecting on our past whilst looking ahead to our next act.
This year we continue to be home to Pretty Woman: The Musical, along with Cluedo, Steel Magnolias, the return of SIX the Musical, and further productions to be announced soon.
