Historic Australian theaters and cinemas, including Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre and Perth’s His Majesty’s Theatre, reveal their architectural details in a new photography series published by theguardian.com.
Documenting Historic Australian Auditoriums
The documentation captures performance spaces ranging from large metropolitan venues to regional community hubs. Photographs feature the auditorium of the Palais Theatre viewed from the stage in St Kilda, Victoria, alongside the interior of the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne. In regional New South Wales, the Roxy Community Theatre in Leeton is included in the visual record.
Further documentation covers Western Australia and South Australia. His Majesty’s Theatre in Perth appears with views of its orchestra pit and auditorium from the stage, while Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne shows its theatrical rigging system and fly grid. In Goodwood, South Australia, the Capri Theatre features close-up frames of its Wurlitzer organ and associated pipes.
Concurrent Visual Features Across Australia
The theater showcase runs alongside several other national photography features. The Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards 2026 released its list of finalists, featuring a caiman wearing a wig and a leopard performing a handstand. Additional published galleries highlight urban rooftops and working cattle farms in Australia’s best home gardens series, alongside coverage of a human tower tradition in Spain and ongoing drought conditions in Indonesia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which historic theaters are featured in the photography series?
The series features the Palais Theatre in St Kilda, the Comedy Theatre and Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne, the Roxy Community Theatre in Leeton, His Majesty’s Theatre in Perth, and the Capri Theatre in Goodwood.
Who photographed the auditorium interiors?
Photographer Gavin M John captured the images of the historic performance venues for theguardian.com.