Princess Theatre

I have been to a number of shows here and have thoroughly enjoyed them — Once, Strictly Ballroom and Dirty Dancing being amongst the latest one.
I love the Art Deco vibe to this place, the heritage, the sense of history you get when you step through the front door and the faded glamour of the foyer and interior. It’s the Blance DuBois of Melbourne’s theatres.
The seats are rather crammed and if you’re in the circle area you can also get vertigo, but hey, I’d rather see a show here than a minimilistic modern theatre space as there is more character.

Beautiful venue and conveniently located next to some of the nicest wine bars and restaurants in Melbourne. It’s a shame that the seats are so crammed — buy a box of Maltesers to distract you from the fact that you will be sitting with your knees up around your ears for a couple of hours.

She’s a gorgeous old girl the Princess Theatre, and she’s entertained Melbourne with her spectacular shows in beautiful surrounds for over a century.
Get to your show early enough to enjoy a glass a bubbly in the foyer and feel the buzz and the excited chatter of the theatre-​goers, but perhaps find somewhere different for your pre-​show dinner — the European or City Wine Shop just metres away will both provide just the right atmosphere to get you in the mood for your show.
The theatre itself is Victorian and one of the grandest in Melbourne. The acoustics are fantastic as the seating arrangements mean obstructed views are kept to a minimum. The seats are on the small side with restricted leg space so it may not be the most comfortable situation for tall folk.

A beautiful piece of architecture when it’s all lit up, the Princess Theatre on Spring St, opposite Parliament, dates back to 1954. Refurbishments were done in the late 1980s to make it what it is today: a spectacular place to see a musical and certainly a rival to the theatres of Broadway and West End. Separated from the buzz of the rest of the city on the weekend, the atmosphere outside can be really electric: everyone’s there to see the show and many get dressed up. It’s like it’s own little world.
Inside, three tiers of curved seating with a bit of an ‘80s feel (no chandeliers) mean it isn’t ‘grand’ like the Regent but is still luxurious and very functional. It definitely provides the feeling of having spent a night at the theatre.

This beautiful old theatre on Spring Street is one of my favourite landmarks in the city. It was built in 1854, which is pretty early on in Melbourne’s history, and is apparently haunted by the ghost of an opera singer named Federici. Apparently he had a heart attack after a performance of Faust in 1888 and his soul has never left the theatre.
The bistro in the entrance of the theatre is named after its ghost, although I’m not sure Federici would approve of the hot pink Chesterfields now decorating the place. My recommendation would be to do a pre-​show meal elsewhere. The experience of the theatre will of course depend on the show you are seeing, but as far as functionality goes, The Princess is still on the money. The acoustics are great, and the interior is as beautifully preserved as the exterior (it’s registered by the National Trust). Taller patrons may struggle with smallish seats, but the layout of the seat circles guarantee a good view of the stage from anywhere. If you get an oppourtunity to visit the Princess then I say go for it — even if the show itself sucks the Victorian-​style building is so beautiful you can stare at it for a few hours instead.

The princess theatre is an icon in Melbourne. Perhaps landmark is a better word. It dates back over 150 years, and even, according to legend, houses its very own ghost, for whom one seat in the dress circle is always left empty. I personally would not like to sit in the seat next to it!
The outside of the building is lit up every night, and the interior is just, well, beautiful. As far as Victorian theatres go, this one is pretty spectacular.
Ive seen Mamma Mia here, and the Sound of Music, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I definitely prefer going to the theatre at old historic venues — it certainly doesnt change the show, but adds to the spectacle, opulence and experience of going to theatre in my opinion. Its been a while, bt I cant wait to go back!

Soweit ich weiss, entstand das Theater genau vor 100 Jahren + die Zeit meines diesen Lebens)
Ich war dort als Teenager, und kann nicht mehr in Einzelheiten erzaehlen,…, wie die Show war, da ich mich eher fuer die Architektur interessierte. Die Reise war gesponsert. Es war fuer mich damals das einzige grandiose Highlight in ganz Melbourne.
Danke!