New Theatre

A small venue with a big heart, I’ve never been disappointed by productions at the New Theatre. The caliber of their work is incredible – it’s a minor miracle how affordable their tickets are (from $ 20 to $ 30 depending on the show). Support our local theatre scene and check them out.

Came here for a friend’s play. Bought tickets on line and when we walked there that night, we saw that the theatre had moved. Luckily it was just a few blocks down the road.
Came in and a really cool band was playing on stage. We checked in with the lady at the bar and sat down. The place had a cool old vibe. The bathroom was newly painted and fairly clean.
After about 15 minutes, there was an announcement that the play would start soon. We queued up and went to our seats. The stairs up to the chairs were a bit wobbly. The chairs were comfy, nothing flash.
Overall a cool venue. Close by to St Peter’s Train Station.

I had the best possible introduction to Newtown’s New Theatre. I went to see Aaron Sorkin’s sublime The Farnsworth Invention and, better yet, the actors did a great job of his rapid-​fire dialogue. Sorkin on stage was always going to see me with a big grin on my face, so of course I left with very rosy feelings towards this theatre.
The venue itself feels intimate and beloved. The staff behind the bar double as ushers and everyone seems keen for you to have a good night. And you’re in Newtown, so pre-​theatre dinner or a post-​show supper are just too easy to come by!
So while Sorkin initially won me over, I’ll definitely be coming back to the New Theatre.

You can see some amazing theatre at the New Theatre and you can see some shocking, amateur, studentesque productions as well. Fortunately, and also unfortunately, I’ve seen both.
The space is quite a large space and the acoustics are grand with comfortable seating and a great view, no matter where you are seated. They display new theatre by new writers, classics including Shakespeare, foreign scripts with local directors and they even host the Newtown Flickerfest short film festival.
The lobby is a comfortable one with beer and wine for sale at the bar, scattered tables and seats and benches pressed against the walls for those who decide to sit during interval.
Being on the quieter side of King Street, the smokers and the fresh air retrievers can feel welcome to step outside and suck in that clean night air, or light up and poison it if so inclined.
The theatre is right opposite from Doy Tao Thai, a favourite Thai spot of mine, which makes for great pre or post theatre dining.

Small theatres are not something you find everywhere, and definitely add to the culture of Newtown. This place is at the south end of King Street with more parking options, and is run by members of the theatre group and volunteers. It showcases independent and fringe theatre, as well as cabarets and anything you can get on a stage. It is the longest running continuous theatre company in Australia, so it has the history and experience to back it up. The New Theatre has been going since 1932, so not that new as such.
The idea of the theatre is to give up and coming artists a go and is a real community. People working on the bar at the front are usually volunteers or members, or people getting free tickets somewhere along the line. Students can also get student rush tickets for $ 17 just before a show.
I saw Angels in America Part One here in 2008, and am still waiting for Part Two…