The Capitol Theatre in the inner-city Haymarket neighborhood, is Sydney’s oldest and grandest theater. This heritage-listed art deco building can seat up to 2,094 people in its auditorium. Be sure to check the program if you need a culture fix in Sydney but have already been to the Sydney Opera House.
The impressive building was designed by Henry White. It was first constructed in 1892 on the site of a central produce and hay market. In 1916, when the Wirth Bros Hippodrome opened its doors, it became a circus theater until the Great Depression and World War II marked the end of all the fun. When this company went under, the western half of the building was turned into a playhouse in 1928.
The long-neglected theater was returned to its former glory in the early 1990s and completely refurbished in 2009 when the Foundation Theatres wholly took over to bring the facilities to the 21st century. The theater’s art deco stage with sky-blue curtain was the brainchild of the American theatre designer John Eberson back in 1928. In front of the stage is the orchestra pit, which can host up to 110 musicians at any one time.
Whether with Disney productions or Broadway-style musicals, such as Les Miserables, the Capitol Theatre has always wowed the masses. The Australian Ballet also regularly perform here, as well as Opera Australia and other major opera groups.
The Capitol Theatre sits just off George Street, the major thoroughfare of the lively Haymarket neighborhood of the Sydney Central Business District (CBD). The venue is easy to reach by taxi and public transportation and on foot, as it’s just a 5-minute walk from the Sydney Central Station. The Capitol Square parking garage tends to fill up fast, but the nearby Market City Car Park has more capacity and offers discounted rates for theater visitors with current show tickets.
You can buy tickets at the Capitol Theatre Box Officeduring regular office hours. Be aware that Ticketmaster is the only authorized online ticket seller for the Capitol Theatre.
