Canberra Theatre Centre to celebrate 60 sensational years in 2025
Australia’s first performing arts centre, the Canberra Theatre Centre, is gearing up for a massive year in 2025 as we celebrate our Diamond Anniversary.
An exceptional program of celebratory events and special performances are planned throughout the year, including the stunning return of one of Australia’s most treasured performing arts companies. On 24 June 1965, The Australian Ballet opened the Canberra Theatre Centre and will return exactly 60 years later to celebrate our diamond birthday.
Johan Inger’s award-winning production of Carmen will be an exhilarating journey that thrusts Georges Bizet’s 19th-century opera into the modern world with a breathtaking display of athleticism and passion.
Alex Budd:
We are thrilled to welcome back The Australian Ballet, 60 years to the day that they opened the Canberra Theatre Centre to great fanfare in 1965. Much has changed over the decades, however the national ballet company has remained one of the nation’s great arts organisations.
I am so delighted that the company will bring Carmen to our theatre – it is a work that genuinely celebrates the great traditions of ballet while simultaneously helping us boldly imagine the next sixty years of our future. We can’t wait to celebrate our 60 with our audiences at the exquisite Carmen.
Director Canberra Theatre Centre. To celebrate the special occasion, the Canberra Theatre Centre will be hosting a dazzling opening night celebration, which is now on sale.
Tickets are exclusively available to those who have purchased tickets to Carmen on Friday 20 June.
Season Details
Venue: : Canberra Theatre Centre
Date: 20 June 2025
For more information click HERE
CANBERRA THEATRE 60 YEARS MEMORY 2025
My name is Mr. Val Starr and will be 79yrs of age this year. I’ve been a musician in Canberra all my life starting from late 1963 to around 1993. My wife and I live in Ngunnawal. I’d like to share my memories on the pop/rock music that I remember at the Canberra Theatre from it’s opening in the 60s. There were many, many more acts after the opening. – Please note you don’t have to use any of this, it’s only my short journey recollection.
The Opening Night – I remember the Theatre opening well on the night of the 24th June 1965. Canberra band ‘The Casuals’ were the very first pop band to play the stage on the night to a packed theatre. I’ll just add that Frank and Bernie Nizynski from the ‘Casuals’ with their parents and my family came out to Australia on the same journey, disembarking on the 14th of May 1951. At the time we didn’t know each other.
The Casuals on the Opening night.
LtoR: John Hasler, Tony Hayes, Frank Nizynski.
LtoR: John Hasler, Frank Nizynski, Tony Hayes at the rear. Members not in the photo were Bernie Nizynski and Tony Reale.
First RnR Concert – This was held at the Theatre on Tuesday July 6th 1965. Prior to this event there was some controversy regarding damage that may occur to the Theatre by the patrons which was evident in past interstate performance’s. Special precautions were taken to protect the Theatre against possible hooliganism however no damage was done. This was all reported in the press. The entertainment was provided by ‘Bobby Bright and Laurie Allen’, and the ‘Rondells’ from Melbourne. And from Sydney ‘The Easybeats’. The ‘Casuals’ from Canberra were on the bill again and also from Canberra the ‘Jeff and JohnTrio’.
Part of the crowd on 6 July 1965 cheering-on the entertainment.
Press clip from the Canberra Times of 6 July 1965 – Courtesy of Trove
Talent Quest – At the theatre two months later on the 9th of September 1965 there was a Canberra Talent quest. The quest was compared by Sydney’s Radio and Television personality Brian Henderson of ‘Band Stand’ fame. Brian was accompanied by the ‘De Kroo Brothers’ from Sydney and three Sydney Fashion Models. My band ‘The Castaways’ were one of the supporting guest bands with Canberra’s ‘Bruce Lansley and the Presidents’ that provided the music. There were ten finalists in the quest with Brain Henderson, John Kerr and Bruce Lansley of Radio Station 2CA the judge’s for the finalists.
The Castaways on the opening night at the Theatre.
LtoR: Val Starr, Bill Radcliffe, Brian Henderson, Bela Kover, Ian Peters
Myself and Jenn in 2025.
Myself and Jenny on that night, she became my wife in 1967, we are still married. Do I still have those golden locks, Noooo!
Bandstand Show – Another notable music event was held at the Theatre on the night of Sunday the 13th November 1965. This was Brian Henderson ‘Bandstand Show’. This show featured Sydney’s ‘Little Pattie’ who was at the time a very young ‘Pop Idol’. ‘Col Joye and the Joy Boy’s’ provided the music accompaniment, other vocalists were Sandy Scott, Judy Stone, and the Shirley Regan Dancers.
It didn’t take long for many other acts and artists to perform in the Theatre.
Hoadley’s Battle of the Sounds – One of the most notable events for us young muso’s at the times was the ‘Hoadley’s Battle Of The Sounds’. This was an Australia wide competition with each state hosting its own battle for the winning band to compete in the Australia wide final. Although the Battle’s started in 1966 and ended in 1972, the very last three Battles (1970-1972) were held in the Canberra Theatre.
Hoadley’s Battle of the Sounds – Canberra Times 21 June 1970 courtesy of Trove.
Canberra Band Iron Pig performing at the Battle in in the Canberra Theatre – June 1971. LtoR: Bruce Walters, Michael Hegarty (just out of view), Nigel Rough, Al Zielonka, Ron Parkinson.
Canberra Band ‘Brandy’ performing at the Battle in the Canberra theatre – 19 August 1972. LtoR: Al Zielonka, Michael Hegarty, possibly Brad West, Ron Parkinson. This band was basically ‘Iron Pig’ who performed in the previous years Battle.
Canberra Band ‘Red Grass’ performing at the Battle in the Canberra Theatre – 19 August 1972. LtoR: Nick Foudoulis, Roger Watson, Boghdan Boguta, Robert Polkinghorn.
Canberra Band ‘Wally and the Wombats’ Performing at the Battle in the Canberra Theatre 19 August 1972. Ltor: George Bennet, Richard Hauser, Erik Adriaanse, Bernie Sadowski.
View of the packed-out crowd at the Canberra Theatre at the Battle on the 19 August 1972.
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