CORNER CHARLES AND PATERSON STREETS - THE NATIONAL THEATRE

THE NATIONAL THEATRE, CNR. CHARLES AND PATERSON STREETS

The National Theatre remains an impressive building on the corner of Charles and Paterson Street. It was designed by Thomas Searell, and built by Harry Goodluck. The Launceston City Council sold the building to the printing firm that still occupies it, in 1969.

The first performance at the theatre, when in opened in September 1915 was “The Silence fo Dean Maitland by Mr George Marlow's Dramatic company. The programme in the early days of the theatre were nothing if not eclectic, as a quick look at early Examiners (via TROVE) illustrates:

05 March 1918: Film - “Unborn” - dealing with the nation's decreasing birthrate “in a manner that gives no offence”

27 March 1918: “Mr. J. D. Foley, comedian and ventriloquist, will appear after an absence of five years. In the afternoon Mr. White will show Punch and Judy for the little ones.”

07 June 1918: The Launceston season of the high class vaudeville combination at the National Theatre is drawing to a close The farces, introducing the full strength of the company, are amongst the most humourous items of their kind offered,and the individual contributions by Doody and Wright, music and dancing artists; Lennon and Hill. society entertainers; Dozey and Doura, acrobats and balancers; Fred. Arthur comedian, Arthur Sharples, tenor vocalist, Laura McLaine, soprano; and Violet Lorraine,soubrette; constitute a programme of rare merit.”........and so on

These are three fairly random samples from just one year – there is a lot more packed into the 44 years of the theatre's operation and each of the performances and events has a whole history worthy of further investigation.