History of the National Theatre
Established 1935

The National Theatre was founded on December 5th 1935 by the late Gertrude E. Johnson OBE after her return from a successful career as a soprano in England. Her idea of a National Theatre grew out of conversations she had whilst in England with Lillian Bayliss, the founder of the Old Vic and Sadlers Wells. The principle was based upon a continuing tuition of young singers, dancers and actors to professional level and this has been implemented and continued to the present day with the Ballet and Drama Schools, although the Opera School founded by Miss Johnson in 1935 was transferred to the Victorian College of the Arts in 1978-80 (and closed in 2006). A Music Theatre Course ran from 1996-2003.

The National Theatre is somewhat of a misnomer, the original intention was to create a nationwide organisation but this dream did not materialise and the activities of the organisation have always been restricted to Victoria (The 1953 National Opera tour to Sydney, the 1954 Royal Command Performance and extensive New Zealand tours by the Ballet in the 1950s notwithstanding). Indeed the success of the 1954 Royal Command Performance led to the formation of the Elizabethan Theatre Trust which took over the national role. The original title of the organisation was the National Theatre Movement but this changed over the years to become the Australian National Memorial Theatre Limited. The name has always been abbreviated by common usage to simply "National Theatre".

Over the years its three schools of Opera (est 1935), Drama (est 1936) and Ballet (est 1939), together with its professional theatrical companies (Drama est 1951, Ballet & Opera est 1948), produced many premieres and toured Australia extensively. Artists involved included Ray Lawler, Patricia Kennedy, Bunney Brooke, John Truscott, Marie Collier, Mary Hardy, Noel Ferrier, Marjorie Lawrence, June Jago, John Shaw, Anne Fraser and many others too numerous to mention. It was a fertile training ground and established the basis for the Australian Ballet, Opera Australia and our existing State Theatre Companies while continuing to produce many of the most talented and successful members of the Australian Theatre Industry.

The objective of training students to a professional level was hampered over the years through the lack of a suitable theatre in which to stage productions. Training in the theatrical arts is not complete without the experience of actual performance and although commercial theatres were available for use by the schools they were expensive and for a number of other reasons, not entirely suitable for student productions.

With the support of public donations and financial assistance (a loan) from the State Government, the present National Theatre opened on 7th September 1974. The theatre has operated profitably ever since, providing financial support for the National Theatre schools and a versatile and attractive performance venue for a wide cross section of community arts and educational groups.

In recent years the company has continued a longstanding policy of support for community, ethnic and multi-cultural groups by providing heavily discounted use of its theatre and facilities.

The Company receives no recurrent funding and all donations & bequests are fully tax-deductible. For more information on how to support the National Theatre please contact Mr. Robert Taylor (General Manager) on 0395340221 or by email ceo@nationaltheatre.org.au

Historical Highlights