National Theatre, Theatre venue in St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia
The National Theatre is a theatre in St Kilda, a seaside neighborhood of Melbourne, with a main auditorium and smaller studios designed for specialized performances. The building also contains rehearsal rooms and teaching spaces used for work with drama and dance students.
The building opened in 1921 as the Victory Theatre and was significantly renovated in 1928. In the 1970s it was reshaped and took on its current role as a combined performance and training venue.
The National Theatre is a place where drama and dance students share stages with professional performers on a regular basis. This side-by-side approach to training and public performance is one of the defining features of how the venue is used day to day.
Because the venue mixes student productions with professional shows throughout the year, it is worth checking what is on before planning a visit. Daytime visitors can also walk around the outside of the building without attending a performance.
The outside of the building still shows its original 1921 Beaux Arts design while the interior has been fully updated with modern technical equipment. The contrast between the two becomes clear as soon as you step inside.
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