National Theatre, Theatre venue in St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia

The National Theatre stands at the corner of Barkly and Carlisle Streets in St Kilda, Melbourne, in a Beaux Arts building opened in 1921 as the Victory Theatre. Its 783-seat auditorium occupies the original dress circle, extended with a stage and fly tower. The former stalls hold five studios for drama, opera and ballet, one of them a small theatrette.

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 name comes from the National Theatre Movement, founded in 1935 by soprano Gertrude Johnson after her Covent Garden career, to give Australian artists training at home. Its drama school dates from 1936 and its ballet school from 1939, the oldest in Australia; alumni include Bella Heathcote and Kat Stewart. The ballet school holds Royal Academy of Dance examinations and performs mid-year and in December.

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 theatre's 783-seat auditorium is the former dress circle of the 1921 Victory Theatre, extended with a new stage and fly tower. The old stalls below were converted into five studios for drama, opera and ballet, one of them a small theatrette.