Theatrical traditions: stage and screen in Bendigo

8
First Benefit on
Sandhurst of the
sisters Ada &
Fanny Hart at the
Lyceum Theatre,
theatre ticket
1869
lithographic print
Collection Rod
Aikman
Image courtesy
Douglas Stewart
Fine Books
Photograph
Tira Lewis
time. Unlike the variety entertainment
that was common at establishments like
the Shamrock, the Lyceum’s program
included opera, Shakespeare and other
plays from the English repertoire
attracting a more cultured audience.
Chinese opera was also performed
annually at the Lyceum, often in aid
of the Asylum or Hospital. 13 Despite
its reputation and achievements, in
1872, like those before it, the Lyceum
closed.
ST JAMES’ HALL
In the 1870s with the closing of
the Lyceum and the increasing
sophistication of theatre-goers, there
was growing concern about the need
for a first-class theatre worthy of a city
such as Bendigo. Heffernan’s solution
was to build St James Hall on a narrow
site directly opposite The Shamrock
Hotel. 14 The Bendigo Philharmonic
Society opened the hall on 8 April
1873 with a performance of Handel’s
Judas Maccabeus. 15 The venture was
short lived however, as Heffernan put
his energy into the construction of the
Royal Princess Theatre just up the hill
on View Street.
THE ROYAL PRINCESS THEATRE
The Royal Princess Theatre opened
on 31 August 1874 with a performance
of The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein just
months after its Paris premier. 16 Situated
on View Street, the theatre was designed
by Vahland and Getzschmann. 17 With
a seating capacity of 2000 spread across
three levels and six stage boxes, its scale
and elegance rivaled capital city theatres
and successfully satisfied community
aspirations for a premium theatre.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries
everything from vauderville to classical
theatrical productions, pantomimes,
vocal and music recitals, opera, ballet
and elocutionary competitions were
presented on the Royal Princess’ stage
with a constant stream of reputed local,
national and international artists and
touring companies to sustain them.
Many well-known performers stopped
off in Bendigo to perform at the Royal
Princess Theatre on their Australian
tours. 18
One such celebrity was Dame Nellie
Melba who performed in Bendigo on
several occasions. Her first visit was in
February 1889, her second in 1908.
During this second visit, like many
of her colleagues, Melba stayed at the
most reputable accommodation of
the day, the Shamrock Hotel. Legend
has it that she was so irritated by the
constant chiming of the Post Office
clock opposite her window, she asked
for the clock to be stopped so she could
get some sleep. Her last appearance
in Bendigo was a farewell concert at