The 1956 Playhouse Theatre was demolished today. Athough it was too small to have have had the awful Lackers Olivier tread the boards, apparently he and Vivs sent a congratulatory telegram for the opening. Fuck off Larry. Even Richard Burton was calling you a dumb cunt according to his diary excerpts released by his wife today. (He really did, although in a more sonorous tone.) In any case, the Playhouse was never that good looking a building – in my memory anyway. It had been pissed around with for too many years. The original brick looked far better. But can we afford to knock what’s left of our history down? A couple of pics from Perth’s Best architecture below, after my demolition shot. Next door to this vanished worst.
Worst Talk
AHC McDonald on Save Our Blank Walls Anonymous on Save Our Blank Walls AHC McDonald on Save Our Blank Walls Anonymous on Save Our Blank Walls Anonymous on Pizza Showtime! Anonymous on A Short Stack of Crap paulie48406 on Pizza Showtime! AHC McDonald on Pizza Showtime! Anonymous on Pizza Showtime! Anonymous on Pizza Showtime! Anonymous on Pizza Showtime! AHC McDonald on Pulling Off Trucks AHC McDonald on Alexander The Great’s… Anonymous on Alexander The Great’s… AHC McDonald on Private Dancer Online Now
The Asia Beat- Museum of Winds Opens
- Vagina Steaming to go on despite diarrhea outbreak.
- Dog movie “racist”.
- Liquid food blogger enrages Sing. Chef
- Sushi Train Wreck
- Snake of the year spat turns nasty
- Aussie icon may cure sick
- Singapore admits, “National Service all about shooting Malaysians.”
- Asian firm sparks “wife beater” brawl.
- Actors protest over MH370 delay
The Worst of Perth 
I confess I really like the original building, and even with the new paint job and other changes it has a real street presence. I know mid-century modern doesn’t do it for everyone but this was a solid example. The little windows at the attic level were a nice touch.
Is it being replaced by a new playhouse? Also, what is the handsome-looking Gothic building it adjoined?
I have some new HRV worsts for you. Real Dunwich Horror stuff.
LikeLike
Replaced by new Heath Ledger state theatre, which is quite nice. Esp inside.
Home to the Winton debacles.
LikeLike
Shrine by Tim Winton, Heath Ledger Theatre August 31 to September 15 2013
John Howard (who is fond of the google vanity search)
LikeLike
I think you mean “The Ledge”.
LikeLike
it was in a little precinct with the anglican cathedral, church hall and deanery, all really rather nice.
LikeLike
The Dean himself was out watching the demo. The other brick 70s building behind is being knocked over for a really boring class rectange if I remember rightly.
LikeLike
a song school for the cathedral’s choir is currently being proposed, and an office building as well.
LikeLike
Rape room?
LikeLike
Anglican, not catholic
LikeLike
Potato, potarto.
LikeLike
Have been at least six worsts in just these few square metres
LikeLike
Olivier’s portrayal of Othello is one rather controversial because Olivier wears heavy black makeup in the role. He is so black in the role that one light reflects off of him in the right way he does in fact look a little blue.
http://actoroscar.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/best-actor-1965-laurence-olivier-in.html
LikeLike
why do I get the nagging feeling that the State Theatre was built so that they could demolish the Playhouse and free up some prime real estate in the CBD?
rather sad that Perth hasn’t got enough new Winton plays to keep two theatres open.
LikeLike
Why do all black and white photos of 1970’s building make them look like TB or STD clinics?
LikeLike
Theatre types. STDs much more likely.
LikeLike
I did my year 12 work experience here in 1983: I forget the name of the production I assisted with, but I did help sculpt a nude from foam.
My thespian colleagues said her bottom was too big.
LikeLike
Misogynist actors
LikeLike
Run for your wife? Tim Brooke Taylor did play here.
LikeLike
In fairness, they’d probably only ever seen male ones.
LikeLike
You were channelling Bento then.
LikeLike
Why the attack on the Oliviers in this? The Playhouse Theatre didn’t exist when Larry and Viv performed in Perth so ridiculous to say that they rejected playing there because it was too small!
LikeLike