Narrabundah resident Geoff Charlton has vivid memories of visiting the opening ‘gala’ at the Canberra Theatre Centre on 24 June 1965.
“I remember it very well, I was in the (Canberra) Philharmonic Society in those days, and we were invited to become part of the audience,” he told media.
“We went to the opening night where they performed Swan Lake, the Melbourne Cup ballet and other things and I can still remember the whole picture; it was wonderful.”
The Civic venue opened on 24 June 1965 with a ‘gala’ performance by The Australian Ballet, according to the ACT Government’s ArchivesACT.
“Opening night saw a performance of Act 2 from Swan Lake, Robert Helpmann’s first work choreographed for the company, The Display, and Melbourne Cup, the first work commissioned by The Australian Ballet.”
Mr Charlton said the venue was packed out. He said the evening included a “terrific” fanfare [a ceremonial tune] by Terry (Terence) Vaughan, the venue’s founding director.
He even had in his hand a program from that first show he had kept.
CD asked Mr Charlton how it felt being back at the theatre for the anniversary celebration.
“Wonderful. Happy it’s still here,” he said.
Mr Charlton said it was hard to choose a highlight of the shows he had seen.
“(But) Dame Edna was probably the peak of the shows that I’d seen,” he said.
“Because he/she was able to react to the audience and the audience would react with them.
“That was just fantastic to be able to see.”
Canberra Theatre Centre director Alex Budd said that among the guests over the past 60 years were ambassadors, prime ministers, and Hollywood A-listers.
“And at one point, even Queen Elizabeth II, who just by chance, attended a performance of Carmen by The Australian Ballet in 1973,” he said.
The Australian Ballet’s current artistic director David Hallberg said 60 years was a huge milestone. Fortuitously the company is here during the anniversary with their production of Carmen.
“Carmen I think is the new face of The Australian Ballet,” he said.
“When I think 60 years ago what we brought to open the theatre, it was repertoire of its time.
“It was Swan Lake, but Carmen is really showing what has evolved in the dance world and showing how theatre has evolved.
“It’s a really compelling energetic ballet and super proud to be bringing it back and celebrating this milestone.”
When asked by CD how he felt being at the theatre on the anniversary, Mr Hallberg said it was a full circle moment.
“It was an honour and a privilege for the company to open the theatre 60 years ago,” he said.
“And then to have us come back and celebrate once again, 60 years later. Everything is happening as it should”
Also present at the celebration was former employee Alex Sciberras who began work at the venue the day it opened, Member for Canberra, Alicia Payne MP, and ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr (who cut a cake which was in the shape of the theatre).
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