Star Court Theatre |
The Star Court Theatre is a fabulous venue, ideally set up for live concerts, movies and theatre with the intimate Salon Verdi bar and cafe on site.
The Star Court began its genesis as the Diggers Theatre in Woodlark Street next to Lismores Commercial Hotel. Then it was an open air theatre with a canvas roof, hardly protection from the Northern Rivers driving rain. In 1920 a prospectus was issued to raise money to build a bigger and better space for the company and $22,000 was raised and TJ Dorgan built what we know today as the Star Court Theatre and Arcade with its twenties brick facade.
The Star Court Theatre was the first major venue for musical and theatrical events in Northern NSW, opening with much fanfare on 18th July, 1921. With a seating capacity of 1500 and with dimmer lights, plush seats and quality acoustics, the Star Court was aptly named. Musical Festival Society productions as well as ABC Celebrity Concerts and other live performances were held as well as the screening of the ever popular feature films.
Alias Jimmy Valentine
With the arrival of sound in 1929, Mr Dorgan announced the theatre would be equipped with RCA Photophone and the entire theatre was refurbished with carpet throughout and new seats were installed in the Dress Circle with new drapes and furnishings. The Star Court reopened on November 4th, 1929 with a gala viewing of MGMs Alias Jimmy Valentine.
Matinees were added to the schedule with screenings on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and each program was enhanced with leading Vaudeville artists. TJ Dorgan died in 1944. Fred Kehoe was manager from 1934-63.
The Star Court changed hands in the 1960s, first to North Coast Theatres and later to HJ Harder. In 1963 the stalls were sealed off and an arcade of shops built into the space. The upstairs balcony was altered and made into a new proscenium. Birch Caroll and Coyle acquired it in 1980 and refurbished it resulting in a seating capacity of 450. It was renamed Cinema Lismore.
With the trends of the time a multiplex cinema complex was built and the theatre was sold to prominent businessman, visionary and mentor Dr Floriano Volpato in 1996. In the same year, Dr Volpato was warded a medal in the General Division of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to the community and for saving a valuable resource, The Star Court Theatre, from an uncertain future.
Today, his son Nicola Volpato is committed to his fathers vision by rekindling The Star Court Theatres glory days by creating a space rich with avant-garde cultural flavours.
Heather Rose is the current Star Court theatre manager.
Office and The Theatre Shop/Box Office
Shop 17 in the Star Court Arcade, near the Carrington Street Entrance. Molesworth Street, Lismore NSW 2480
Office hours:
Tuesday - Friday: 10am to 5pm.
You can purchase your tickets to all shows and films on this website, go to Whats On, and then to the show or film and press the buy now buttons.
Or you can phone the Theatre Shop during the above hours, or drop in and purchase tickets in person.
Theatre Hire
Our venue hire rates are very reasonable and you can rest assured that your audience will love the space. Visit the Star Court Theatre website via the link below for hire rates and more information.
❊ Address ❊
⊜ 126 Molesworth Street Lismore 2480 View Map
✆ Telephone: 02 6622 5005
❊ Web Links ❊
➼ Star Court Theatre
➼ www.starcourttheatre.com.au
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