The grand reopening of the Roleystone Theatre took place on Friday April 19 2024, and was celebrated with a special Hollywood themed opening night. The City of Armadale was delighted to continue the legacy of this historic theatre, providing all the funding for the rebuild.
The VIP reopening was celebrated with a Hollywood themed function, featuring a range of entertainment from some of Perth’s best performers. These included Perth musical theatre performers Elaina O’Connor and Ethan Churchill from the 2022 Hammer production of Wizard of Oz at Crown Theatre, Perth’s premier 10-piece show band Proof featuring Blake Williams and Elise Lynelle, and dynamic Perth dancers Tory Kendrick and Sophie Sutton.
The event saw attendance by Hugh Jones MLA, Hon Matt Keogh MP, and Hon David Templeman MLA, who came dressed in character as the Minister’s Cultural Attache ‘Lance’ to be our MC for the evening.
Mayor Ruth Butterfield said: “The City of Armadale is proud to have supported and funded the rebuild of the much loved theatre. The Roleystone Theatre has a long history of providing a venue for professional and grass roots performing arts in the community. This rebuild provides an updated space which will be home to the Roleystone Theatre Group Inc. and be available for hire by other groups, when not in use.”
The Roleystone Theatre has a rich history, dating back to 1922. Roleystone Hall was built in 1922, and with an extension in 1977, saw it formally recognised as a theatre. During the rebuild, the original theatre stage timber floorboards, external timber weather boards and internal timber wall panelling were all safely retained and have all been reused internally.
The salvaged timber floorboards have been repurposed in the foyer and they still evidence paint-markings, and wear and tear from the original stage floor, dating back to circa 1922. The original external timber weatherboards have been recycled and used in a feature wall cladding element in the front entry foyer. The original timber wall panelling with new timber panelling have been integrated to clad the lower half of the auditorium wall.
All of these original features are easily identifiable by visitors, along with the original ‘Roleystone Theatre’ sign, which greets patrons at the entrance.
When not in use by the Roleystone Theatre Group, the new theatre will be available to hire for performance, cabaret, lecture space etc, as the retractable seating can be pushed back to open up the entire floor area.
The Roleystone Theatre Group Inc. will be celebrating it’s opening to the public during the Armadale Arts Festival. The Roleystone Theatre Group will be performing the musical ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’.
The open rehearsal will be on Sunday 5 May 2024, 4.00pm-6.00pm. This event is free but bookings are essential.
The public performance will be from 17-19 May 2024. This is a ticketed event and bookings are essential.
