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The Dictionary of Sydney
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Royal Hotel and Commercial Exchange, George Str...

Royal Hotel and Commercial Exchange, George Street 1834

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From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[a1528593 / PXD 812/1]

(Mitchell Library)

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Barnett Levey's Theatre Royal Sydney's lost theatres

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Barnett Levey's Theatre Royal Royal Hotel

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Wilson, William

State Library of New South Wales

Barnett Levey's Theatre Royal

The first commercial theatre in Sydney had a shaky start, and its owner Barnett Levey had problems with licensing, financing and bankruptcy. Despite this, it saw the first professional production of Shakespeare in Australia and formed part of the foundation of Sydney's ongoing theatrical culture.

Sydney's lost theatres

Theatres operated on more than two dozen sites in Sydney in the period 1796 to the 1930s. Only two of these sites still function as commercial theatres today, indicating a significant loss of the city's cultural memory.

Hotels and Pubs

Royal Hotel

Hotel with attached theatre in George Street, which was destroyed by fire in 1840 and rebuilt. It traded there until it was demolished in 1932 to make way for the Dymocks building.

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Barnett Levey's Theatre Royal

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First permanent theatre in Australia, operated by Barnett Levey. Built in George Street behind the Royal Hotel in 1829 and officially licensed in 1832, the theatre closed in 1838 and the building was destroyed by fire in 1840.