Situated in the heart of Sydney's Chinatown, the Capitol Theatre was the chosen venue for the Chinese New Year Spectacular.
"I think the Capitol Theatre is absolutely lovely," said Caroline King from North Sydney on the night she saw the Spectacular. "I've never been here before…I think it's a perfect venue, actually. Everyone seems to have a good view, but it's intimate enough to feel like you are really getting in touch with the show."
As the oldest theatre building in New South Wales, the Capitol exterior features significant design and decoration dating from 1892 when it was the new Belmore market building.
It was then home to the Hippodrome, the largest theatre and circus in Australia, before being transformed and re-opened as the Capitol Theatre in 1927.
During its early days, the theatre featured an "open air" Florentine garden surrounded by walls and balustrades, statues, doves and period furniture − all beneath a "blue sky," which darkened as session time approached. When all was dark, stars began to twinkle in the "night sky" as fake clouds drifted overhead.
Freshly restored in the 1980s, its architects and builders won awards for their "labour of love" for preserving the original architectural heritage while enhancing its acoustics.
John Booth, editor of the Weekly Times, said the redevelopment of the ageing theatre was a "mammoth task" but "very worthwhile", making it possible to fully appreciate and experience the full breadth of the Chinese New Year Spectacular. Other members of the audience also praised it as the perfect venue that allowed the audience to feel intimately connected with the show.
"We love the Capitol Theatre," said Elizabeth Walker who was there with her husband Bernard and their daughter Geneva who brought along two of her friends. Magnolia, and Levinia. "[The girls have] never been to the Capitol Theatre before. They're loving all the old statues and everything."
Barry Maloney, from the rural town of Young in south-west New South Wales said with good humour: "I think one of these would go real well in the township of Young actually, and don't know if we will get the numbers there. I think you have been hiding these things from us country people. It's about time we got it down here and had a look at these things."
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