Page 9 - CinemaRecord #11R.pdf

Gregan McMahon, Dolia Ribris, Sir Ben Fuller, Murray Sutherland, Lerner Stirling, W F Randall (Bretts father),
Sir Frank Tait, Sir John Casson, Dame Sybil Thorndike, Ray Lawler, Kenn Brodziak, Garnet and Kitty Carroll
and Claude Kingston. Many other seats were dedicated to war casualties by their families.

Facilities in the Little Theatre were vastly improved compared to St Chads. A larger stage with flytower,
impressive backstage space and several dressingrooms with showers; and no need to negotiate Tobacco Walk
-the alley which separated the old dressing rooms from the stage. Although the Little Theatre was built on the
site of St Chads, within two months of opening it had a new address, changed from Martin St to St Martins
Lane, South Yarra. St Martins Lane was taken as the street name following a suggestion of The Age drama
critic Geoffrey Hutton and approved by the local council on the recommendation of Cr John Buchan who was
present at the opening. St Martins Lane. London, was in 1956 the home of three theatres.

The Little Theatre continued, changing its name to St Martins circa 1961, under the direction of its founders
and Irene Mitchell who was connected with the theatre at its foundation. Like all theatres and cinemas, television
gradually effected its viability and in 1973 the venue was taken over by the Melbourne Theatre Company until
they moved to the Athenaeum in 1976. The theatre then had a very uncertain future.

In 1980 a new experimental group of young performers the St Martins Youth Art Centre took over the running
of the theatre which continues to this day. At this time an additional auditorium was added, the original being
named the Randall Theatre and the new the Mitchell Studio, in honour of Irene Mitchell. (Irene Mitchell passed
away in 1995.) The new developments were officially opened by Reice Matthews, Minister for the Arts on 28
April 1982. It is interesting to note that at the time the 1956 theatre opened it was Little Theatre policy to "give"
other artistic groups in the Melbourne community a chance to stage ballet, musical and dramatic recitals, film
screenings and so on. Does anybody have knowledge of films at St Martins?
UNDER VICE-REGAL PATRONAGE

PRODUCTJONS DURING 1962
St. Marcin's The11tre presented 13 play$ during the past year,
including three AuStralian premieres.
Play Aafhor Producer
Plnlnttlf Ill a Pretty Hat Hugh and Margaret George Fairfax
WiUiams
Tbe Bad Samaritan WiJijam Douglas David Reid
THE MlUOURHI Rome
LllTU THlA Tllf
• A M}&hly Man Is Be Arthur Kober and James Inglis
Clloinxu
o/ Director•: George Oppen-
BRETT RANDALl heimer
Presents
Dirtctor•1 The Public Prosecutor Fritt Hochwalder Irene Mitchell
IRENE MITCHELL lrans. by Kitty
PETER RANDALL Black
GEORGE FAIRFAX
CdebratiOD Keith Waterhouse George Fairfax
THE LllTU and Willis Hall
THlATRl GUILD "DIAl Hedda Gabler Henrilr Ib= Peter Randall
&.TO.
truns. by Michael
DiTicloro: Meyu
Mr. R. M. AD Summer Loag Robert Anderson
AobeTho• DHIJI~lJJ'' Irene Mitd!eU
CChoi:rMon, ~Desk Set Willi.am M.arehant George Fairfax
Mrs. Ro10 Rlbuoh
Mrs.W. !I.W. 11le Tenth Man Paddy Ou1yeWcy Irene Mitchell
HMrne .,
. .,,. ...
Prof. K .. Mocartne' •The Wroag Side nr the John Mortimer Peter Randa.U
Mr. K•n-"eth C.. .Part
• A Majority of One Leonard Spigelgus Irene Mitchell
Mr. H. Woltt"r
M•. C. MeAl pia JACK POPPLEWElL 1lle Bad Seat M.a~l Anderson George Fairfax
Mr. V. Gao.,.
-The Bricicf of Mardi John Olapman Irene MitcbcU
Mr. P. D. Phlllipo
•Aastranan PremieR.
Mr. W. Roce
Godftoy . THE BACKSTAGE STAFF
Mr. RuiMII Lloyd The Directors of St Martin's Theatre extend their grateful
Mr. H. W. l66th Production
Hutct.in10n thank.s to the ~ollowing backstage staff. whose hard work and
Mr. L. G. diligence throughout the year ensured the smooth running of
Mon•eo-ry our productions:
s ........ ,, Ric Bailey. Judy Barnes. Garth Browne: Haz.d Catmull;
Mr. W. 8, W. APIUL J4rb to MAY ?rb, U60 MBJ¥U&rita Della Fiori. Laurence Dobson. Mackenzie Ian Dow.
HMrN,
Wendy Dunne: Vivien Egge. Danny Evans: Su Israel: l)enis
loa 904, G.P.O., DirectiOfi: The Little 'Ibtatre Golld Jones: Robin Ka)-e. MalC'Oim Kramer. Nola Kuccb; Jim
a Peter White, Oive Windmill. Kenneth Withers.
Melt..ou,...
Laurent, Lwnas Lauri: Tony McGrath; Alan Morgan. John
Morrison. Nancy Munfock, Peter Murphv; Phillip Oyston; Alister
Phiddian: Margaret R9ndles: William Spcllford: Janice Weldon.
Programme Notes Little Theatre 1960 St. Martins Theatre 1962
Reference:
Melbourne Uttle Theatre opening souvenir 24 August '56., MLT News April-October 1956, Geoffrey Hutton "It Won't Last a Week" (MTC History)