Discover our venues

Civic Theatre Newcastle

At the heart of Newcastle’s cultural precinct, Civic Theatre Newcastle is where the city comes together for live performance. A much-loved landmark and contemporary cultural destination, it offers memorable experiences for audiences of all ages.

Opened in 1929, the Civic Theatre is one of Australia’s few remaining atmospheric theatres from the late 1920s. Its beautifully preserved Georgian Revival architecture provides a striking setting for a diverse program spanning local, national and international work. Nearly a century on, the Theatre continues to evolve, remaining deeply connected to Newcastle’s creative life.

The main auditorium seats more than 1,450 people across two tiers, combining the scale and spectacle of a classic proscenium theatre with modern technical capability.

Civic Playhouse

The Playhouse is an intimate multi-purpose theatre for smaller live performance events. A thrust studio theatre seating 179 in raked seating, the Playhouse is perfect for community theatre groups. It also provides great audience comfort, uninterrupted vision of the performance space and accessibility.

Newcastle City Hall

The 805 seat Concert Hall at Newcastle City Hall has been acclaimed as one of the finest in Australia.It features excellent natural acoustics, air conditioning and can be set up in a number of configurations for theatre or special events.The stalls seat 480 with another 385 seats in the upper level gallery.

Civic Theatre Café and Bar

Completing the experience, the Civic Theatre Café and Bar offer relaxed spaces to meet, unwind and make a night of it. Located in Wheeler Place, the Café serves grab-and-go breakfast and lunch on weekdays and opens one hour before performances, while the Bar provides a welcoming place to gather before the show or during interval.

Across these venues, audiences can enjoy theatre, music, comedy, dance, filmed theatre and special events on almost any day of the week, creating shared experiences that resonate long after the curtain falls.