Australia’s theater history dates to long before European colonization, with Indigenous Australians using theater as a way to convey stories, culture, and knowledge. When the first European settlers arrived in the late 18th century, they brought with them British theatre traditions. The first Australian theatre performance was in 1789, with a full convict cast performing The Recruiting Officer by George Farquhar. This performance marked the beginning of a theatrical landscape in Australia.
By the 19th century, Australian theatre started to grow, with performances in Sydney and Melbourne becoming more common. Even though many of the plays were heavily influenced by the British, there were many attempts to bring back Australian themes. For example, gold rushes and ranger tales depicted life in the Australian outback. These plays would resonate with many audiences, who were eager to watch the Australian history.
In the 20th century, Australian theater saw a revival, with the establishment of the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust in 1954, which aimed to create a national theatre scene. Many companies such as the Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company were founded as well, which amplified the theatrical performances in the big cities.
Today, Australian theatre is a diverse landscape that shows the dozens of cultures across the country. Places like the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Arts Center, and Queensland Performing Arts Centre hold some of the biggest national theatre performances, exemplifying the mix of Australian and English through performances.
Sources:
https://www.nla.gov.au/digital-classroom/year-5/stage/themes/performing-arts-australia
http://www.stagebeauty.net/th-frames.html?http&&&www.stagebeauty.net/th-austral.html
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