Performance Venues and Facilities
The Arts Centre is a complex of distinct venues. Hamer Hall is a separate building and the largest of the venues – the building also houses the small experimental theatre BlackBox. The other venues (the State Theatre, Playhouse and Fairfax Studio) are housed in the Theatres Building (under the spire).
The Sidney Myer Music Bowl, situated in nearby Kings Domain, is an outdoor arena also managed by the Arts Centre. It seats 12,000 on the lawn area and 2,150 in reserved seating, and is used for music concerts.
- Hamer Hall
Hamer Hall (formerly the Melbourne Concert Hall) is a 2,661 seat concert hall – the largest venue in the Arts Centre complex, used for orchestra and contemporary music performances. It was opened in 1982, and was later renamed Hamer Hall in honour of Sir Rupert Hamer (the 39th Premier of Victoria) shortly after his death in 2004.
- State Theatre
The State Theatre is located in the Theatres Building of the Arts Centre complex, under the spire, and is a 2,077 seat theatre used for opera and theatre performances. It was opened in 1984, and has one of the largest stages in the World.
- Playhouse
The Playhouse is also located in the Theatres Building of the Arts Centre complex, and is a 822 seat theatre used for plays and dance performances. It was also opened in 1984.
- Fairfax Studio
The Fairfax Studio is also located in the Theatres Building of the Arts Centre complex, and is a 376 seat theatre. It was also opened in 1984.
- Galleries
The Arts Centre also houses dedicated gallery spaces including Gallery 1 (formally the George Adams Gallery) on Level 6 (Ground level), Gallery 2 on Level 7, the St Kilda Road Foyer Gallery and the Smorgon Family Plaza, whose walls and central areas are used for exhibitions, in the Theatres Building.
Read more about this topic: Arts Centre Melbourne
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