Article on the Empire Theatre in Toowoomba, Queensland.
While Gladys Moncrieff and the Bugalugs Bum Thief may not have performed together they have nevertheless shared the same stage-the Empire Theatre in Toowoomba, Queensland.
The Empire began life in 1911 when an enterprising group of local people brought the new technology of silent films to town. The Theatre was a dual-purpose movie and live theatre venue from 1911 until 1933. Gladys Moncrieff and the ABC Orchestra have performed there and weekly newsreels and MGM features kept the folk of the Darling Downs informed and entertained.
In February 1933, fire almost completely destroyed the building, leaving only two solid brick walls. Architects incorporated these walls when the Theatre was rebuilt in the art deco style of the era-reopening in November 1933.
Sadly closing it doors in 1971, due to the advent of TV and simple economic realities, the Theatre was neglected until lobbying and fundraising by locals reopened it in 1997. The Empire is now a thoroughly modern performing arts theatre, with around 80 000 ticket sales a year to a community who just can't get enough.
So what brings the people of Toowoomba and the wider Queensland community of the Darling Downs to their theatre in such numbers? It's said that 'variety is the spice of life' and that's just what is happening at the Empire.
With the support of Playing Australia-the Commonwealth Government's national performing arts touring program-a range of productions are able to travel to the Empire. Many of these productions would normally not have the financial backing to travel to regional centres around Australia.
Prior to 1997 there were few touring productions coming to Toowoomba-and those that did played in the City Hall Theatre, seating 480 people on a hire basis without assistance from professional theatre staff, technical or box office facilities.
In the three years since the reopening of the Empire Theatre, Playing Australia assisted in bringing 16 quality productions to the Empire Theatre. Audience development began from the first few months when drama audiences cut their teeth on State Theatre of South Australia's The Club.
In the second year, Melbourne Theatre Company visited with Sylvia and Bell Shakespeare presented Romeo and Juliet. And, in its third drama year, the Empire Theatre almost doubled attendance with a season that included Playbox Theatre's Secret Bridesmaids Business, Picture This' Mum's the Word, Hit Productions' Hotel Sorrento and Bell Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.
Developing a love of theatre in children has been a high priority at the Empire, commencing with the very popular Charlotte's Web from Company Skylark, Terrapin Theatre's The BFG, Bell Shakespeare's Storm Boy, and Spare Parts Theatre's Bugalugs Bum Thief. An outstanding attendance record of almost 4 000 young people was set when Possum Magic-The Musical recently played.
In addition, there has been ballet from the Australian Ballet's, Dancers Company in Don Quixote, the sheer energy of the physical theatre of Circus Oz, and the light relief of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow.
The touring of companies, provided through the Playing Australia program, will mean that the Empire Theatre of Toowoomba will take centre stage for many years to come. | 
