Princess Theatre

The Princess Theatre is a heritage-listed performing arts venue at 163 Spring Street in Melbourne's East End Theatre District, Victoria. Originally established as Astley's Amphitheatre in 1854 and rebuilt in 1886 to designs by architect William Pitt, it is Australia's oldest continuously operating entertainment site. Renowned for its ornate Second Empire architecture and large auditorium, it hosts major musicals, plays and events and is operated by the Marriner Group.

Visitors can expect a grand heritage theatre in central Melbourne with an ornate Victorian facade, marble foyer, and three-tiered auditorium seating around 1,452 people. Inside are elaborate plasterwork, chandeliers and historic decor. The venue primarily hosts large-scale musicals, plays and special events. Visits are typically for ticketed evening or matinee performances, with bars and foyer areas open before shows and during intervals. The theatre is located on Spring Street opposite Parliament House within the East End Theatre District.

Originally built as Astley's Amphitheatre in 1854, renamed Princess's Theatre in 1857, and rebuilt as the New Princess Theatre in 1886 to designs by architect William Pitt. It is the oldest surviving entertainment site on mainland Australia. The building features Second Empire style architecture and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. It has hosted theatre, opera, ballet and musicals for over 160 years and was extensively refurbished in the late 1980s.

A central venue in Melbourne's East End Theatre District and a leading host for major Australian and international musical theatre productions. Operated by the Marriner Group, it is a significant cultural landmark for performing arts in Victoria and is known for its heritage value and long association with live theatre in Australia.