Playhouse Theater, Perth

The Playhouse Theatre, built specifically for live performances during the 1950s, served as a prominent venue for the performing arts in the city for over fifty years until it was replaced by the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia in January 2011. Situated next to St George's Cathedral on Pier Street, the theatre was erected on land owned by the Anglican Church, formerly occupied by the Church of England Deanery tennis court. Its grand opening took place on August 22, 1956, with a full house of 700 attendees enjoying the debut performance of John Patrick’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, "The Teahouse of the August Moon".

Designed by the local architectural firm Sheldon & Krantz, the construction of the theatre cost £65,000. Inside, the main lobby boasted a mural by the renowned local brutalist architect Iwan Iwanoff. The Playhouse followed a traditional proscenium arch design, featuring a sloped auditorium accommodating 427 patrons across two main levels (189 in the stalls and 238 in the dress circle), with a stage spanning 10.2 meters wide. Additionally, the theatre offered bar and conference amenities. Over the years, it showcased a variety of theatrical productions and dance performances, including contributions from the annual Perth International Arts Festival.