Hayman Theatre productions

Collection 126

Curtin University’s Theatre Arts course opened in 1973 and was based in Hayman Hall at what was then WAIT (the Western Australian Institute of Technology).

The Theatre Arts course initially supported two resident theatre companies, a student company Theatregoround and a professional company WATC (the Western Australia Theatre Company). Both the course and the companies were originally led by Senior Lecturer and Artistic Director David Addenbrooke.

WATC’s public productions were staged by professional directors with professional actors and students providing minor roles and technical support.

WATC’s first production, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, directed by Addenbrooke, was both a critical and box-office success. By 1975 the combined companies had performed for more than 28,000 people on campus.

Following the closure of the main theatre in 2006, Hayman Hall major productions were held in the Theatre Upstairs or at off campus venues around Perth.

The first pantomime:  Babes in the Wood was staged in November 1977 establishing an annual tradition which continued until 2011 when it was replaced by the Stage One initiative.

Lunchtime and Sunday night theatre programs began to develop in 1978 and continue to this day.

The relocation of the Hayman Theatre into Building 302 took place during the University’s ‘50 Years of Innovation’ celebrations in 2017.

Each year approximately 20 student-driven productions are produced in the Lunchtime/Sunday Night Theatre program and 5 Major Productions (either on or off campus) are produced with either staff or guest directors.

This collection holds records of these productions from 1973-2015.