Ah gather around once again old Kanacki has a yarn for ye. In Australia it seems old pubs, jails, asylums traditionally are places for tormented ghosts to haunt. Well added to that list theaters and movie cinema?
The theatre was originally designed and built by Mr Marino Lucas, a vaudeville entrepreneur from Hobart. The backstage area was still incomplete when the theatre opened in 1911, so instead of live shows, silent films were shown. This proved to be so lucrative that the Theatre operated as a cinema until 1970.
Internationally renowned dancer and choreographer Janet Vernon danced at the Princess Theatre in Launceston when it opened for live performances 50 years ago. She graced the stage as a member of the Australian Ballet during the opening gala ceremony."I can't believe it's 50 years ago, I was so young then but it's like the blink of an eye," she said.
"I certainly remember performing in the theatre and we've come back many, many times since then with Sydney Dance Company and it's just a beautiful theatre to work in."
Vernon has returned, as a creative associate of the latest dance performance at the venue, to help the theatre celebrate 50 years of live performance. She said not all her memories of the venue were fond ones.
"Freezing, there wasn't heating, I remember being so cold waiting in the wings to go on," she said. "It always had an atmosphere and we always felt there was a ghost in the theatre?
And indeed stories did float around the actors performing there that theatre was haunted?
To be continued....
