The Metro Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Metro Theatre is a music venue located on George Street
, in the central business district
of Sydney
, Australia
. The venue was redeveloped, from two former cinemas, by property developer Leon Fink.
The foyer of the Metro, designed by leading Australian stage designer Brian Thomson
, features a lightweight plastic replica of the Art Deco crystal chandelier which once hung in Regent Theatre
which formerly stood opposite the Metro in George St.
Acts who generally perform at the Metro usually are indie-rock and alternative
bands, often of international fame. It was the venue for the now-legendary Sydney concerts in 1995 by Jeff Buckley
and a record seven sold out shows in a row over six days in 1996 by You Am I
, among many others.
It has two separate performance spaces inside the building, The Forum (often simply called The Metro) and The Transit Lounge (which, in January 2007, was re-launched and re-branded as The Lair). Up until 2007 it was not uncommon for both spaces to be used on the same night for different acts, with the larger of the two, The Forum, generally hosting the more famous act. Since the launch of The Lair the space has seldom been used for a public performance, as its primary function was to house MTV Australia's The Lair live music program.
For a brief period in the second half of 2006 the venue was known as The Century Theatre after it went into receivership and was acquired by Century Venues. It was changed back to The Metro Theatre by October 2006.
On 16 September 2009 the Metro was rebranded as the Virgin Mobile Metro, after a sponsorship deal had been made. Dappled Cities Fly
and The Seabellies
both played at the launch night on 29 September 2009.
George Street, Sydney
George Street is one of Sydney's most notable city streets. There are more high rise buildings and more ASX 100 companies located here than anywhere else in Australia, and is well known for being busy around-the-clock...
, in the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The venue was redeveloped, from two former cinemas, by property developer Leon Fink.
The foyer of the Metro, designed by leading Australian stage designer Brian Thomson
Brian Thomson
Brian Thomson is an Australian theatre, opera and film designer. He has been active in Australian stage design for over three decades.Thomson began a long and successful collaboration with director Jim Sharman after they met at Heavenburgers on Sydney's Oxford Street in 1969; they worked together...
, features a lightweight plastic replica of the Art Deco crystal chandelier which once hung in Regent Theatre
Regent Theatre (Sydney)
The Regent Theatre was a heritage-listed theatre in Sydney, Australia, which was demolished in 1988.-Description and history:The Regent Theatre was Hoyts' showcase "picture palace" in Sydney, designed by the distinguished architect Cedric Ballantyne and built by James Porter & Sons.Located at...
which formerly stood opposite the Metro in George St.
Acts who generally perform at the Metro usually are indie-rock and alternative
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
bands, often of international fame. It was the venue for the now-legendary Sydney concerts in 1995 by Jeff Buckley
Jeff Buckley
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley , raised as Scotty Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician...
and a record seven sold out shows in a row over six days in 1996 by You Am I
You Am I
You Am I are an Australian alternative rock band, fronted by vocalist/guitarist and main songwriter Tim Rogers. They were the first Australian band to have three albums successively debut at #1 on the ARIA Charts, and are renowned for their live performances.-History:Tim Rogers formed the first...
, among many others.
It has two separate performance spaces inside the building, The Forum (often simply called The Metro) and The Transit Lounge (which, in January 2007, was re-launched and re-branded as The Lair). Up until 2007 it was not uncommon for both spaces to be used on the same night for different acts, with the larger of the two, The Forum, generally hosting the more famous act. Since the launch of The Lair the space has seldom been used for a public performance, as its primary function was to house MTV Australia's The Lair live music program.
For a brief period in the second half of 2006 the venue was known as The Century Theatre after it went into receivership and was acquired by Century Venues. It was changed back to The Metro Theatre by October 2006.
On 16 September 2009 the Metro was rebranded as the Virgin Mobile Metro, after a sponsorship deal had been made. Dappled Cities Fly
Dappled Cities Fly
Dappled Cities are a five-piece indie rock band from Sydney, Australia.-History:The band, originally called Periwinkle, first came together in the leafy, northern Sydney suburb of Pymble in 1997. Dave Rennick and original drummer Hugh Boyce were soon joined by Alex Moore on bass and Tim Derricourt...
and The Seabellies
The Seabellies
Seabellies are an Australian alternative rock band based in Sydney and Newcastle, New South Wales. Their live show is known for their variety of instrumentsation featuring electronica, strings, metallophone, melodica, horns and multi-percussive layering....
both played at the launch night on 29 September 2009.