OCTAGON THEATRE
UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The Octagon Theatre was opened on 27 November 1967 by The Princess Margaret. Despite the town council and the theatre management having been officially advised, that there would be no requirement for any type of ‘comfort facility’, for the Royal party, they went ahead, anyway, and installed a lavish loo, with gold plated fittings. Having only ever been used, officially, by the plumbers who needed to test it, following the official opening it was completely stripped out and turned into an office space.
The first theatre production was Annie and Fanny by local playwright Bill Naughton. The building was designed by Geoffrey H. Brooks, Bolton’s Director of Architecture, and was constructed for the sum of £95,000 using money raised by public donation. It was the first professional theatre to be built in North West England following World War II.
The building is hexagon in shape but was named The Octagon Theatre to avoid confusion with an existing Hexagon Theatre.
In 1987 the building was extended to add a studio theatre, originally called the Octopus Studio. In 1994 this space was enlarged and renamed The Bill Naughton Theatre, in honour of Naughton.
In the late eighties Farnworth born playwright Jim Cartwright was the Octagon’s writer in residence. His plays Two and Bed were premiered at the theatre.
In 1998 the Octagon was refurbished using funds from an Arts Council Lottery award. This improved the theatre’s seating systems and disability access, and allowed the construction of a new room for business hospitality, and a more spacious bar.
First ‘thrust’ stage built in Australia, to a design by eminent British Shakespearean producer Sir Tyrone Guthrie. The partnership of Hill & Parkinson was awarded the RAIA (WA) Bronze Medal Citation in 1969 for the place. (Ref: AHC documentation) A government decision in favour of a university for Western Australia was made in 1901, however a shortage of funds prevented it being established until 1913. The University Endowment Bill in 1903 allowed for land to be set aside for the future. The first location was a temporary one in Irwin Street, Perth, in a weatherboard building. The first Chancellor was John Winthrop Hackett. In 1921 Crawley was chosen as the permanent site for UWA. The Irwin Street building was relocated there in 1932. The foundation stone for the Hackett Memorial Buildings was laid in 1929. They form the focal point and symbolic landmark of UWA.