The Kirribilli Pub Theatre commenced operation on the 21st October 1978 and continued as one of Sydney's premier fringe comedy venues until it closed, 10 years later, on 1st October 1988.
In early 1978, under employed actor and recent drama school graduate, Bill Young, was cast in a pub show, Smiles and Piles in the upstairs bar at the Civic Hotel, Pitt Street, Sydney. This show was produced by Bryan Brown, who had been involved with pub theatre at the White Horse Hotel in Newtown. Smiles and Piles, a punk rock satire, was directed by Ken Boucher, written by Peter Stephens and Foveaux Kirby and featured a terrific cast including Sean Scully, Chris Haywood, Julie McGregor, Mary Lou Stewart and Peter Corbett.
Writers Malcolm Frawley and Rick Maier had a script, The Over The Rainbow Show, which was slated to be the next show into the Civic Hotel space. However the residency was cancelled at the end of the Smiles and Piles run. Bill, having enjoyed his pub theatre experience, approached these writers with the idea of setting up a pub theatre on the north side of the harbour, and requested their script as the first show. They agreed.
The challenge now was on to find a venue. After knocking on many hotel doors on the lower north shore where Bill was confident he could find an audience, David Bear, the publican at the Kirribilli Hotel opposite the Milsons Point station, agreed to the idea, muttering the memorable line "If it can make me money, I'm interested.". He offered Bill a smallish room underneath the hotel, that could squeeze in 100 patrons. The Kirribilli Pub Theatre was born!
Initially playing one night a week (Saturday), things soon improved as the punters rolled in. What became know as 'The Shows' moved to Friday and Saturday nights. These shows were usually booked out 3 to 4 weeks in advance. Stand up comedy under the guise of The Loony Bin was introduced on Thursday nights and quickly became the most popular stand up venue in Sydney, to punters and comics alike. Often the doors would open at 6.30pm and have to close at 6.45pm as the room packed to capacity. Comedy legends such as Graham Pugh, Vince Sorrenti, Austen Tayshus, Anthony Ackroyd and Keith Scott were regular acts. (Austen Tayshus' massive hit Australiana was filmed and recorded on the Loony Bin stage). Tuesday and Wednesday nights soon hosted shows such as John Howitt's famous 680 Revues, as well as trivia nights, solo shows, improv and musical events.
The Kirribilli Pub Theatre had become THE fringe comedy venue in Sydney.
In early 1978, under employed actor and recent drama school graduate, Bill Young, was cast in a pub show, Smiles and Piles in the upstairs bar at the Civic Hotel, Pitt Street, Sydney. This show was produced by Bryan Brown, who had been involved with pub theatre at the White Horse Hotel in Newtown. Smiles and Piles, a punk rock satire, was directed by Ken Boucher, written by Peter Stephens and Foveaux Kirby and featured a terrific cast including Sean Scully, Chris Haywood, Julie McGregor, Mary Lou Stewart and Peter Corbett.
Writers Malcolm Frawley and Rick Maier had a script, The Over The Rainbow Show, which was slated to be the next show into the Civic Hotel space. However the residency was cancelled at the end of the Smiles and Piles run. Bill, having enjoyed his pub theatre experience, approached these writers with the idea of setting up a pub theatre on the north side of the harbour, and requested their script as the first show. They agreed.
The challenge now was on to find a venue. After knocking on many hotel doors on the lower north shore where Bill was confident he could find an audience, David Bear, the publican at the Kirribilli Hotel opposite the Milsons Point station, agreed to the idea, muttering the memorable line "If it can make me money, I'm interested.". He offered Bill a smallish room underneath the hotel, that could squeeze in 100 patrons. The Kirribilli Pub Theatre was born!
Initially playing one night a week (Saturday), things soon improved as the punters rolled in. What became know as 'The Shows' moved to Friday and Saturday nights. These shows were usually booked out 3 to 4 weeks in advance. Stand up comedy under the guise of The Loony Bin was introduced on Thursday nights and quickly became the most popular stand up venue in Sydney, to punters and comics alike. Often the doors would open at 6.30pm and have to close at 6.45pm as the room packed to capacity. Comedy legends such as Graham Pugh, Vince Sorrenti, Austen Tayshus, Anthony Ackroyd and Keith Scott were regular acts. (Austen Tayshus' massive hit Australiana was filmed and recorded on the Loony Bin stage). Tuesday and Wednesday nights soon hosted shows such as John Howitt's famous 680 Revues, as well as trivia nights, solo shows, improv and musical events.
The Kirribilli Pub Theatre had become THE fringe comedy venue in Sydney.