Dozens of signed copies in Dymocks, Collins Street
Best Seller on Amazon – #1 in Photography and Architectural History book categories
“It’s a beautiful book. The quality of the photography will leave you speechless as much as the workmanship and the architecture of the theatres and cinemas.” – Tony Moclair – 3AW
“It is a gorgeous book, the photos are incredible.” – Charlie Pickering – ABC Melbourne
“This beautifully photographed and meticulously researched book is a true masterpiece, created with unmistakable care and passion. Congratulations, Gavin, on an outstanding achievement—an essential addition to the collection of any theatre or cinema lover.” – Quan Tu – Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne
“It is such a wonderful representation of our theatre and those around Australia. We are proud to be involved in such an extravagantly beautiful project.” – Beaver Garland – State Theatre, Sydney
“The book is a masterpiece and it is a great privilege to have played a part in its creation.” – Darren Brown – Capitol Theatre, Melbourne
“Every theatre holds a story, and every story deserves a stage. Congratulations on your wonderful new book celebrating Australian theatres and cinemas.” – Christopher Raduly & Dr Sepehr Moradi – Athenaeum Theatre Managers
“Congratulations on this achievement and thanks for giving us this beautiful artifact we now have.” – Paul Culliver – ABC
“This magnificent book has arrived and is a must look for all theatre lovers. It is beautifully shot, well researched and so illuminating.” – Benjamin Zeccola – CEO Palace Films / Palace Cinemas
“Congratulations! What a wonderful achievement. I am so proud to be included in this wonderful history of Australian theatres.” – Prof Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO FAHA
PRESS
‘On the Couch with Gavin John’ – Australian Arts Review
A first of its kind definitive 272 page volume, immortalising 65 of Australia’s finest historic stage performance and picture palaces, including the Regent Theatre and the Capitol in Melbourne, the State Theatre in Sydney, the Theatre Royal in Hobart, the Empire in Toowoomba, His Majesty’s in Perth and the iconic Sydney Opera House, alongside a few modern and vintage gems such as the award winning Melbourne Recital Centre and the Prince of Wales Opera House in Gulgong.
“Theatres hold the ghosts of magic created and stories retold, night after night, and echoes of
audiences—be it laughter, gasps, cries, applause, cheers—that are part of the exchange that is
theatre. No two performances are ever quite the same, just as every theatre is unique. Gavin’s
passion and love for these houses shine through in every nuanced and gorgeous picture.
I am lucky enough to have experienced front and back of many of these palaces and am honoured
to introduce this beautiful collection.”
Marina Prior AM
“We commend Gavin John for his dedication in seeking out and photographing the theatres
within. It is through the effort and dedication in producing a work of this calibre that the
important history and the stories of our past places of entertainment will be remembered.
We congratulate Gavin on his wonderful achievement and commend it to readers.”
Cinema and Theatre Historical Society of Australia
“The story of Australian theatre going can be traced through the surviving theatre buildings
across our nation, and this book provides a much-needed photographic exploration of
sixty five of these extraordinary venues. From Victorian-era playhouses to Art Deco cinemas,
from Hobart to Toowoomba and Sydney to Perth, from front-of-house to fly tower, Gavin John’s
camera brings Australia’s dreamhouses to life in glorious colour.”
Theatre Heritage Australia
Australian theatre and cinemagoers have an exceptional array of venues to patronise, from massive Italian Renaissance-inspired entertainment palaces to our strong lineage of 1930’s Art Deco cinemas. With unprecedented access, Australian Theatres and Cinemas reveals these buildings in their full complexity: auditoria, roofs, basements, stages, catwalks, fly cages, dressing rooms, green rooms, lounges, control booths, projector rooms, loading docks and equipment spaces. It captures walls replete with cast signatures and band set lists, antique projection systems and fully functioning Wurlitzers. Australian Theatres and Cinemas showcases the country’s prime examples of these palaces, where, without exception, the show must go on.
Available from these and other book sellers
Collins Booksellers (all locations), Kinokuniya, Abbeys, Avenue Bookstore (all locations), Readings (all locations), Hill of Content, Brunswick Bound, Dymocks (all locations), QBD Books, Under the Elms Bookshop, Angus & Robertson, Palace Cinemas, The Leaf Bookshop, Dillons Bookshop, Gleebooks, Stoneman’s Bookroom, Jeffreys Books, Sun Theatre Bookshop, Farrells
International and Australian online orders
Website by Gavin | info@gavinjohnphotography.com | +61 403 885 331
Reproduction by permission only. The photographer retains all copyright.