St. James Theatre

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Uploaded on: October 31, 2026

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Apart from dabbling in film, the Fullers offered a wide range of flesh and blood entertainments in the early years of the St James. Musical comedy was popular, vaudeville too, straight plays, pantomime, then a dose of opera (‘at commonsense prices’ the ads read). The Gonsalez Italian Grand Opera Company consisting of 25 principals, 40 chorus and ballet, 15 musicians and two solo dancers augmented by 20 local singers and 25 musicians opened 10 March 1928. Ben had a particular fascination for opera, despite the financial peril it presented. Down Castlereagh Street in 1916 it was he who had renamed the Adelphi the Grand Opera House, launching with the same Gonzales Group. Trying again in 1934/35 ‘Sir Benjamin Fuller’s Grand Opera Company’ played the Melbourne Apollo and Sydney Tivoli (the Grand Opera House under a new name). His resulting loss in this venture amounted to tens of thousands of pounds.