Holden Street Theatres created under artistic director Martha Lott at Adelaide inner-west heritage church in 2002
Holden Street Theatres at Hindmarsh have breathed new life into heritage church buildings.
Image courtesy Adelaide Fringe Festival
Holden Street Theatres were created in 2002 in the Adelaide inner west suburb of Hindmarsh when All Saints' Anglican Church (opened in 1850) and its hall were leased from the City of Charles Sturt by Weslo Holdings under artistic director Martha Lott.
Next to the Coopers soccer stadium in Holden Street, the theatre complex comprised The Studio (up to 150 seats), The Arch (125 seats, named for its proscenium arch ceiling), and The Bar (capacity 60–100). In 2020, the Nature Foundation of South Australia moved out of the church rectory and it became part of what was called Holden Street Theatres' Arts Park. It offers several more rooms and a garden for rehearsal or performance spaces.
Holden Street Theatres hosted performances in the Adelaide Fringe, the Feast Festival and Guitars in Bars festival, as well as year-round productions by local, national and international artists. It was home to resident theatre companies Holden Street Theatre Company and Red Phoenix Theatre.
Holden Street Theatres headquarters were at its partner Thebarton Theatre.
Holden Street Theatres also gave out two annual awards, one at the Adelaide Fringe and one at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. From 2008, its Edinburgh Fringe award supported a winning theatre company to tour its show at Holden Street during the Adelaide Fringe.
The Holden Street Theatres' Adelaide Fringe Award went to a local producer during the Adelaide Fringe, providing venue and rehearsal spaces for a new production from the company. The winners included – 2016: Gobsmacked Theatre, Dropped; 2017: Joanne Hartstone, The Girl Who Jumped Off the Hollywood Sign; 2018: CCtheatreCo., Abandon Ship; 2019: Under the Microscope Productions - 30,000 Notes; 2020: starheART Theatre - Dirty People; 2020: Millicent Sarre - Friendly Feminism for the Mild Mannered.
