The Capitol: Celebrating 100 years of imagination

The Capitol: Celebrating 100 years of imagination

On 7 November 1924 The Capitol Theatre officially opened its doors to Victorians, screening Cecil B DeMille’s original version of The Ten Commandments. One hundred years later to the day, RMIT brought together industry and creative partners, government, donors, alumni, staff and students to celebrate the centenary of this Melbourne cultural icon.

Hosted by RMIT alumni and 2024 honorary degree recipient Kate Torney OAM, around 200 people gathered for an evening filled with reflection and entertainment.

(L-R) Saskia Loer Hansen, Kate Torney, Peggy O'Neal, Alec Cameron and Al Cossar (L-R) Saskia Loer Hansen, Kate Torney, Peggy O'Neal, Alec Cameron and Al Cossar

RMIT Chancellor Peggy O’Neal AO addressed the audience, describing her role as “custodian of the places, spaces and systems that allow the extraordinary happenings of a university to take place. This is one of those spaces of which we should all be immensely proud.”

RMIT acquired The Capitol building in 1999 to use as a teaching space for its film and media students. By 2014 it needed critical repair and the University, with the support of the State Government and donors, undertook a $24.5 million project to restore the building to its former glory.

Over the decades the venue has adapted with the times, transforming from a pure cinema to a high-tech education hub and contemporary auditorium for film, music, dance and theatre.

“In times of rapid change and advancement, turning a historic landmark into a practical place of education, culture and innovation, is not commonplace. And as a university community and people of Melbourne, we are the fortunate beneficiaries,” O’Neal added.

In recognition of The Capitol's origins in cinema, Al Cossar, Artistic Director Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), took the stage to share the how The Capitol has become one of the feature venues for their festival.

"We know that this is not a space in which to view, but to experience; a room with a potency and personality that cannot help but bond an audience in front of an artist’s vision. 

“It is a beating heart of a place, and what is clear from the point of view of a festival such as MIFF, is that memories are made in rooms such as this, if not inspirations.” 

While The Capitol began its days as a movie theatre, over the years it has hosted a vast array of performance art. RMIT has several cultural partners who use the venue including Melbourne Fringe Festival.

Na Djinang Circus Na Djinang Circus

Na Djinang Circus, a Melbourne-based contemporary circus company, performed an excerpt of their work “Arterial” which featured on opening night of this year’s Fringe.

The audience was wowed with dance and acrobatics by four performers whose artistic piece explored the ancient connections tying First Nations people together, strong through bloodlines but irreparably damaged through colonisation. 

Closing out the night was a sound and light show produced by students Jez Minfaq and Jasmine Griffiths from the School of Design as part of the Heightened Multisensory Experience Studio led by Associate Professor Darrin Verhagen. The 75-second piece brought The Capitol’s famous ceiling to life, illuminating the 33,000 light bulbs embedded in the crystalline ceiling.

Students and staff from the College of Vocational Education were instrumental in bringing the event to life. 

Live Production students provided lighting design for The Capitol that brought the theatre’s history to life. Together with Screen and Media - TV Production students, they also captured the formalities with a four-camera setup, broadcasting the event back to the RMIT Studio where it was recorded. Students will now work on a wrap-up video celebrating the event. 

Stefanie Fereiro, Sound and Live Production Teacher, led the charge to mentor the students and in their efforts. 

“Our students and technical staff did an incredible job to help celebrate such an iconic Melbourne space. Working with a real-life client on a once-in-a-lifetime event will help to hone the skills they need to work in industry. Each of them should be proud of the event that they produced on the night,” said Fereiro.  

18 November 2024

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18 November 2024

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