National Art School - The Cell Block
The Cell Block Theatre at the National Art School is housed on the Old Darlinghurst Gaol site,
Sydney’s first permanent gaol. In 1957 Katherine Hepburn and Robert Helpman started a fund
to turn the prison block into a dramatic theatrical venue. After a long period of fundraising
and restoration, the internal walls and floors were removed to reveal towering ten-metre high
sandstone walls and an open atmospheric cathedral-like space.
The impression of the old cells still lingers with traces of the curved stone staircases climbing 3
stories high, narrow barred windows, rough sandstone edges that mark the cells and the
solid iron doorway. The stone walls and wooden floors keep the simplicity of the space and this makes for a very unique venue for many different types of
events.
The surrounding courtyards offsets the history of the Cell Block Theatre and makes a great
outdoor entertaining space to supplement the indoor area.
Image Gallery
Capacities
Function room |
Cocktail |
Theatre |
Sit-down |
Cell Block |
300 |
250 |
140
|
Cell Block Courtyard |
250 |
250 |
N/A
|
Gallery Courtyard |
400 |
400 |
N/A
|
Project Space |
100 |
80
|
60
|
National Art School
Forbes Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Consider another Sydney venue