The Ghost of Hobart’s Theater Royal, Tasmania

The Ghost of Hobart’s Theater Royal, Tasmania

Theater Royal, Hobart

The Theater Royal is an ornate Georgian style performance house dating back to 1837. It was built by the founder of the Cascade Brewery, Peter Degraves, who sought to construct a public theater and add life to Hobart’s docks. Due to the poor standing of the neighborhood which developed around the theater, it wasn’t always used to host fabulous performances, yet became a place where cockfights, boxing and even religious meetings were used to fill stage space. Regardless of its sordid past, the Royal continues to run as the oldest continually functioning theater in Australia. However, the theater almost did not survive past 1984 when a great fire broke out within its walls. Some say that a paranormal intervention could well have saved this historic building from complete destruction.

Haunted Theater Royal in Hobart, Tasmania.
The exterior of the haunted Theater Royal in Hobart, Australia.

Haunted Theater Royal

The Royal Hobart Theater is well known for having a resident ghost. Many people have claimed to sight, interact and feel the presence of this spirit, yet he isn’t thought to be overly spooky and even seen as a protector of the theater.

Stairs inside haunted theater of Tasmania.
A towering staircase leading to the upper sections of this notoriously haunted theater.

This ghost, who is simply known as Fred, is thought to have remained at this theater after death. While no one truly knows his origins, he is thought to have been a fighter during the theaters earlier more tumultuous days and been killed during a brawl in the basement of the building.

Ornate interior of the haunted Royal Theater, Tasmania.
Red velvet seats and the ornately decorated interior of the Theater Royal.

Fred tends to make his presence known after hours, particularly to those exiting the theater late after shows or to those working on construction tasks. His footsteps have been heard, he has poked people in the back, asked them to leave and in some cases even shown himself to visitors.

Fancy ceiling inside the haunted Theater Royal in Hobart, Australia.
The chandelier hanging from the theater’s ceiling.

Although it seems that the Theater Royal was the place where Fred passed away, he seems to have some adoration for the place. In 1984 a great fire tore through the theater, damaging equipment, decorations and furniture. Thankfully and with a lucky twist of fate, the theater was saved from complete destruction during this blaze. A fire curtain unexplainably fell across the stage during the fire, stopping and containing the flames from spreading further. Many people believe that this freak act was actually the ghost of Fred acting to save the theater by dropping this special curtain. Regardless, the ghost of Fred was surfaced and used to market restoration efforts for the theater following this damaging fire.

Haunted theater in Tasmania, Australia.
Looking out from the stage at the historic and haunted theater.

Visiting the Theater Royal in Hobart, Tasmania

The Theater Royal of Hobart is a magnificent sight for anyone making their way to Tasmania. The interior of the theater is stunning and reminiscent of past times of glory. Many popular shows play at the theater, almost nightly, and tickets can be purchased online.

Stage set up for the Theater Royal.
The stage of the haunted Theater Royal, dressed for its next performance, Mama Mia.

If you enjoyed this article you might also like to read about these other haunted theaters in Vancouver, Canada.

Thanks for reading!

xoxo

Amy's Crypt Signature

About Amy

Amy is a world traveller and explorer of creepy locations. She has visited some of the most famously haunted places around the world in search of evidence of the paranormal. Follow Amy's Journey:

Comments (4)

  • Cynthia McGuire

    Posted by Cynthia McGuire on February 17, 2020

    Hi Amy. I Love your website. You know me on youtube, as Lifeof aMom Adventures. The photos and story about the theater and your other explores, are beautifully done. I signed up for your newsletter.

      Amy

      Posted by Amy on February 20, 2020

      Hi Cynthia! Thanks so much for visiting my website and signing up for my monthly newsletter. I always get excited when viewers from Youtube make their way over here too. Glad you enjoy my articles and photos too.

  • Virginia Cordo

    Posted by Virginia Cordo on April 30, 2022

    I just came home after a concert in this theatre tonight(30/4/2022) I decided to google if anyone had experienced what I did, it was my first time there, we were all seated, no one sitting behind me as we were in the back row when through the performance I felt a poke on my shoulder, I looked around and no one there, my wife asked if I was ok I said someone just poked my shoulder she said there is no one there…… so after reading what you wrote I am guessing it was Fred.. wow I am blown away.

      Amy

      Posted by Amy on May 1, 2022

      That is awesome, thanks for sharing Virginia!

Leave a Reply