Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall

+6569088810
9 - 11 Empress Place (subway Raffles Place Station)
www.vtvch.com/

Working hours: from 10.00 to 21.00

How to get there by Singapore MRT. Singapore interactive metro guide.

The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall is considered to be one of the most prominent examples of Singaporean colonial architecture. It consists of two separate constructions, which were built in Victorian style over a period of 40 years and are connected with each other by the clock tower. In 1992, the buildings formerly known as the Town Hall and the Memorial Hall were granted the prestigious status of national monuments.

The Town Hall was first constructed in 1862, on the site where the dilapidated Assembly Rooms Building, in which performances and operas were held, once stood. The Town Hall served two separate functions at the same time: a theater was located on the ground floor, while state offices and conference rooms were placed on the first level. However, as population grew and the need for a Singaporean administrative body increased with it, the premises of the Town Hall were no longer big enough to fulfil their purpose and by 1893, the institutions located on the first floor had to relocate.

In 1901, the colonial authorities decided to build a Memorial Hall in order to commemorate the Empire's legendary figurehead Queen Victoria, who had recently passed away. In order to keep costs to a minimum, the Town Hall was also included in this project. Within a short period of time, the magnificent Palladian building of the Victoria Memorial Hall was built nearby, and with the money saved from this project, the reconstruction of the Town Hall was funded too. This would be renamed as the Victoria Theater, while in order to unify the two buildings, a 54-meter-high clock tower was erected in 1906.

In 1919, on the hundredth anniversary of Singapore’s foundation, a bronze monument to Sir Stamford Raffles was installed in front of the Memorial Hall. This was brought here from the quay in the Padang Quarter, where the founder of Singapore had disembarked onto the island for the first time. Nowadays, only a copy of this monument stands there.

During the Second World War, the Memorial Hall building served as a hospital for the victims of Japanese bombing raids, while the trials of Japanese war criminals were held here following the end of the conflict.

In the second half of the 20th century, both buildings underwent major repairs: interiors were returned to their original look, with air-conditioning and soundproofing systems installed. The Victoria Memorial Hall underwent another large-scale reconstruction in 1979, resulting in the acquisition of a seated gallery, which increased the venue's total capacity to 937 and saw it renamed as the Victoria Concert Hall. Since that time it has hosted the Singaporean symphonic orchestra.

Nowadays, the Theatre and the Concert Hall regularly host classical music concerts, as well as dramatic and dancing performances. The famous Spanish tenor Jose Carreras performed at the Concert Hall on theater’s centenary.

In the year 2010, both buildings – the Theatre and the Concert Hall – were closed for major repairs. A re-opening has been planned for 2013.

Average rating
8.3
Ratings: 22
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Reviews
Reviews: 22
Cheen

Find the Coat of Arms of the Singapore Municipal Commission on a wall near the theatre side. Granted in 1948, u can find a vibrant version (blue, red & gold) at Mt Emily park. Source: Wikimedia

09.05.2023  
0
Cheen

Did u know? This theatre & concert hall was originally a Town Hall. In the early 1900s, a second public hall was built next to it, joined by a clock tower to form a larger complex. Source: Wikipedia

09.05.2023  
0
Pinar

Öyle güzel bahçesi var ki çocuğunuzu bırakın alabildiğine koşsun ????

19.10.2018  
0
Jenya

Beautiful after dark when lit up.

04.06.2018  
0
Cheen

This concert hall stages 1 of 10 pipe organs in Singapore. From the workshop of Johannes Klais Orgelbau in Bonn, Germany, it was installed in 1987. Source: Sunday Times

03.09.2017  
0
JuanJuan

Beautiful building with historical feelings . Check out the performance timetable always delightful

16.07.2017  
0
Ting

Beautiful venue for plays after renovation.

06.05.2017  
0
Zhi Min

I am delighted to find the marble tiles on the stairs are retained after the renovation. They bring back old memories.

11.03.2017  
0
Elizabeth

Really lovely architecture here after the renovation. Do check out the various nooks and crannies.

19.09.2016  
0
Andrew

The renovated space is really amazing!

25.03.2016  
0
David

No real theatre bar. Limited seating in the foyer.

05.01.2016  
0
Drew

The building is gorgeous (and so is the venue manager).

27.11.2015  
0
Natalya

The theater is nice! I liked very much performance about Life of Krishna.Although staff should refresh time to time their memory , where which one hall is located.Ticket costed 25-50$ depending of

08.07.2015  
1
ニコラス

Newly renovated, very grand!

15.03.2015  
0
Anna

Ternyata tempat concert toh!!! Ada patung stamfor raffles... Genius singapore..

18.11.2014  
0
Junkang

mobile signal is non-existent here. singtel user by the way.

21.07.2014  
1
Phillip

Wait until the new Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall opens...it would really be different from what it was before...

11.03.2013  
0
Botempus

We're all waiting eagerly for the Grand Dame of the Singapore performing arts scene to be re-opened after renovations! =)

28.12.2011  
0
Felice

Take bus 131 from the bus-stop to City Hall.

14.11.2010  
0
Victor

Decent cafe at ground floor that serves western food

10.09.2010  
0