Opened in 1929, the Civic is one of the finest surviving atmospheric theatres in the world. The interior is an extraordinary piece of theatrical excess: the auditorium ceiling is a painted sky with twinkling stars, while the walls are decorated with Moorish arches, Hindu temple motifs, and plaster elephants — an orientalist fantasy that was already slightly anachronistic when it opened. It was designed by Bohringer, Taylor & Johnson and seats 2,378 people.
Catch a show here if you can — the programming covers major touring musicals, concerts, and film festivals. The building is Category I heritage-listed and the interior restoration carried out in the late 1990s is meticulous.