Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE PERFORMING ARTS
The
West Australian Opera
(
&
08/9321
5869
administration or 08/9265-0950 bookings) and
West Australian Ballet
(
&
08/9481 0707
administration) usually perform at
His Majesty's Theatre,
825 Hay St., a restored “grande dame” venue from the early 1900s. Perth's lead-
ing theatrical company, the
Black Swan Theatre Company
(
&
08/9388 9388
administration), plays at theaters around town. The
West Australian Sym-
phony Orchestra
(
&
08/9326 0000
) usually performs at the
Perth Concert
Hall,
5 St. Georges Terrace next to the Duxton Hotel. This hall has the best
acoustics of any such venue in Australia; such acts as the London Philharmonic,
comedian Billy Connolly, and legendary blues guitarist B. B. King have per-
formed here.
Perth is an outdoors kinda place. In summer, look for outdoor concerts or jazz
at
Perth Zoo
(
&
08/9474 3551
for recorded information, or 08/9474 0449
administration); movies at Perth's several outdoor cinemas; and open-air con-
certs, plays, and movies in
Kings Park
(
&
08/9480 3600
).
PUBS, BARS & NIGHTCLUBS
Northbridge houses most of city's lively
pubs and dance clubs. Don't forget Freo has good pubs, too (see “A Day Out in
Fremantle,” earlier in this chapter).
For a trendy take on the traditional pub, head to
The Brass Monkey,
209
William St. at James Street, Northbridge (
&
08/9227 9596
). Downstairs are
several bars including a wine bar serving gourmet pizzas, and a beer garden.
Wednesday to Saturday head upstairs to the Glasshouse for live entertainment,
including the Laugh Resort comedy club from 8pm Wednesdays for a A$10
(US$6.50) cover.
In Subiaco, suits flock to the “Subi,” also known as the
Subiaco Hotel,
465
Hay St. at Rokeby Road, Subiaco (
&
08/9381 3069
), a popular historic pub
with a stylish cafe, great cocktails, and live jazz on Wednesday and Saturday
nights.
Metropolis Concert Club,
146 Roe St., Northbridge (
&
08/9228 0500
), is
a huge complex of dance floors and bars over several levels. It's open Friday from
9pm and Saturday from 8pm, until very late. If your “dancing till 6am” days are
over but you still know how to hit the dance floor, check out
Margeaux's,
a
nightclub popular with the over-30s crowd, located in the Parmelia Hilton, 14
Mill St. (
&
08/9215 2000
). It's open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from
9pm until 3:30am.
BURSWOOD CASINO
A 2,300-seat theater that hosts some major interna-
tional stars is located in the
Burswood International Resort Casino,
on the
Great Eastern Highway just over the river (
&
08/9362 7646
for information,
or call BOCS for bookings—see above). Live bands, disco, cabaret performers,
or karaoke play nightly in the free Cabaret Nightclub, and there are nine restau-
rants and six bars within the complex. On the main gaming floor are 88 tables
and 1,300 computerized gaming machines. Some of the Casino's most popular
games include roulette, blackjack, and two-up. There's also a VIP players' room
and a Keno Lounge. Except for Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Anzac
Day, the casino is open 24 hours. Dress code is “neat and tidy” with smarter
standards required after 7pm. The Casino is open to everyone over the age of 18.
It's about a A$13 (US$8.45) cab ride from the city, or take a train to Burswood
station.
