About us

Our history

Inner West Theatre Company was formed in 1977 as The Canterbury Theatre Guild, following a request from Canterbury Municipal Council as part of its 150-year celebrations. Formed from the remnants of the Lakemba Musical Society, the group, led by Nancy Chapman, Reg and Lillian Seymour, and with Tony Stevens as President, embarked on a journey to bring musical theatre to the community.

From our first concert, “Christmas Night”, in December 1978, Canterbury Theatre Guild has put on a lot of wonderful shows and introduced many people to the delights of musical theatre. Of particular note are the Australian Amateur Premieres of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” (1985), “Nine” (1992), “Chess” (1994) and the Sydney Amateur Premieres of “The Buddy Holly Story” (2006) and “Hairspray” (2012).

CTG navigated various artistic homes, starting at Kingsgrove North High School before claiming the disused Orion Centre in Campsie in 1981. Extensive renovations in 1984 transformed the Orion Centre into a suitable performance space, further enhanced by the acquisition of "The Shed" for scenery and storage.

Seeking a larger stage, CTG moved to the Princess Street Theatre in 1999, but the late 2000s saw us venturing across diverse venues, including the Tom Mann Theatre, Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL, and NIDA Theatres Playhouse.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a significant challenge, leaving CTG without a dedicated space. However, 2023 brought a new chapter: a partnership with Inner West Council led to the company's official transformation into Inner West Theatre Company and a new home in the historic Petersham Town Hall.

From humble beginnings to evolving through various venues, Inner West Theatre Company (formerly CTG) remains dedicated to bringing the magic of live theatre to the community. The Inner West marks a new era for the company, promising continued storytelling and entertainment for audiences old and new.