The Capitol Theatre Orchestra was re-born in November 2024 as the resident jazz orchestra at Melbourne’s famous art deco Capitol Theatre to help celebrate the centenary of its opening in 1924.

This was a time when all the best theatres, hotels and dance halls had fine resident jazz orchestras and the Capitol Theatre was no exception. The original Capitol Theatre Orchestra, established in 1924, soon became a regular feature of Melbourne’s cinema experience in the 1920s.

The re-established Capitol Theatre Orchestra captures the glamour and delight of the golden age of the jazz era, one hundred years ago. The Orchestra is a collective of Melbourne’s leading players of the 1920s jazz style, with special guests from the best of the South West joining the Orchestra for its Festival debut performance at Port Fairy in 2025. Enjoy the beautiful arrangements with hot choruses and solos in this homage to the great theatre and dance orchestras of the 1920s!