Anita's Theatre guide: seating map, parking and the last train

Anita's Theatre is the 1925 picture house at 264-270 Lawrence Hargrave Drive in Thirroul, on the coast in the northern Illawarra, north of Wollongong. The venue calls itself the largest performing arts venue in the Illawarra. It seats 820, or holds 1,200 when the floor is general admission. Most of what catches people out is about getting there and back: it's a train ride from Sydney or Wollongong, the step-free entrance is round the back, there's no cloakroom, and if you're heading home by train you'll want to know the last one before the encore.

We checked the venue's FAQs, Getting Here, Accessibility, Venue Hire and Functions pages, its venue map PDF, and Transport for NSW's Thirroul Station page and South Coast Line timetable on 2 October 2026. Where Ticketmaster's venue page says something different, we've noted it and gone with the venue. For other shows nearby, see concerts in Thirroul.

Quick facts

How do I get to Anita's Theatre?

The main entrance is on Lawrence Hargrave Drive. The accessible entrance is at the back, from King Street.

Train

The venue says "Thirroul Station is 600m from Anita's Theatre and an 8 min stroll to the venue." Thirroul is on the South Coast Line. Transport for NSW's timetable runs it between Central and Bondi Junction in Sydney and Wollongong, Kiama, Port Kembla and Bomaderry.

Transport for NSW lists Thirroul Station, on Railway Parade, as Independent Access, with a lift, a hearing loop, a wheelchair accessible toilet, a taxi rank, a kiss-and-ride area and a commuter car park. It says the station is staffed 24 hours, every day, which is reassuring if you're waiting for a late train.

Bus

"There are many bus stops located in Thirroul, most are a minute walk away from the venue." The venue doesn't name routes, so use the Trip Planner.

Last train: getting back to Sydney or Wollongong

This is the question that matters most after a show at Anita's. Transport for NSW does publish set times for the South Coast Line, in a PDF timetable. The one current on 2 October 2026 is dated 19 April 2026. These are the late departures it lists from Thirroul.

Towards Sydney (Central)

On weeknights the timetable also has trains leaving Thirroul at 10:28pm and 11:28pm, but those terminate at Waterfall, not Central.

Towards Wollongong

Shows on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday use the weekend column. Trains after midnight are the tricky part: the PDF doesn't spell out which table covers, say, a 12:39am train in the early hours of a Saturday. If you'll be travelling after midnight, check the Trip Planner.

Is there parking at Anita's Theatre?

Yes, but not a dedicated venue car park. The venue's Getting Here page lists:

• Street parking in the surrounding streets
• The car park off King St, where "fees may apply"
• The Church St car park, which is free, about a 7-minute walk via Lawrence Hargrave Drive
• The Cliff Parade Thirroul Beach car park, also free, about a 7-minute walk via McCauley St

The venue asks people to "respect our neighbours by not parking in private car parks or across driveways and observe restricted parking signs."

The venue doesn't say who runs the King St car park or what it charges. Read the signs when you arrive. Ticketmaster's page describes parking "at the rear of the venue, accessible via King St", which seems to be the same car park.

Accessible drop-off: "there is an accessible drop-off / pick-up zone located at the rear entrance, off King Street."

The venue's FAQ also says to "allow enough time to find parking".

Seating map: how the theatre is laid out

The venue publishes a venue map PDF, last updated in May 2025, that shows the theatre in two layouts side by side.

• Fully seated shows: reserved seats fill the main floor in front of the stage, with more seats along the side walls and banks of seating at the back of the room.
• General admission shows: the middle of the floor becomes standing room, while the side and rear seating stays. An accessible ramp and platform sit on one side of the floor.

The map also marks the foyer entrance, the accessible entrance, the bar, the front-of-house desk, the King's Room and the accessible toilet. It doesn't number seats or rows. To see seat numbers, pick your event on Ticketmaster and use its seat map. The venue doesn't publish "view from my seat" photos.

The venue's Functions page describes the auditorium as having "rear tiered seating overlooking the main event space."

Box seats

The venue warns that "the seat configuration in the Boxes is slightly unusual. Seat 1 (at the front) and seat 8 (at the back) are solo seats; seats 2&3, 4&5, and 6&7 are next to each other." If you're booking in the Boxes with someone, choose a pair, or you'll be sitting apart.

Premium options

The venue sells add-ons on top of a show ticket at select shows:

• The King's Box Experience, for select reserved seats in Boxes 1 and 2. It includes priority entry, lounge access, a welcome drink, dessert, in-seat service and a host. It has to be bought with your ticket.
• ElevateX, for general admission shows, with access to the Kings Bar and a raised viewing booth, a welcome drink and bar snacks. It can be added later, if there's still availability.

Bag policy: what can you bring?

From the venue's conditions of entry, as of 2 October 2026. A search of you or your belongings may be a condition of entry.

• Bags: no "eskies, backpacks or any bag larger than 30cm x 30cm."
• Water bottles: "Personal reusable plastic drink bottles must be empty and under 600mL capacity." There are free water stations in the downstairs and upstairs foyers.
• Drinks: you can bring unopened non-alcoholic drinks. No alcohol, no glass or metal containers, and no opened drink containers, including water.
• Cameras: small personal cameras and phones are fine for personal use. Professional cameras with detachable lenses and audio or video recorders aren't, unless the promoter has authorised them. Some artists add their own rules.
• Also not allowed: cans, aerosols, laser pointers, large electronic devices such as laptops and tablets, large umbrellas, prams and strollers, chairs and stools, hot food, bikes and scooters, musical instruments (unless you're performing), drones and balloons, flares and fireworks, weapons, and animals other than police or assistance dogs.
• Signs: the FAQ says fan signs are allowed if they're no bigger than A2, made of soft card and can fold up under your seat. The prohibited items list rules out banners, flags or signs "larger than an A3 sheet of paper". Those two rules don't quite match, so play it safe with A3 or smaller.

No pass-outs are issued unless venue management approves. Smoking and vaping aren't allowed anywhere in the venue.

Accessibility

From the venue's Accessibility page, as of 2 October 2026:

• Entrance: "The accessible entrance is located at the rear of the venue. This entry can be accessed via King Street." Staff meet you there and scan tickets. Ticketmaster's page says the front entrance "involves climbing around 20-30 steps", so use King Street if stairs are a problem.
• Reserved seated shows: "six dedicated accessible seats located at the front of the auditorium, near the entry and accessible entrance."
• General admission shows: "a raised platform with ramp access." Book it through Ticketmaster's Accessible Seating team.
• Booking: accessible options may show online under "View Only Accessible Tickets" on the event page. If not, call Ticketmaster's accessible line on 1300 446 925, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Sunday.
• Companion Card: accepted. Tell Ticketmaster when booking. The venue suggests letting it know you're coming so it can have companion tickets ready at the accessible entrance, and you'll need to show your card.
• Toilet: a unisex accessible toilet in the foyer.
• Lighting: the auditorium and some events have low lighting. If you have low vision, contact the venue or ask staff on the night.
• Assistance dogs: welcome. Contact the venue first, and consider another aid for very loud shows.
• Sensory: Anita's is a certified sensory-inclusive venue through KultureCity.

The venue doesn't mention a hearing loop in the theatre. Thirroul Station does have one.

Age rules: can kids go?

Usually. "Anita's Theatre is an all-ages venue." If a show isn't suitable for under-18s, the event page will say so.

• Under 15s must be with a responsible adult.
• Everyone over 2 needs a ticket, unless the event says otherwise. Under 2s can sit on an adult's lap without one.
• Babies under 18 months must wear ear protection at adult concerts and events. It's a condition of entry.
• No prams or strollers inside.

To get into a licensed area you need government-issued photo ID, and you may be asked for ID to buy alcohol.

Food, drink and payment

It's a card-only venue. "Anita's Theatre does not accept any cash transactions at the venue."

The bars stay open "until after the interval, or at the latest, 15 minutes prior to the end of the scheduled event time." No alcohol can be taken outside the venue. The FAQ doesn't say what food is sold, so eat in town before the show if you're hungry.

Merchandise is sold in the foyer from when the doors open, with a second counter on busy nights.

Tickets, box office and doors

• Tickets: "All tickets for Anita's Theatre events are only available through Ticketmaster." The venue advises caution with unauthorised sellers such as Viagogo, StubHub, eBay and Gumtree. If you can't go, the venue points to Ticketmaster's fan-to-fan resale.
• Box office: open on event nights "30 minutes prior to the doors opening time" for collections. The person whose name is on the credit card has to collect, with the card and photo ID.
• Times: the time on your ticket is when the show starts. "The Auditorium Doors will open 30 minutes before the show starts. The External Doors will open up to 1 hour before the show starts."
• Latecomers won't be seated until a suitable break.

Dress code: no style rules, but you must wear a top, bottoms and shoes. The venue would rather you didn't wear thongs, but says you'll still be let in.

A bit of history

The venue's 100 Years page says Anita's began life in 1925 as the King's Theatre, "part of Henry Boland's entertainment empire". It closed as a cinema in 1966 and became Skateland, a roller-skating rink, for nearly three decades. After sitting empty through the 1990s, local businessman John Comelli bought it in 2003 and reopened it in 2007 as Anita's Theatre, "in honour of his late wife." Live Nation took over operations in 2022.

Wikipedia adds that the theatre was designed by the architects Kaberry and Chard, opened on 22 October 1925, and originally held 1,560 people, with 1,202 seats in the stalls, 248 in the circle and four boxes along the side walls.

The venue says it's welcomed more than 160,000 fans and nearly 300 shows in the past three years, and celebrated its centenary in October 2025 with a run of shows that included Lime Cordiale.

Anita's Theatre acknowledges the Dharawal people as the traditional owners of the land it stands on.

Before you go

• Check the event page for show times, the age rule and any photo rules.
• Booking a Box? Choose a pair of seats (2&3, 4&5 or 6&7).
• Take a bag of 30cm x 30cm or smaller. There's no cloakroom.
• Bring a card. It's cash-free.
• Coming by train, check the last service in the Trip Planner on the day, including any trackwork.
• Driving, aim for the free Church St or Cliff Parade car parks, and leave time to find a space.
• Need step-free access? Use the King Street entrance and book accessible seats through Ticketmaster on 1300 446 925.

Upcoming shows at Anita's Theatre