Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall
11, Empress Place, Singapore 179558
Civic District Trail 1, Marker 3

The place reflects 19th century British Neo-Classical Architecture, which came about during the Victorian era as a result of a revivalism in Italian Renaissance architecture in Britain. It was part of the British community. Victoria Theatre and Conert Hall educates people about the history of the British influence in Singapore, Currently, it is a place for everyone to gather for concerts and cultural performaces of different cultures. In that sense, this unites the different communities in Singapore together.

Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall is a complex of two buildings joined by a common passageway and an adjoining clock tower. The core of the Victoria Threatre is 1862 Town Hall. Victoria Memorial Hall was built as a grand gesture to the memorial to Queen Victoria in 1905. Major revonations completed in 1909 included the harmonising of the facade of the older building with a new adjoing structure. The two buildings are linked by a 54-metre clock tower.

The Victoria Theatre reflects 19th century British Neo-Classical Architecture, which came about during the Victorian era as a result of a revivalism in Italian Renaissance architecture in Britain. Featuring rusticated columns and Italianate windows, the Theatre was a two-storey structure consisting of a large hall on each floor which was used for theatricals, concerts, and balls.

The Victoria Memorial Hall was designed to harmoniously blend with the Theatre. Its architectural plans were prepared by Major Alexander Murray and the Public Works Department and were further developed by R. A. J. Bidwell of architectural firm Swan & Maclaren to join it to the Town Hall. The 54-metre tall clock tower was added as the unifying feature, creating the illusion that the two separate buildings were one building. It is interesting to note that the clock tower is also on an axial line with Anderson Bridge.

The Memorial Hall has many historic associations. It was used as a hospital during the bombing of Singapore in 1941-1942, to ease overcrowded conditions in other hospitals. It was also the venue of Japanese war crime trials at the end of the war in 1945. Almost a decade later, it was the venue for important political events including the founding of the People's Action Party on 21 November 1954.

On Singapore's Centenary Day, 6 February 1919, T. Woolner's sculpture of Sir Stamford Raffles was transferred from its original site at the Padang to the space in front of the Victoria Memorial Hall. A semicircular colonnade and a pool were built to complement it. The colonnade was destroyed after the Fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942 and the statue was temporarily moved to the National Museum. It was reinstated at its present location in 1946.

The Hall was revonated in the 1979 for the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and was renamed Victoria Concert Hall. It was renamed Victoria Concert Hall in honour of its new occupants. Today, both the Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall continue to energise the city's cultural life by staging home-grown and imported performances. In the 1950s, the Theatre was completely renovated and air-conditioned. In the 1970s and 1980s, a gallery was added to the Concert Hall, increasing its total seating capacity to 937, and the second storey balconies on the front and back facades were enclosed with glass.

Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall is made up of 2 buildings namely Victoria Memorial Hall and Victoria Theatre, connected by a 54 metre clocktower.