Melbourne may have its very own “off-Broadway” with new Spiegel Haus

Melbourne has long been renowned as Australia’s cultural capital. However, serial entrepreneur and filmmaker Christopher Mitchell believes that for the city to have a truly vibrant cultural scene, it needs an “off-Broadway”.

Mr Mitchell, a founding partner of the Northcote Theatre, is aiming to lead the charge through his new venue, Spiegel Haus.

Located on the rooftop of Golden Square Car Park on Lonsdale St, the precinct features a mirrored Spiegeltent, rooftop bar, food vans and open-air activation spaces, with capacity for 1000 patrons.

It’s a mix of theatre, music and hospitality, set against an extraordinary backdrop in the heart of the CBD, with the hit circus-cabaret Blanc de Blanc Encore to be the first show to take the stage.

“We saw an opportunity to fill that space, and we’ve had enormous support from across the industry – from performers to venue owners to local government.”

Mr Mitchell’s vision is to create a home for daring performances that all Melburnians can embrace. From students to bankers, and seasoned theatre goers to people looking to go to their first show, he wants it to bring new life to Melbourne’s arts scene.

Alongside his work in events, Mr Mitchell is a film and theatre director with internationally acclaimed works across both forms.

He started out pursuing film, but at about 19 he shared an office next to radio station Kiss FM, which changed his trajectory.

“It was huge at the time. I ended up sharing a balcony with a bunch of promoters, DJs and producers – I’d sit there smoking with them, hanging out, and soon I was filming a lot of their content,” he said.

“I realised I could do what they did pretty easily, and that sidetracked me from filmmaking into a life of hedonism as a promoter. I was very good at it – unfortunately – and it derailed me for a while.”

About 15 years ago, Mr Mitchell also ran a cabaret, burlesque and vaudeville venue, which has influenced what he is doing with Spiegel Haus.

But it wasn’t until a friend, Marc Lucchesi from the band Vaudeville Smash’d, asked him to direct and produce their show The Marvellous Elephant Man: The Musical that he became serious about establishing a new venue in the city.

“I dropped everything, spent what little money I had, and decided to pursue a career in musical theatre direction and production – which, of course, is the logical thing to do after COVID,” he said.

The show went to Adelaide Fringe, where it won the Critics’ Circle Award for Best Show, and then to Melbourne Comedy Festival. However, when they wanted to remount the production, they couldn’t find a venue.

“We couldn’t find a 400-seat theatre available long-term. So, I said, ‘Stuff it – let’s build our own.’ That’s literally how this whole thing started.”

While directing theatre and film may seem a far cry from building a venue, Mr Mitchell said there were many parallels.

“There’s a crossover, and I think that’s why I’ve managed to maintain any sanity working in events, which historically hasn’t always been creatively fulfilling for me – but it’s allowed me to keep working that muscle,” he said.

With five years of programming planned, Mr Mitchell will be in overdrive as he looks to turn what was a parking lot into one of Melbourne’s premier event spaces.

The inaugural season includes Vaudeville Smash’d, with a five-week Saturday night residency from 8 November to 6 December, Jazz & Jaffles: Halloween on Friday, October 31 and The Marvellous Elephant Man: The Musical will take the stage early next year. •