The Thebby Theatre, or Thebarton Theatre, is an icon in South Australia. The 98-year-old building has been council chambers, meeting rooms, cinema, and a range of other manifestations but for most of its life it has been a “premier” theatre or show space.
It was opened June 11, 1928, and has been listed on the South Australian Heritage Register since 1982, and is a fusion of art deco and heritage elements. In fact, the building’s façade was inspired by Colonel William Light’s Theberton House in England (no wonder he points towards it).
Like many other locals, I have participated in the “rite of passage” that is attendance at a concert at the Thebby.
For me, my first time and first ever concert, happened on the same night in Year 11. A friend rang me while I was doing homework and said his brother had a spare ticket to see Meatloaf. I was in. It was a mesmerising show. Meatloaf’s big numbers and fireworks that shot forth from his guitar, filled the theatre, firstly with light and sound, and then smoke and intense sensory stimulation as the crowd throbbed in the foggy darkness.
A number of years later, I got to see one of my brooding, poetic heroes, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It was a very different but equally impressive show. Cave forged his way back and forth across the stage with his bare feet and his while, generously-cuffed shirt open down to the middle of his chest. I remember his musical lamentations and the whole experience was exquisite.
So, here in 2025, with the theatre newly renovated, I wanted to capture it’s place in my life and the life of many others, by writing and then manifesting a song that could feel the space. Close your eyes as you listen, and imagine sitting in those seats with the theatre dark, then the music begins and as the strings get to a frenzy, your singer strides across the stage, takes the microphone, and draws your into this coming of age song about the Thebby.
Meet You At The Thebby Scribbled Notes
Meet You At The Thebby Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I was sitting alone,
doing homework again,
It’s all I ever seemed to do,
(Then you said) Come out tonight,
‘Coz Meatloaf ‘s in town,
And there’s a spare ticket for you
I’d never been,
To a concert before,
So my heart, was pounding fast and deep,
Then we saw the lights,
And we joined the line,
As my angels all began to weep
Because when Meatloaf took the stage,
And he filled the space with flames,
I knew,
That I’d,
Never,
Be the same
[Chorus]
I’ll Meet you at the Thebby,
And we’ll queue out in the rain,
Then we’ll step into the darkness,
And we’ll dance away our pain,
Don’t come wearing nothing,
That you don’t want getting stained,
We belong here at the Thebby,
It’s our underground domain
[Verse 2]
I was living alone,
I was single again,
It’s all I ever seemed to be,
Then I decided to see,
Nick Cave and his Bad Seeds,
And so I bought a ticket for me
I’d never seen,
A performer before,
With open shirt, and no shoes on his feet,
Then he pleaded with god,
Then he cried and he sobbed,
With his hypnotic inconsistent beat
Because when Nick Cave took the stage,
And filled the space with holy rage,
I knew,
That I’d,
Never,
Be the same
[Chorus]
I’ll Meet you at the Thebby,
And we’ll queue out in the rain,
Then we’ll step into the darkness,
And we’ll dance away our pain,
Don’t come wearing nothing,
That you don’t want getting stained,
We belong here at the Thebby,
It’s our underground domain
[Bridge]
Colonel Willam Light,
Would be proud of you tonight,
You wear the crown in our town’s music scene,
Your clock has marked the time,
Of the raucous and sublime,
As stories form within your halls of twilight dreams
[Chorus]
I’ll Meet you at the Thebby,
And we’ll queue out in the rain,
Then we’ll step into the darkness,
And we’ll dance away our pain,
Don’t come wearing nothing,
That you don’t want getting stained,
We belong here at the Thebby,
It’s our underground domain
[Verse 3]
We are living at speed,
Alone in our screens,
It’s where we always seem to be,
Why don’t you come out with me,
There must be something to see,
I’ve got tickets if you are free
You’ve rarely been,
This close to people before,
As sweet cologne, rides the rush to our seats
Can you feel our hearts?,
We’re no longer apart,
‘Coz theatre heals the lost and incomplete
Because when humans take the stage,
And they gather with one aim,
We know,
That we’ll,
Never,
Be the same
[Chorus]
I’ll Meet you at the Thebby,
And we’ll queue out in the rain,
Then we’ll step into the darkness,
And we’ll dance away our pain,
Don’t come wearing nothing,
That you don’t want getting stained,
We belong here at the Thebby,
It’s our underground domain