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About
Image: National Archives of Singapore. (Reference only; no permission) https://corporate.nas.gov.sg/media/collections-and-research/capitoltheatre/#:~:text=During%20the%20Japanese%20Occupation%2C%20Capitol,anti%2DJapanese%20bombing%20in%201944.
Capitol Theatre, located at the junction of Stamford Road and North Bridge Road, was built by Mirza Mohamed Ali Namazie, a Persian merchant and property owner. Officially opened on 22 May 1930, the theatre boasted neoclassical architectural design by British architects P. H. Keys and F. Dowdeswell. Inspired by New York’s Roxy Theatre, its design replicated the seating arrangements, lighting, and general layout of its American counterpart. The venue was intended for both cinematic screenings and stage productions.
During the Japanese Occupation (1942–45), the theatre was renamed Kyo-Ei Gekkyo and repurposed as both a food depot and a cinema screening Japanese propaganda films.
In 1946, the Shaw Organisation purchased Capitol Theatre for $3 million, making it the flagship venue of the cinema company. With a seating capacity of 1,686, it was used both as a popular movie house and a venue for live performances, including dance revues, contests, musicals, and variety shows.
In 1987, the Singapore government acquired the building. It is now part of Capitol Singapore, an integrated luxury lifestyle development that includes a hotel, residences, a shopping mall, and the revitalized theatre.
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Sources
Tan, Bonny. “Capitol Theatre.” National Library Board, Singapore. Accessed March 7, 2025. https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=aec1c27a-bb4d-4a80-9452-b58a7d5048aa.
National Archives of Singapore. “Capitol Theatre, 1930s.” 25 August 2015. Accessed March 7, 2025. https://corporate.nas.gov.sg/media/collections-and-research/capitoltheatre/#:~:text=During%20the%20Japanese%20Occupation%2C%20Capitol,anti%2DJapanese%20bombing%20in%201944.
Contributor
2025. “Capitol Theatre at Namazie Mansions“. In Performing Archipelagos, edited by Kyueun Kim, Alvin Eng Hui Lim and Hedren Wai Yuan Sum. Singapore: National University of Singapore.
