Princess Theatre

Stage players are a superstitious bunch: Performances of Shakespeare’s Macbeth are always referred to as “The Scottish Play” for belief that speaking the name inside a theater will bring bad luck. Many performance venues across the world claim to be visited by specters of actors, stage crew, audience members, and even critics.

The grand Princess Theatre in Melbourne, aside from being one of the oldest landmarks in the city, is no stranger to superstitious ghost stories. A seat in the dress circle is still kept open every opening night for the spirit of noted Gilbert & Sullivan opera singer Frederick Baker, who died in the theater. 

On March 3, 1888, “Federici” (as he was known) was performing the role of Mephistopheles in Faust when he had a heart attack while descending down the trap door into “Hell.” It was certainly a creepy coincidence, but when rest of the cast came off stage they were shocked to hear that Federici had died: They’d all just been alongside him while they were taking their bows on stage.

In the many years since, countless staff and cast members have reported seeing his well-dressed ghost. The Princess Theatre embraces its netherworld performer with a bistro named in his honor. It’s lined with souvenirs and pictures of the 19th-century theater’s past events, restorations, and noted performances, as well as a large and striking stainless steel wire portrait of Federici, whose eyes seem to follow you around the room.