The Princess Theatre phantom

They say all theatres have ghosts and Melbourne’s Princess Theatre is no exception. This 1854 landmark boasts baritone Frederick Federici – Australia’s very own Phantom of the Opera.

“When I walked in, I instantly felt the vibe was not great,” acclaimed Melbourne photographer Gina Milicia says about the time she was asked to take shots of the theatre.

“As I set up, I couldn’t get my camera to work. Everything locked up. I set about fixing the problem while our guide explained the ghost liked to sit in a particular seat.

“The moment he said that, we heard a sudden thud and the seat mentioned came snapping down. We all saw it. The journalist I was with and I both shuddered.

“All the seats in the theatre stayed up, except for Frederick’s particular seat. Frederick showed himself that day. He was being playful. Despite being told he is a friendly ghost, I left the theatre that day totally freaked out.”

Frederick died in 1888 of a heart attack while performing in the opera Faust. A third-row seat in the Princess Theatre’s dress circle is kept vacant in Frederick’s honour on every opening night. Edited extract from A Haunting Place by Glen Williams...