[10] In 1934, the National was remodelled to address safety and accessibility issues, which saw the stage dropped to ground level, the stalls lowered and the Charles Street entrance stairs removed.

[14][15] The auditorium was updated with Australian-made Raycophone sound technology, and the National reopened as a talkie with The Head of the Family and Fashions of 1934.

[16] Broadway theatre and Hollywood actor Mona Barrie appeared in theatrical performances at the National in the 1940s whilst contracted to J. C.

[19] Following the Second World War, the theatre fell into financial hardship[20] and after several years of closure was purchased by the Launceston City Council (LCC) for £A17,000.

The Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust premiered Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari's comedic opera School for Fathers,[28] Welsh dramatist Emlyn Williams performed his one-man show on the life of Charles Dickens[29] and world-renowned pianist Winifred Atwell gave the final performance at the theatre on 14 November 1970.