[4] The University contributed £6,000 to convert the building into a theatre and its debut production, which opened on 2 February 1963, was a highly successful production of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, starring Sophie Stewart and her husband Ellis Irving, with Gordon Chater as Yepikhodov, John Bell as Trofimov and Ron Haddrick as Gayev, which ran for almost two months.
This was followed by a double bill of The Bald Prima Donna and The Fire Raisers, with a cast that including Brian James, Gwen Plumb, Neil Fitzpatrick, Anna Volska and Jack Allan.
However these additional activities, compounded by lack of support from the New South Wales state government, overstretched the company's resources and in 1978 the Old Tote went into liquidation.
[3] [6] Many distinguished and much-loved actors, such as Ruth Cracknell, Ron Haddrick, Neil Fitzpatrick, Jacki Weaver, John Bell, Dinah Shearing, Helmut Bakaitis, Robyn Nevin, Elizabeth Alexander, Reg Livermore, Dennis Olsen, Gary Files, Robin Lovejoy and Jennifer Hagan appeared in more than 90 productions of the classics and contemporary plays from the international repertoire.
[7] Other notable actor alumni include Allana Coorey, Andrew McFarlane, Angela Punch-McGregor, Anna Volska, Anne Haddy, Annie Byron, Arthur Dignam, Barry Otto, Bill Hunter, Bob Maza, Brian James, Bruce Spence, Carmen Duncan, Chris Haywood, Colin Friels, Danny Adcock, David Gulpilil, David Williamson, Don Crosby, Garry McDonald, Gillian Jones, Gordon Chater, Grant Dodwell, Gwen Plumb, Ivar Kants, Jack Charles, John Clayton, John Gaden, John Jarratt, Joyce Jacobs, Judi Farr, Judy Nunn, Julieanne Newbould, Kate Fitzpatrick, Kris McQuade, Lynette Curran, Maggie Dence, Maggie Kirkpatrick, Mark Hembrow, Max Cullen, Max Phipps, Mervyn Drake, Michele Fawdon, Nico Lathouris, Pamela Stephenson, Peter Sumner, Peter Whitford, Queenie Ashton, Rob Steele, Robert Coleby, Ron Graham, Ronald Falk, Shane Porteous, Sophie Stewart, Sylvanna Doolan, Thomas Keneally, Tom Burlinson, Tom Oliver and Tony Llewellyn-Jones.