Auckland's St James Theatre is one step closer to being restored to its former grandeur, after Mayor Len Brown commissioned a study to look at the city's theatres.
Mr Brown said the study would identify the need and market demand for professional performing arts venues in Auckland, and would help guide the council's investment in such venues over the next 10 to 15 years.
Other theatres to be considered in the study include the proposed Auckland Theatre Company's 600-seat theatre at Wynyard Quarter and the proposed purchase and refurbishment of the Mercury Theatre. It will also look at venues outside the inner city including the Bruce Mason Theatre on the North Shore and the Pasifika Events Centre in south Auckland.
SPCA chief executive Bob Kerridge, who is a member of advocacy group St James Saviours, welcomed the study.
"I'd have to say the St James is New Zealand's finest live theatre. It was built as a live theatre venue so it has superb acoustics, certainly for opera and ballet, but also for some of the bigger shows that we don't get - the likes of Lion King and Wicked and those sorts of shows that really do need an extravagant space to perform."
Mr Kerridge would like the theatre to be completely refurbished in accordance with the original architectural plans, including uncovering the magnificent building front which was hidden under an unremarkable facade in the 1950s to make it look "more modern" when the Queen visited.
The theatre on Queen St was built in 1928 and was originally designed for vaudeville acts.
It was closed in 2007 after fire damaged much of the building and has been unused since.
The study is expected to be completed by the end of February and the findings will be reported to council's culture, arts and events forum and the regional development and operations committee shortly thereafter.
NZPA
source: newshub archive
