The long-awaited new home for Christchurch’s Court Theatre officially opened this weekend in the heart o the city.
Hundreds of people toured the new premises on Sunday to get a first look inside the new $61 million theatre.
The original theatre, founded in 1971, was housed in the Arts Centre. A new location was found in Addington following the quake.
The first reactions as people walked through the doors were all very positive.
“It’s beautiful. I’m really excited to see lots of shows here,” one theatregoer said.
“It’s just magical. It’s such a moment for the city,” another added.
The state of the art facility on Gloucester St houses two theatres – one large auditorium that seats 377, and a more intimate space that seats 150.
Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger described the project as a turning point for the city.
“Its return to the CBD is more than symbolic – it’s a celebration of what we can achieve when we work together,” he said.
With the opening of its new home, the theatre is expected to grow significantly. It currently produces 20 shows annually with a combined audience of 120,000.
Court Theatre’s outgoing executive director Gretchen La Roche said the new building “represents a transformative moment for the city’s arts scene”.
The first production in the new building, ‘The End of the Golden Weather’ opened in the weekend to full houses.
Artistic director Alison Walls called it symbolic and stirring.
“It feels beautifully fitting we open our new home with this deeply personal national story.”
With thanks to TVNZ’s Lisa Davies.
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