Town Hall likely to encourage artists

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32885, 7 April 1972, Page 10

Town Hall likely to encourage artists

Christchurch could expect to enjoy the overseas attractions and entertainment which had previously been confined to Auckland and Wellington, Sir Robert Kerridge, the managing director of the Kerridge Odeon Corporation, said in Christchurch yesterday.

“In the past there has been a hesitancy in overseas companies visiting Christchurch, but I am confident that with the new Town Hall complex, Christchurch will no longer be a neglected city,” he said. Sir Robert Kerridge, who was shown around the Town Hall complex yesterday, said he had never been so exhilarated with a project before, and was full of praise for the concept of design, siting, decor, and technical apparatus. “The artistic provisions of | the small and large audi-i|

■ think that this Town Hall - complex will bring New Zea--1 land into world standing as - far as artistic and civic 9 centres are concerned, and 9 that it is equal to those of 3 any country I have visited. ' "Kerridge Odeon will make an indirect contribution to 3 the Christchurch Town Hall , complex by confining its > venues exclusively to the t superior amenities provided . by the hall, to the mutual l benefit of the company and t the community,” he said.

i toriums —especially the ceiling in the main auditorium—the conference areas, social amenities, and dining facilities excel all such complexes in the world, including the Sydney Opera House and the Lincoln Centre in New York,” Sir Robert Kerridge said. “If the contract were to be let today for those amenities, it would not be possible to provide them at a capital cost of less than two million dollars more than the present cost. On the present cost standards, in my view Christchurch has a legacy of $l4 to s2m as a result of the foresight of those responsible,” said Sir Robert Kerridge. “As a Christchurch-born 'person, I will be proud to

"Within the limits of our influence in the entertainment world, Kerridge Odeon will do its best to bring entertainment appropriate to the high standard of the new theatres to Christchurch.” Sir Robert Kerridge said that it would be a considerable credit to the contractors if they completed the complex in time for the formal opening. He had not yet made any final decisions for companies or individual artists to perform at the opening, although negotiations were under way to find the best artists available.