‘Still hope’ for Theatre Royal

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33869, 14 June 1975, Page 16

‘Still hope’ for Theatre Royal

Although there was news yesterday that the owners of the Theatre Royal have given an option to a potential purchaser, the

Friends of the Theatre Royal Association has not lost hope that the building mH be saved as a theatre.

Mr W. Steele, of Wellington. a director of J. C. Williamson. Ltd. said there had

not been a sale, but an option had been given. He did not know what the possible purchaser intended to do, but it would probably be three months before any decision Would be known.

The friends of the theatre had had negotiations with the owners, said the secretary (Mr S. Kingston) last evening. They had not abandoned ideas that the Theatre Royal ! should be kept for live enterjtainment, particularly shows (which w-ere not suited to the I Town Hall or the James Hay (Theatre. They also wanted to (ensure that the theatre was (retained as a building of historic and architectural in- ! terest.

If the theatre were sold, the organisation would then have to consider its attitude to any application to the City Council for a specified departure under the district planning scheme to allow a changed use of the site.

Bookings have been accepted for the theatre for the next few months, including one for "Jesus Christ, Superstar.” scheduled for Christchurch early in October. This is one of the productions — ballet is another — which has been mentioned as being unsuitable for the Town Hall.

Cycling.—Giuseppe Martinelli (Italy) won the 151 km third stage of the 19-day amateur Giro d'ltalia race. A fellow-Italian. Ruggero Gialdini retained the over-all lead ahead of Martinelli and Madio Perna • Italy).