NEW PREMISES FOR THE COURT

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34046, 9 January 1976, Page 10

NEW PREMISES FOR THE COURT

The Court Theatre has for many months been raising money for its proposed new premises at the old University of Canterbury site. The project is now past the point of no return. Concrete partitions have been removed from the old Engineering School and prefabricated framework for the auditorium seating has been installed. Offices for the directors are almost habitable and dressing rooms, rehearsal rooms, a coffee bar. and workshop are rapidly becoming a reality in the tourstorey complex. jMuch of the work is being i done by volunteer labour. Even the com- . plex wiring for the lighting system is being installed by Court Theatre employees andj supporters. “The work is a little behind, because of hold-ups with permits and tradesmen,” said the theatre’s artistic director (Mr Randel Wackrow). However, the theatre would open on February 21 with a production ofi Peter Luke’s “Hadrian i VII.”

[The total cost of the 9000 sq. ft complex will be 850,000. It will be completed in three stages. ,The first stage, which involves the building of dressing rooms, auditorium, lighting, foyer area and rehearsal room, will cost $26,000. The Department of Internal Affairs has offered a $1 for $1 subsidy to pay for this stage, and so far the theatre has raised $6OOO to match it.

The other two stages involve i the updating of the foyer ■ area and the building of a fully licensed bar. ■ The dimensions of the auditorium are 48ft by 72ft. It will seat 250 patrons. The seats are tiered, and are built in a semi-circle round the stage. Mr Wackrow plans to stage eight major plays this ! year, each with a season about three weeks. Entrance to the theatre will be across a landscaped courtyard in Worcester Street. Another courtyard. completely surrounded by the old , university buildings, will 1 be used for outdoor productions.