THEATRE IMPROVEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19889, 7 March 1928, Page 9

THEATRE IMPROVEMENT.

ACTIVITY m THE SOUTH. TWO EXTENSIVE PURCHASES. An important purchase of property was made in Invercargill by Mr. Henry Hayward, of Fuller-Hayward Theatres, who has returned to Auckland from the South. During his visit he purchased a largo block of buildings opposite the post office, in the main street of Invercargill, belonging to the drapery firm of Lewis and Company. For the property, which has a frontage of 66ft., the price was £42,000 : and it is proposed to spend several thousands in modernising the building.

Included in the block is the Albion Theatre, which will be entirely renovated and brought up to the latest standard of theatre comfort. In accordance with the policy of Fuller-Hayward Theatres in standardising their theatres throughout the Dominion, the Albion will in future be known as the Majestic. The remainder of the building is occupied by four shops and 20 offices, and these will also be modernised, while a lift will be installed. A member of the firm will leave immediately for Invercargill to supervise the renovation work, making visits of inspection to the Fuller-Hayward theatres at Ashburton and Timaru on the way South. Both these latter theatres are also being altered to suit modern requirements. In Wellington work will be commenced this morning on the new Majestic Theatre in Willis Street, oh the site of the old Empress Theatre. Mr. Hayward said this will be the largest and most modern theatre in New Zealand, seating. 2300 persons, or 400 more than the Majestic Theatre in Auckland.,, The cost of the building will be £69,000, while the latid, which has a .frontage of 60ft. to Willis Street and runs through to Boulcott Street, cost £72,000. . In this theatre 'it is intended to build a modern tearoom of the most advantjpd type. ' The centre of the room will conwnn 1000 square feet of glass dancing from beneath, a feature which has projrted very popular on the Continent and ■/ in England, bat has never been either Australia or New Zealand. intended to cater particularly for theatre suppers, provision for whioh not been made before on a wide Bcalej-jn Wellington, The cost of the tearoom- will be over £15,000 bringing the total expenditure on the whole Majestic building£,to approximately £160,000. The contraCfes are Messrs. Hansford and Mills, while Mr. W, T. Pronse is the architect.