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From the street the new entrance
could be the head-office for an
insurance company, a hotel or some
other up-market business, but this is a
small price to pay for a better layout.
White’s interior is largely
unchanged. It shows his signature touch
of a ‘square-edge’ proscenium. This is
a single balcony theatre, and from an
audience viewpoint, all the better for it.
Instead of a sculptured ceiling dome,
Former Majestic, Christchurch. The
White suggested one. He outlined the
austerity of the Romanesque interior suits
circumference in high-relief plaster, set
its current use. The sound shields are to
a chandelier in it, and let imagination
be removed to show the original ceiling.
do the rest.
Image: Peter Wolfenden.
Surprisingly some single-screen
construction in this part of South Island
is as recent as the last five years.
Here then are some highlights and
interpretations from Oz eyes and ears, Civic, Invercargill. The removal of the
an attempt to take the pulse of stage boxes in the stalls was not an improvement.
and screen, in a country which delights
stage and new seats. The restoration
in surprising ‘west island’ visitors.
included a state-of-the-art fly tower,
EDWARDIAN ICONS dressing rooms, rehearsal spaces and
Decisions involving community Green Room.
expectations for a theatre tread a fine Overall this building is superior to
line: too respectful, and a large building the Isaac Theatre Royal. Here
can become a mausoleum, go too far Edwardian-style seems new again,
and “the operation was successful, but because so much of it is. To our eyes it
the patient died.” The decision makers was remarkable that a medium-size city
for the Isaac Theatre Royal and the would lavish such attention on a
Civic successfully negotiated the theatre. The design was the result of an
challenge, and so did another group. Australasia-wide contest. Local
architect Edward Richardson Wilson
Theatre Royal, Timaru.
won it and gave the city a building
Theatre Royal, Timaru. Henry White which has pleased succeeding
emphasized the boxes. generations. If Wilson was never
invited to Australia for a theatre
Civic, Invercargill commission, he should have been!

New Zealand-born Henry White
designed or improved some of the most
cherished theatres in his home country
and Australia. His career peaked with Built as a town hall and theatre, the
the State, Sydney in 1928. How Civic was always a handsome structure.
pleasing then to see an example of The restoration and extensions of recent Room to move. The stage depth is even
basic White, when he was working to a years have created a performing arts more impressive than its width.
limited budget. theatre worthy of a capital city.
The upgrade of the Theatre Royal The classic façade was retained, but THE SINGLE SCREEN LIVES
included demolition of the frontage and the front reception rooms, kitchens and Perhaps the home theatre revolution
foyers. The replacement creates easy foyers were enlarged and modernized. hasn't yet hit hard, but the single screen
access to all parts of the theatre, New staircases and a lift were installed continues in three forms: small art-
something lacking in the original. It to service a twin balcony auditorium, house in larger cities, usually as space
also conceals structural solutions to which has a new floor, an enlarged carved out of a large building;
stabilize the walls of the auditorium.
regionally, in old cinemas modified for

8 2006 CINEMARECORD