A NEW THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 529, 9 June 1909, Page 8

A NEW THEATRE.

TO BE ERECTED IN COURTENAY V PLACE. . TO COST £22,600. Wellington is to have a new theatre. For ■some timo past tho Royal Picture Syndicate, lessees of His Majesty's Theatre, in Courtenay Place, have had: in contemplation tho erection of a new theatre in this city. There is littlo doubt that they have been moved to tako action by the ready response which has been accorded their kinematograph show at His Majesty's during the past seventeen months. Tho frequent, • nay daily, allusions to .tho crowded audiences, that assemble aightly to soe tho latest ill animated photography are, not in tho least degree exaggor-'. ated. . Even standing room is usually, at a premium, and tho good judgment of the management to seizing upon tho mood of tho public in running a permanent picture Bhow has been freely commented on. For somo years -past the trend of the population in Wellington has* been to the south-east. Tho Thonidon end of tho. city has practically stood still, in comparison with the development of- the slopes of Mount Victoria, NowIsland Bay, Kilbirnie, etc.,' and that trend has influenced the syndicate in selecting a site for a now theatre. The scheme is so far forward that sketch plans have been prepared and tenders will bo called for tho erection oi tho .building within tho next few weeks. \

■ The new theatre is to occupy a Section of' land on the northern side of Courtenay Place. The block has a frontage to Courtenay Place of .80ft._by a depth of- 190ft.,'and tho whole of it .will be covered by tho new edifice, with tho exception .of a 10ft.. right-of-wayto be preserved on tho western side 'in confonnity witb the city by-laws". • . According to the sketch plans, which have, been prepared by Mr. James Bennio, the new theatre .will have a handsomo oxterior, the architecture of ' which comes under the generic term of modern 'renaissance. It will bo built of brick, cemenWaced, . with a spacious balcony, and provision on tho ground floor for three, shops. Seating accommodation' will be provided for 1490 persons, distributed as follow:— Dress circle, 430; front stalls, 320 j, back stalls (to the back wall of tho. auditorium), (00. This would bo sufficient for ordinary (or average) demands at present, but the syndicate is looking ahead,'and tho walls (of brick) are being-made strong enough to carry an upper circle or-gallery- (to be' erected later) which.-will seat another 550-pcoplo. With, this gallery the theatre will.bo. able to actually seat 2010 people—a greater number than the Theatre Itoyal at Covent Garden (London) making it the most / commodious theatre in the Dominion. The stage will be :70ft. in width by 55ft. in depth, largo.enough for the most elaborate operatic and productions. Tho proscenium oponing will be 35ft. wide (tho Opera House is 29ft. wide). Special attention has . been paid to the entrances and exits. Tha entrance to the dress circle wfll be from Courtenay Place, a vestibule,' 16ft. by 12ft., leading to a grand stairway that ends in a foyer (36ft. by 16ft.), which will bo elaborately furnished and decorated. A - vestibule entrance . (opening directly on to the street)' ml] admit -to the. stalls. 1 The entire bnilding will bo of fireproof constrnction, .tho dress circlo. ■ stuircases, and exits 1 being of reinforced concrete, whilst the dome (or. ceiling of the auditorium)- will bo of steel.' Ample provision for exits have bcsli ,made on all sides and >t is-estimated- that with'all available thetauding could be emptied in one minute. The seats of the dress circle and front' stalls are io be handsomely upholstered in Utrecht velvet, and tho back stalls in leather, ;tho whole of the seats to -bo of a patent ■tip-irp order designed to ensure the greatest comfort. . Tho decorative colour-scheme'for tho . auditorium will be a protty fancy in delicate tints. • . • :

It is estimated that, tho now theatre wij] cost # about £22,500, and.it bo completed in time to open before tho expiration of the syndicate's lease of His Majesty's', Theatre (at the end of March, 1910); v.,