THE NEW THEATRE.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 578, 26 April 1876, Page 2

THE NEW THEATRE.

We have been favored with a sight of the plans for the new Theatre —First, that of Mr Simpson, of Christchurch : he proposes a building which will cost about £IO,OOO. It is calculated to hold 1500 people. The plans are very elaborate, comprising dressingrooms, staircase to stage, entrance for actors, managers private apartments, booking-rooms, private box, orchestra, stalls (to hold about •250 persons), pit (about 400), and the two tiers of boxes (about 900). Every necessary for the accommodation of the public has apparently been considered and provided for, even as regards '.he convenience of persons frequenting the house in wet weather, and there is a verandah attached to the plan, and also, which is probably of more essential worth, in the event of fire, the doors are so designed as to slide back on wheels, and will thus offer no impediment to ingress or egress in the event of a sudden occasion requiring their immediate use. We must not conclude the notice of this plan without complementing the designer upon the system of ventilation which he has set forth, nor must we neglect to add the elegant appearance that we anticipate the interior will assume if his plans should be approved of. From the plans, as far as we can judge, due attention has been paid to the acoustic requirements. The second design is by the same gentleman, but for a theatre, the cost of which is estimated to be about half the price of the former, say £SOOO ; the seating accommodation will be as follows : —Stalls, 168, allowing 2ft to each person ; pit, 625, allowing the same space ; dress circle, 260 ; making a total of 1053, and this is exclusive of the private boxes. The arrangements appear to be exceedingly good, and as complete as a building could be constructed for the purpose, and for the sum named. The third plan isiby Mr E. J. Saunders, of Dunedin, and is very similar to that last described. It is modelled upon that of the new Princess’ Theatre, and the building is laid out to hold 1150 persons, distributed as follows:—Stalls, 130 ; pit, 6i 0 ; circle, 250 ; back circle, 150, and boxes. The fourth plan is also on a scale of a like character, by another Dunedin architect, and is calculated to accommodate, in round numbers, about 1100 people. These plans have each their distinctive merits, and although we are not in a position to recommend the adoption of any one of them, we are inclined to be of opinion that the most expensive will be found to be the cheapest in the end ; but we are induced to believe that it would be much more satisfactory to the public, as well as to the spirited proprietors of thejproperty, and the company when formed, to throw the competition open without prejudice to the designs already submitted. Messrs Hoskins, Baylee, Beatty are the proprietors of the old th r . a^re and ground upon which it stands. There will be a public meeting held on Friday afternoon next, at Mr Alport’s * auction room ' for the purpose of forming a company for t he erection of the new build 1 J