THE NEW TE ARO THEATRE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5027, 4 May 1877, Page 5

THE NEW TE ARO THEATRE.

The new theatre to be erected in Mannersstreet, and for which tenders have been called, promises to be a very handsome, Bpacious, complete, and comfortable place of amusement. Very elaborate plans have been prepared by Mr. Thomas Turnbull, of Temple Chambers, and from these we have been permitted to take a few particulars, which may give an idea of the kind of building the company have determined to erect. The width of the frontage to Manners-street is to be 65ft., the elevation 48ft., and the extreme depth 182 ft. The lower part of the front building will be demoted to a couple of shopj, with a second or mezzanine" storey for workshops, the advantages resulting from this arrangement being that for a portion of unrequired space a good revenue may be obtained, and that entirely distinct entrances may be had to the different parts of the house. The shops will have a frontage of 18ft. each, and an average depth of 36ft., so that they will form handy places of business. There are to be two main entrances on each sideTp the.shops—thus, the' pit and the gallery attendants find their way in by one passage, and the patrons of the stalls and dresscircle by the other, at the end of each passage there being separate flighis of stairs. There is nothing remarkable on ground floor of the interior of the house, beyond that the stalls seats are backed, and that the seating here, as in all other parts, is arranged in a horseshoe form, so that everyone directly faces the Btage, an improvement which has not yet been introduced even into the Melbourne theatres. The dress-circle seats will be most comfortable; both seats and backs are to be padded. A noticeable improvement in this part of the theatre is that instead of the circle being open at the back, access i 3 only to be gained by means of doors from a passage running round it, bo that while every means for proper ventilation will be secured the circle will be free from draughts. From one side of the passage running round the back of the circle, open off ladies' cloak-rooms and waiting-rooms, and at the rear of these, again, is to be placed a large well-lighted saloon, where fruits, confectionery, &c, may be vended. Above the dress circle rises the gallery, the habitat of the " gods," or, as the French call it, paradis. This is an Institution hitherto unknown in Wellington; but from our experience it will be quite a relief to get the noisy larrikins upstairs out of the way. There are to be a dozen boxes, two on each side of the stage, aud rising tier upon tier. Great attention haßbeenpaidtosecuringaroomy well adapted stage, with every facility for scenic and mechanical arrangements, and calculated to give much mere comfortable accommodation than is usually afforded the members of the playing company. It will be fully 56ft. deep and 60ft. wide, the proscenium being 30ft;. wide, and of an equal altitude, except that it will be elliptically arched at top._ Two tiers of dressing rooms on each side will meet the want* of performers, and the custodian will 1 find rooms for his own use below. As to the ornamentations, a description of these, as well of the more intricate details of the fittings and -arrangements, will come better when the build"i»g is neariag completion, but we have no doubt they will be in keeping with the other improvements to be introduced in the building. It is estimated the theatre will comfortably

seat about 1200 persons. Tenders for the wo'rk'close a fortnight hence, and one of the principal stipulations in the specifications in that the building shall be completed within fire months.