WORK ON CIVIC THEATRE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 716, 16 July 1929, Page 12

WORK ON CIVIC THEATRE

MAKING RAPID PROGRESS FINE MODELS IN PLASTER The construction of the new Civic Theatre is going forward rapidly and the managing architect. Mr. W. t Leighton, is pleased with the progress* On July 26 it will be three months since the work was commenced, and in that short time a tremendous amount has been done. The main outside walls on u, e corner of Queen and Wellesley Streets, which will be Soft. high, been commenced, and the assembly of the first of the roof trusses win start in about a week. Possibly the largest roof truss in Australia or New Zealand will be used, the largest fia'-. ing a span of 150 feet. Work in connection with the theatre is not confined to the Civic Square. At the Crummer Road premises of Mr. L Bater. who has a contract for the fib. rous plaster work of the theatre. a large staff of men is engaged in making the inside devocations. In addition to the usual columns there aic Indian Buddhas and elephants in all shapes and sizes, which in due course will decorate the foyer of the theatre! The Buddhas are exact replicas of those to be seen in many rock-cut temples in India, and the largest will be five feet high in a sitting position, while others will be smaller. It is proposed that the figures be weirdly illuminated by concealed lights, which will cast ghostly shadows about the statues, and thereby enhance the atmospheric scheme, which will be a great attraction of the theatre, amt suggest Indian surroundings. The modelling work on a huge and life-like panther is practically completed. and four of these beautiful re. plicas will be cast shortly. Two of the beasts will decorate the stage, and two the proscenium. In the model a ton and a-quarter of clay has been used. Models of huge wings for the top of the proscenium are also being made. In all. the figures and other fibrous plaster work in connection with the theatre will cost £II,OOO.