NEW PLYMOUTH THEATRES.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1916, Page 4

NEW PLYMOUTH THEATRES.

THEATRE ROYAL NOT TO BE

REBUILT.

WILL THE .MUNICIPALITY STEP IX?

The directors of the Taranald Amusements, Ltd., met on Saturday afternoon, when the question of rebuilding the Theatre Royal was considered. The architects' estimate for a ferro-concrcte theatre to Rive equal seating accommodation (about KIIK)) to that if the destroyed building was £14,5(11), prices for material being normal; at present the necessary steel and electric fittings are unprocurable. It was decided not to rebuild, hut to offer the freehold for sale. There is a 70ft frontage to" Devon Street, a Kift frontage to Egmont Street, and 43ft to King Street.

It was resolved to push on with the construction of Everybody's Theatre. It is expected the building <wil!, by working at full pressure, be ready *s• October, s.

Parts of the new seats for the Empire Theatre were stored under the destroyed theatre pending the alterations to the Empire, tenders for which were called this week. It was decided to postpone this work until the opening of 'Everybody's."

The consideration of running the Em pire continuously from 2 o'clock on Sat virday was postponed tfll next w-. 1 ..

ft was reported ~i«i me valuable 01m, '-The Martyrdom of Xurse Cavoll," the only copy in New Zealand, along with another full programme film, had been lost in the five, together with the valuable plant. The total insurances amount to £l">(M>. The plant and buildings were valued at C4.i00.

The destruction of the Theatre Royal means a great loss to the town as well as to the company, For one thing, the big theatrical companies will bo unable to nhow in Xew Plymouth until a new theatre is built. The absence of J. 0. Williamson's and other big companies in a town as important as Xew Plymouth will he a distinct loss.

Private enterprise will probably not be prepared to build a big theatre, for it is far from an attractive proposition. To buy land in anything like a central position, build a modern theatre in norma! times, and furnish and equip it could not be done under £20,000. Rates, insurances, maintenance charges, interest etc.. and allowance for depreciation, would run into nearly £.io a. week—one half of which, of course, could never be earned by a theatre in Xew Plymouth. The Council, however, may see its way, when its finances are better, to fill the need and build a modern, fire proof opera house.