A NEW THEATRE

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1922, Page 4

A NEW THEATRE

PROGRESS MADE WITH THE SCHEME. NEW PLYMOUTH PROJECT. Progress is reported in connection with the proposal to erect an up-to-date theatre on the old Theatre Royal site, alongside the A.M.P. building. Further land on the Egmont Street frontage, between the A.M.P. and the proposed State Fire Office, has recently been bought, and the idea is to proceed at once with the formation of a company to erect threatre 'buildings on the land.

The estimated cost of land and buildings is about £33,000. The local theatre enterprises have agreed to find over £13,000 in shares, and to appeal to the public for £lO,OOO in shares, interest on which will be guaranteed at current rate of interest for a period of years. The other £lO,OOO is to be secured on mortgage of the land and buildings. It is proposed to entrust the drawing of the plans for the theatre to Mr. White, the leading theatre expert an Australia. Provision will be made in the buildin" for the utilisation of the deep as a hall for meetings, etc., the dreesjn" rooms at the back (being available for either the theatre or the basement, and to provide for* shops on the Devon Street frontage, whilst on the Egmont Street frontage provision will be made for an entrance and exits, and, if finance permits, suites of offices, for which there is considerable demand at present. It is anticipated that the theatre will be self-supporting in a year or two’s time, but to make sure of obtaining all the money required from the public the interest on the public’s shares will be guaranteed by the promoters, who will submit full details of the scheme to the public immediately after the holidays.

New Plymouth has felt the want of a theatre ever since the old Theatre Royal was destroyed by fire in 1915, and townspeople should welcome the opportunity soon to be afforded them of helping in the construction of an up-to-date building and one that will serve the needs of the community for many years to come.