The Isaac Theatre Royal (formerly known as the Theatre Royal) is a heritage building in

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...

, New Zealand, designed by brothers

Sidney and Alfred Luttrell Edward Sydney "Sidney" Luttrell (20 June 1872 – 17 July 1932) and his brother Alfred Edward Luttrell (1865–1924) were partners of S. & A. Luttrell, a firm of architects and building contractors noted for its contributions to New Zealand a ...

. Built in 1908, it is the only operational Edwardian style Theatre remaining in New Zealand.

History

The current Theatre Royal is the third theatre of its name on Gloucester Street. The first theatre, built in 1861, was on a site across the road from the current Theatre Royal. It was originally called the Canterbury Music Hall. That building was replaced by a newer theatre on the same site in 1876. Five years after the new theatre was completed it was renamed the Theatre Royal. When the current theatre was built in 1908 the old theatre across the road was sold to ''

The Press ''The Press'' is a daily newspaper published in Christchurch, New Zealand owned by media business Stuff Ltd. First published in 1861, the newspaper is the largest circulating daily in the South Island and publishes Monday to Saturday. One comm ...

'', who owned it up until the Canterbury earthquakes.

Renovations

In 1928 the theatre was refitted as a cinema. During the refit the current marble staircase replaced the original wooden one. Significant structural earthquake strengthening was carried out in 1999 and 2000. Between 2004 and 2005 major work was done to the theatre over a nine-month period at a cost of $6.2 million. The whole backstage was demolished to make room for a modern concrete fly tower and dressing room facilities. The Proscenium arch was also widened by 1.5m and the stage and fly tower were made wider and deeper. The facilities within the existing front of house areas were also upgraded. It was during the 2004/5 renovation that the theatre became the Isaac Theatre Royal, to honour supporter Lady Diana Isaac.

Canterbury earthquakes and restoration

The 1908 auditorium and foyer sustained considerable damage during the

February 2011 Christchurch earthquake A major earthquake occurred in Christchurch on Tuesday 22 February 2011 at 12:51 p.m. local time (23:51 UTC, 21 February). The () earthquake struck the entire of the Canterbury region in the South Island, centred south-east ...

and the June aftershock. The Theatre was closed for nearly four years while the restoration took place. At a cost of $40 million the Theatre was completely restored and brought up to current building code requirements. All of the significant architectural elements were rescued and restored by skilled craftsmen; including a completely rebuilt auditorium dome made from carbon fibre using the original 1908 painted mural by Studio Carolina Izzo. The newly restored Theatre opened on 17 November 2014.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Isaac Theatre Royal Commercial buildings completed in 1908 Heritage New Zealand Category 1 historic places in Canterbury, New Zealand Buildings and structures in Christchurch Christchurch Central City 1900s architecture in New Zealand Theatres completed in 1908 Cinemas in New Zealand Concert halls in New Zealand Opera houses in New Zealand