Q Theatre is theatre facility on Queen St in central Auckland, New Zealand, with two performance spaces. It regularly presents work from annual events in Auckland such New Zealand International Comedy Festival,

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and

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History

The background to the theatre comes from a group who formed an initiative in 2000 called New Theatre. This was after the closure of the Watershed Theatre in 1996. The Q Theatre brand was launched in 2006. Construction started in 2009 after fundraising for the NZ$21 million budget. Founding partners and funders include the

Auckland Council Auckland Council ( mi, Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau) is the local government council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority that has the responsibilities, duties and powers of a regional council and so is ...

, Foundation North,

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and private donors. Q Theatre was designed by Cheshire Architects Limited. The design work was undertaken by

Pip Cheshire Pip, PIP, Pips, PIPS, and ''similar'', may refer to: Common meanings * Pip, colloquial name for the star(s) worn on military uniform as part of rank badge, as in the British Army officer rank insignia or with many Commonwealth police agencies * T ...

and Melbourne based architectural theatre specialist Virginia Ross. Architect Raukura Turei also worked on the redevelopment in a role with Te Rōpū Reo Whakahaere, a Māori consultant group. Turei observed there was, 'a level of engagement in te ao Māori that enriched the way the building is used...'. It is a mixture of a purpose built building and a 'strengthened and reworked' 1920's building (the ‘No Deposit Piano Building').

The project required the demolition and replacement of the existing Town Hall green room and the maintenance of storage and access to the Town Hall’s basement kitchens. (Cheshire Architects)

The building Q Theatre was recognised as the Auckland Architecture Awards Winner 2012 for, 'an adroit and harmonious insertion into a constrained and historic site'. The persistence of people involved in the building project was also acknowledged. Jennifer Ward-Lealand is a patron of Q Theatre.

Facilities

There are two auditoriums, Rangitira which is a 450-seat flexible format space and the Loft, which seats 120 seats. It also includes rehearsal space and an entrance lobby, bar and cafe.

Programmes

Matchbox is one of Q Theatre's regular programmes running since 2011. It is a development scheme to help artists in a professional arena and to develop new audiences. Performances in this programmes have included ''Burn Her'' and the musical ''Daffodils'', which was later adapted into a feature film. New Zealand International Comedy Festival, Tempo Dance Festival and the Auckland Arts Festival regularly programme works at Q Theatre.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Q Theatre, Auckland 2011 establishments in New Zealand Arts organizations established in 2011 Theatres in Auckland