The PumpHouse Theatre is an artist-led arts centre that presents theatre and other events in the
North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand.
Historic pumphouse
The pumphouse was originally built on the shore of
Lake Pupuke
Lake Pupuke (traditionally known in Māori as Pupukemoana) is a heart-shaped freshwater lake occupying a volcanic crater (or maar) between the suburbs of Takapuna and Milford on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. The heart shape is a re ...
as a pumping stations to provide freshwater for the local community. The building was opened in 1906. The pumping machinery was removed in 1931 when a new water supply was sourced from the Waitakere Ranges, and the building was used for water treatment until it was closed in 1941.
The building then began to fall into disrepair. In 1968 two hundred people attended a public meeting in support of preserving the building and turning it into an arts venue. Things got heated as local residents clashed with council and North Shore Horticultural Society who also wanted the land. The casting vote of Mayor Fred Thomas saved the building and local residents began work to renovate and convert the derelict building into a community theatre and arts centre.
In 1983, the PumpHouse was classified as a Category II Historic Building by The New Zealand Historic Places Trust (now
Heritage New Zealand
Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga (initially the National Historic Places Trust and then, from 1963 to 2014, the New Zealand Historic Places Trust) ( mi, Pouhere Taonga) is a Crown entity with a membership of around 20,000 people that advocate ...
).
Establishment of the theatre
The North Shore Theatre and Arts Trust (The Pumphouse Theatre) was established as a Registered Charitable Trust in 1971.
Major fundraising began with the establishment of the annual "PumpHouse Picnics".
The PumpHouse was converted to a theatre and arts centre, and opened in 1977 by Takapuna City Council Mayor Fred Thomas.
Margaret Escott
Cicely Margaret Escott (9 July 1908 – 15 August 1977) was a New Zealand novelist, playwright, poet and drama teacher. She was best-known for her novel ''Show Down'', published in 1936. The United States edition was titled ''I Told My Lo ...
was a founding member of the trust board and was a writer and director. She wrote the play ''Saved'' that opened the theatre, a melodrama set in colonial Auckland. She died in the same year and it is said her ghost haunts the greenroom.
The updated trust deed of the North Shore Theatre and Arts Trust, as filed in December 2018, states that the objectives of the trust include:
The PumpHouse has three main areas available for events:
* a theatre-style auditorium seating 190
* an outdoor
amphitheatre
An amphitheatre (British English) or amphitheater (American English; both ) is an open-air venue used for entertainment, performances, and sports. The term derives from the ancient Greek ('), from ('), meaning "on both sides" or "around" and ...
seating 200
* a studio space seating 50
In 2017, the main auditorium was renamed the Genevieve Becroft Auditorium. This was to recognise the contribution of Genevieve Becroft towards saving the historic pumphouse building, and her role as patron of the arts.
References
{{reflist
External links
Official websitePumpHouse timeline bookletRNZ interview on 40th anniversary of The PumpHouse Theatre Haunted Auckland research and public events archive Buildings and structures in Auckland
Theatres in Auckland
Heritage New Zealand Category 2 historic places in the Auckland Region
North Shore, New Zealand